Outdoors

Parks

Enjoy the outdoors while still staying in Town by enjoying the amazing variety of parks Blacksburg and Christiansburg have to offer!

BLACKSBURG

Heritage Community Park is a 169-acre section of land situated among rural communities and is a must-see for those who revel in observing wildlife across a variety of habitats ranging from lush meadows to floodplains. The many varieties of birds who are breeding residents of the park include the whip-poor-will, willow flycatcher, yellow-breasted chat and pileated woodpecker, with more than 120 species of birds having been documented at the site. The fall season is best for birding, due to migration. On any given day, visitors observe species such as the olive-sided flycatcher, blackpoll, palm and bay-breasted warblers, as well as migrant raptors. Click here for directions.

Blacksburg Rotary Mountain Skills Bike Park offers an off-road experience for bikers in a controlled environment, making it the perfect place to hone your skills or try something new! Amenities include shelters along with the biking trails. Click here for directions.

Brookfield Village Park is located on 12 acres and features picnic tables, shelters, a playground, benches and walking/biking trails. Click here for directions.

Cedar Hill Park offers a playground with a variety of slides, monkey bars and swings. Click here for directions.

Crestview Tot Lot Playground features a playground. swings, picnic tables and benches and is located on 23 acres. Click here for directions.

Blacksburg Dog Park is open from sunrise to sunset and features two separate areas – one for large dogs and one for small dogs. Please click here for a list of rules related to the use of this park. Click here for directions.

Gateway Park is 15 acres and offers hiking, biking and horseback trails with a gazebo on property. It also provides legal access to the Jefferson National Forest. Click here for directions.

Graves Park is located on the corner of Graves Avenue and South Main Street and features benches and a large grassy field, the perfect spot for a quiet picnic. Click here for directions.

Lark Lane Park features a playground, a basketball court, benches and a picnic area. Click here for directions.

Marcia’s Park is located in Downtown Blacksburg and features flower gardens, benches, picnic tables and a running brook that flows into Stroubles Creek. Click here for directions.

Municipal Park is located on 35 acres and features the largest play area in Blacksburg, as well as soccer fields, tennis courts, roller hockey court, skate park, grills, picnic areas and more. Click here for directions.

Nellies Cave features a soccer field, basketball court, T-ball field, playground, walking trails, horseshoe pits and picnic areas. Click here for directions.

Owens Street Park offers a playground, picnic tables and benches and is located on two acres. Click here for directions.

Primrose Lane Park is located on six acres of land and offers a soccer field, basketball court, picnic tables, benches and a playground. Click here for direction.

Shenandoah Bike Trail and Park lies along the bike trail on Seneca Drive and features a walking trail, soccer field, playground, swings, picnic tables and benches. Click here for directions.

Skate Park is located on Patrick Henry Drive. Click here for a full list of rules for park use. Click here for directions.

Sunrise Park features a playground, swings, picnic table and benches. Click here for directions.

Toms Creek Park and Softball Field features a lighted fields that can be rented by the hour or for tournaments for baseball, soccer, or softball. For more information, please click here. The Blacksburg Dog Park is also located within Toms Creek Park. Click here for directions.

Westover Park is located on five acres and features a playground, basketball court, tennis court, volleyball court and benches. Click here for directions.

Wong Park features Historic Bennett House, a playground, benches, picnic areas and a grill. Click here for directions.

CHRISTIANSBURG

Christiansburg Huckleberry Park features four multipurpose sports fields (available for tournament play), a splash pad, a dog park, an inclusive playground, an accessible adult fitness zone and challenge course, two pavilions, paved trails, plenty of green space, and restrooms. Click here for directions. 

Circle Park is a neighborhood park featuring a picnic area, playground, half-court basketball, swings and restrooms. Click here for directions.

Depot Park offers basketball courts, a playground, a soccer field and a walking path along the creek, which can also access the Skate Park and Aquatic Center. Click here for directions.

Downtown Park is located in the Town of Christiansburg and offers a paved walking trail to the library, a playground, swings, horseshoe pits, basketball court and a pavilion shelter. Click here for directions.

John Lemley Park is located in a residential area and offers a playground and a picnic area. Click here for directions.

Kiwanis Park features two lighted multipurpose baseball and softball fields, a picnic shelter and a playground. Click here for directions.

Skate Park features grinding rails, a half-pipe, a vert, and a stair step. The park also has a shelter for viewers and is located next to the Aquatic Center. Click here for directions.

Town and Country (Summit Ridge) Park is a neighborhood park with a playground, swings, and a picnic area. Click here for directions.

Wall Street Park is a neighborhood park that offers a half-sized basketball court, a playground and a shaded picnic area. Click here for directions.

Wayside Park offers picnic tables in a shaded area and is located at the top of Christiansburg Mountain. Click here for directions.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Coal Miner’s Heritage Trail Loop and Pocket Park is located on a 30-acre swath of land where the Merrimac mining community once resided. Where a mining tipple, hotel, general store and residential housing for coal miners once stood is now an open greenspace and a wooden bridge leading guests into the park, the old mining entrance and some of the remnants of the old mining community. The park is an homage to more than 100 years’ worth of coal mining history in the region. Click here for directions.

Creed Fields Park features three baseball/softball fields, a playground, picnic shelter, grill, restrooms and a multipurpose field. In addition, it also has a paved walking path encircling the path for walking or biking. Click here for directions.

Eastern Montgomery Park offers a half mile trail along the South Fork of the Roanoke River, a playground, a volleyball net, open green space, a picnic shelter and access points to the river to launch your canoe or kayak. Click here for directions.

The Frog Pond Swimming Pool is the only public outdoor leisure pool in Montgomery County and features beach-entry, water slides, fountains, geysers and a children’s pool. The pool is operational from Memorial day until Labor Day. Click here for directions.

Golden Hills Disc Golf Course is located in Mid-County Park and is one of only 19 courses  that feature 37 holes. The course is free to use and consists of wooded fairways with a variety of elevation gains. Click here for directions.

McCoy Park features a walking path, open green spaces, youth baseball/softball fields, playgrounds, and a picnic shelter. Click here for directions.

Mid County Park is located on 89 acres and offers an outdoor basketball court, playground, three picnic shelters and nature trails. It is also home to the Golden Hills Disc Golf Course, the Mid-County Activity Center and the Frog Pond Swimming Pool. Click here for directions.

Motor Mile Park is located towards the City of Radford and is a tournament-style facility with baseball/softball fields with dugouts as well as a multipurpose practice field. Other amenities include a picnic shelter, grill, playground, and restrooms. Click here for directions.

Plum Creek Park features open green space, restrooms, a playground, picnic shelter, youth competition baseball/softball field and a walking track. Click here for directions.

Whitethorne Public Boat Launch is located on the New River and provides river access by a concrete ramp. This area is a prime location for fishing and offers easy entrance into the 2nd oldest river in the world! Click here for directions.

 

For more information on rules & regulations at each of our parks, please visit their local Parks and Recreation pages:

Town of Blacksburg

Town of Christiansburg

Montgomery County

Scenic Drives

Here in the New River Valley, one of the best ways to Go to Town! comes by taking the roads less traveled. Montgomery County is situated at the crossroads of Interstate 81 and Highway 460. No matter the time of year, the journey to Montgomery County will treat you to breathtaking views. The fall season in particular makes the trek into the New River Valley the perfect road trip for leaf peepers, as the mountain ranges are lit up by the bright reds, oranges and yellows of autumn.

If you’re already visiting Montgomery County and want to experience more of our breathtaking scenery, stunning views await along US 460 between Eastern Montgomery County and Christiansburg to the east and neighboring Giles County and Blacksburg to the west. Prior to the creation of US 460, the rustic route was used by horse-drawn carriages bringing visitors seeking the medicinal and relaxation properties of mineral springs to the summer resorts that built up around the springs. Calming natural scenery still abounds along this route. The privately owned historic Yellow Sulphur Springs Resort is the last remaining tangible evidence of this rich history in Montgomery County. It is no longer operated as a resort, but is home to the Healing Arts studio.   

The famed Blue Ridge Parkway, just about 30 minutes outside of Montgomery County and described as “America’s Favorite Drive,” is a 469-mile trek winding its way through one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The Parkway welcomes millions of travelers every year who relish the chance to marvel at the exceptional views of regional flora and fauna, as well as wildlife and Appalachian cultural sites.

Travelers on Interstate 81 can access the Parkway gateway in Montgomery County via Exit 114. Route 8 connects the Parkway to Montgomery County and offers a fun trek for motorcyclists and auto enthusiasts alike.

Finally, U.S. Route 11 snakes north and south directly connecting small towns of southwest Virginia. It was dedicated in 1926 on the 150th anniversary of Montgomery County. Shortly after, diners and motels began to dot the route in support of the motoring travelers. Today, Interstate 81 runs parallel to Route 11 which makes it easy to take in as much or as little of a scenic drive as the travel schedule allows. Travelers can still find amenities such as local cafes, gas stations, and interesting shops alongside gently rolling hills and a majestic Allegheny mountain backdrop.

Waterways

McCoy Falls is one of the locals’ favorite spots along the New River for everything from leisurely sunbathing to thrilling water sports. The put-in at McCoy Falls was for several years the site of the New River Rodeo, a popular white-water competition that drew quite a crowd. Today, the site is a put-in for beginners of whitewater boating, fishermen (and women) and tubers. The spot also is perfect for splashing around in the New River when the water’s warm enough.

For those without their own river-worthy vessel, the New River Junction, known as “the Junction” to locals, is a family-owned campground and recreational park which offers access to the rushing waters of the ancient New River. Visitors can rent tubes (and a cooler) for the whole family, including your dog, and simply relax as they float down nearly one mile of calm water. For those seeking a bit more adventure, there is an optional 200 yards of exhilarating rapids at the end of the float.

While you’re visiting Montgomery County, be sure to check out Falls Ridge Preserve, part of a rugged ridge along the Roanoke River reaching about 80-feet in height. Enjoy a hike to a serene spring-fed waterfall as small pockets of cascading water lead the way.

Hiking & Biking

The Huckleberry Trail connects the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg and is part of the nation’s rail-to-trail system, making the 14-mile trek perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, whether walking, running or cycling.

The Jefferson National Forest offers 2,000 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback-riding trails. Set among neo-tropical migratory birds in the summer and a kaleidoscopic palette of color during the crisp fall, it lends to discovering some of the most breathtaking scenery in the region.

The Poverty Creek Trail area, also located in Jefferson National Forest, is a paradise for mountain-bikers. Claimed as some of the best mountain biking trails on the East Coast, mountain bikers can kick up mud over 19 trails and more than 30 miles of terrain.

If you’d prefer something more leisurely, the loop around Pandapas Pond features gently rolling slopes across a one-mile wheelchair-accessible trail. The loop is perfect for running, fishing, walking, or just enjoying a picnic at the Pond’s day area.

TransAmerica Trail is over 4,000 miles long and passes right through Christiansburg! Cycle your way through part of the TransAmerica Trail, Route 76. Ride on through rolling hills while ascending
and descending among the mountains.

Camping

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests stretch across the entire state of Virginia, neighboring the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. In addition to camping, visitors can enjoy fishing, mountain biking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding and photography.

New River Junction Campground is located in Blacksburg, this campground offers picnic tables, in-ground fire pits, Wi-Fi access, hot showers and restrooms, an open-air pavilion featuring horseshoe pits, basketball, ping-pong and more. For more information and to reserve your space, please click here.

Adjacent to Poverty Creek, Boley Field Group Campground provides easy access to the 17-mile Poverty Creek Trail System for hikers and mountain bikers, as well as great amenities for groups of 50 or less. These amenities include a group fire ring, picnic tables, a standing grill and vault toilet. Click here to reserve your space and learn more about the campsite.

Caldwell Fields Group Campground has two separate fields that can be rented together or individually. Both fields can accommodate up to 100 people and are bordered by Craig Creek, providing fishing opportunities and a chance to cool off. For more information, please click here.

If you are looking for a peaceful getaway, Floating Heaven is a treehouse site that offers roof covered, open cabins in their treehouses that can house two adults and two small children. They also offer camping on their platforms in hammocks or tents. Other amenities include fire pits, tables and chairs, charging outlet and a charcoal grill. To learn more, please click here.