Claytor Lake State Park

Claytor Lake State Park With a 4,500-acre lake and a full-service marina and swimming beach, this Southwest Virginia park is ideal for fishing, boating and water activities. B. C. D. E. F.

Visit the historic Howe House, hike, bike, camp or stay in a cabin or lodge with water views. DCR's social media activities are intended to present agency matters of public interest to clients, businesses and visitors. DCR encourages users to submit questions and comments but asks users to remain civil and on topic.

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Heading to the park this weekend? Come join us for one of our programs! 📅 Friday, Sept. 4th:🕗 8 p.m. Light Up the Lake @...
08/30/2026

Heading to the park this weekend? Come join us for one of our programs!

📅 Friday, Sept. 4th:
🕗 8 p.m. Light Up the Lake @ Water's Edge Meeting Facility Back Dock
Take a relaxing stroll along our lake shore as you visit several lights that have been placed in or along the lake to attract critters of all sizes. Rangers will be along the shore to help identify anything that may be seen.

📅 Saturday, Sept. 5th:
🕘 9 a.m. Beginner Birding @ the Howe House/Visitor's Center
Join our rangers to learn all the tricks and tips of bird watching and how to identify some of our common species. This event is geared towards beginners and children, but experienced birders are welcome as well. Don't forget to bring a pair of binoculars or borrow one of ours.

🕑 2 p.m. Bugs on the Move @ Water's Edge Meeting Facility Back Dock
Discover the world of migrating insects as Master Naturalist Bruce Grimes gives a short talk on them before we go out and see what we can catch.

🕖 7 p.m. Bear Aware @ the Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground
Learn how to coexist with one of our largest animals on the landscape as we take a closer look at their pelts and skulls.

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/events?park=2013-10-18-21-10-41-00005&start=09/03/2026&end=08/19/2027&template=all&type=all

Save the date! We're celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. Join us for a variety of ranger-led pr...
08/26/2026

Save the date! We're celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. Join us for a variety of ranger-led programs designed to help you explore, learn and connect with Virginia's public lands.

Activities include:
♻️ Shoreline Cleanup, 11 a.m., Beach
🌳 Tree Identification Hike, 4 p.m., Howe House
🍄‍🟫 Edible and Medicinal Plants, 6:30 p.m., Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

🚙 NPLD is a fee-free parking day. We hope to see you there!

Learn more: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-05-22-13-59-45-815812-qiy

Whether you're spending the weekend camping at the park or just coming for the day, you don't want to miss our ranger-le...
08/24/2026

Whether you're spending the weekend camping at the park or just coming for the day, you don't want to miss our ranger-led programs. ☀️

Friday, Aug. 28:
💪 Survival Bracelets
🕛 7 p.m.
📍 Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

Saturday, Aug. 29:
🖌️ Claytor Crafts: Tree Cookies
🕛 3 p.m.
📍 Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

🐍 Critters of Claytor Lake
🕛 6:30 p.m.
📍 Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

Sunday, Aug. 30:
🐦 Beginner Birding
🕛 10 a.m.
📍 Howe House/Visitors Center

Learn more: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/events?park=2013-10-18-21-10-41-00005&start=08/28/2026&end=08/30/2026&template=all&type=all

We have some more programming coming soon! We hope to see you there! 📅 Friday, Aug. 21:🕖 7 p.m. Tree ID Hike @ Howe Hous...
08/16/2026

We have some more programming coming soon! We hope to see you there!

📅 Friday, Aug. 21:
🕖 7 p.m. Tree ID Hike @ Howe House/Visitors Center

📅 Saturday, Aug. 22:
🕑 2 p.m. Edible and Medicinal Plants @ the Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground
🕖 7 p.m. Sunset Storytelling @ the Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/events?park=2013-10-18-21-10-41-00005&start=08/21/2026&end=08/22/2026&template=all&type=all

Have you ever been curious about what trees are around you? We have just the hike for that! Join us on our next Tree ID ...
08/15/2026

Have you ever been curious about what trees are around you? We have just the hike for that! Join us on our next Tree ID Hike!

📅 August 21
🕖 7 – 8 p.m.
📍 Howe House

We will take a trek from the Howe House to the beach and learn to identify our common native trees using our handheld identification sheets.

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-07-05-14-22-30-946433-jvk

Enjoy more time on the water with our new self‑serve kayak and paddleboard rental kiosks! 🚣‍♂️ Powered by Whenever Water...
08/12/2026

Enjoy more time on the water with our new self‑serve kayak and paddleboard rental kiosks! 🚣‍♂️ Powered by Whenever Watersports, these kiosks let visitors rent paddling equipment - no reservations required.

📱 Grab the app, scan and go! Our kiosk offers single and tandem kayaks and SUPs, but check out the list of other parks joining the fun.

🔹 Bear Creek Lake State Park: Single and tandem kayaks
🔹 Belle Isle State Park: Single and tandem kayaks
🔹 Douthat State Park: Single and tandem kayaks and SUPs
🔹 Fairy Stone State Park: Single and tandem kayaks
🔹 First Landing State Park: Single and tandem kayaks
🔹 Hungry Mother State Park: Single and tandem kayaks and SUPs
🔹 Lake Anna State Park: Single and tandem kayaks
🔹 Pocahontas State Park: Single and tandem kayaks
🔹Smith Mountain Lake State Park: Single and tandem kayaks and SUPs (available starting Sept. 8 )

Learn more: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/kiosk-kayak-rentals
📸 Photos: Smith Mountain Lake, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother

Looking for fun, educational outdoor activities? Join us this weekend for three exciting days of nature exploration!Frid...
08/10/2026

Looking for fun, educational outdoor activities? Join us this weekend for three exciting days of nature exploration!

Friday, Aug. 14:
🐍 Reptiles!
🕛 7 p.m.
📍 The Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

Saturday, Aug. 15:
🐦 Beginner Birding
🕛 10 a.m.
📍 Howe House/Visitors Center

🔥 Survival 101: Fire Starting
🕛 7 p.m.
📍 The Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

Sunday, Aug. 16:
🥾 Roaming Ranger
🕛 2 p.m.
📍 Around the park

Learn more at www.virginiastateparks.gov/claytorlake-events

Thank you to the Radford University Biology Department for the donation of a variety of study skins to the park as well ...
08/05/2026

Thank you to the Radford University Biology Department for the donation of a variety of study skins to the park as well as park volunteer/VA Master Naturalist, Judy McCord, who helped coordinate the donation.

This past weekend, staff and volunteers from the New River Valley Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists were able to showcase some of the donated owl specimens during the Owl Prowl program. 🦉 We look forward to featuring more in programs to come.

Heading to the park this weekend? Come join us at one of our programs! 💚Thursday, Aug. 6: 🎨3 p.m. | Trick-your-Stick | I...
08/03/2026

Heading to the park this weekend? Come join us at one of our programs! 💚

Thursday, Aug. 6: 🎨
3 p.m. | Trick-your-Stick | Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

Friday, Aug. 7: 🎣
5 p.m. | Soil Painting | Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground
7 p.m. | Friday Night Fishing | Water's Edge Meeting Facility Back Dock

Saturday, Aug. 8: 🦉
10 a.m. | Summer BioBlitz | Water's Edge Meeting Facility
3 p.m. | Pinecone Owl Craft | Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground
8 p.m. | Going Batty! | Interpretive Campfire Circle in Dogwood Campground

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/events?park=2013-10-18-21-10-41-00005&start=07/28/2026&end=07/28/2027

Join our rangers as we hike to the Claytor Lake Overlook for beautiful views of rolling hills and the lake. 📅 August 1🕑 ...
07/26/2026

Join our rangers as we hike to the Claytor Lake Overlook for beautiful views of rolling hills and the lake.

📅 August 1
🕑 2 - 3:30 p.m.
📍 Beach Building

Along the way, we will stop to discuss the flora and fauna around us. The hike is about about 2 miles long so good walking shoes and water are recommended. 🥾

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-06-11-10-01-50-240187-gj7

Address

6620 Ben H Bolen Drive
Dublin, VA
24084

Opening Hours

Monday 6am - 10pm
Tuesday 6am - 10pm
Wednesday 6am - 10pm
Thursday 6am - 10pm
Friday 6am - 10pm
Saturday 6am - 10pm
Sunday 6am - 10pm

Telephone

(540) 643-2500

Website

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