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Camp Sites & Facilities
Claytor Lake State Park is an ideal location for campers looking for a huge boating facility and those looking for easy access from a major interstate in Virginia. The Lake was created by the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the New River. It is 21 miles long and available to any type of watercraft including power boats. A unique feature of Claytor Lake Park is that boat slips are available inside the park. The marina is managed by an outside business, but does offer the opportunity for boating enthusiasts to dock their boat instead of automatically trailering it back to the campsite.
The campground is located in an area of rolling hills, but it is quite easy to navigate with trailer in tow. The sites have been recently renovated with landscape borders. There are 70 standard campsites and 40 sites that will handle an RV up to 35 feet in length. These sites have electric and water hook-ups and a dumping station is located near the camping loop. There are three bathhouses located on the camping loops, so campers will not need to walk far to utilize this service.
Recreation
Claytor Lake is extremely popular with people living near this community. The beach/boating/marina area has as much the look of a lakeside resort as a state park. The camping area is located a moderate distance from the hubbub of the lake grounds, so camping visitors should not be concerned with inordinate amounts of traffic. The lake offers a myriad of fishing opportunities and camp visitors can rent canoes, kayaks and water bikes at the marina.
Local Attractions
This particular area is close to Virginia Tech and Radford University so there are numerous festivals and activities in the region. Visitors may want to plan a day trip to Dixie Caverns, the Blue Ridge Parkway, hike a section of the historic Appalachian Trail or the Cascades Waterfall.
A word about New River Trail State Park. This park is located very close to Claytor Lake however it has some unique features. It is 57 miles long and is made up of trails created from an abandoned railway. There are four primitive campgrounds, however, you must bike or hike in. The park makes for an amazing adventure for bikers – especially if you have a mind for biking and camping. Shot Tower State Park can be found about midway. There are several long tunnels along the way and the trail can be accessed from several entry points.
Additional Information
Claytor Lake State Park is located a stone’s throw away from I-81. There are numerous shopping locations nearby in the town of Radford, however, visitors may want to take a local route into Radford instead of tackling the interstate. Anyone in need of health care can access Carilion Radford Community Hospital to the north or Pulaski Community to the south.
