Claytor Lake State Park

Covering about 475 acres, Claytor Lake State Park lies in Pulaski County, about 6 miles southwest of Radford.

The park supports historic sites, canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, and hiking. Water access includes a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites, group camping, and showers. There are also cabins and yurts for rent.

Camping Visit this page for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. Some campsites may be specifically reserved and others are first-come, first-served. Table with site characteristics Campground Virtual Tour All sites are site-specific. The campground is open from the first Friday in March until the first Monday in December. Check-in is 4 p.m. and check-out is 1 p.m. While sites cannot be guaranteed before 4 p.m., they are often available, so campers are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the park if the site isn't available. Two dump station areas with potable water are available for free to park campers. The Dogwood Campground dump station is available March-November. Two additional dump stations in Cedar Campground are available April-October. A $10 dump station fee (including taxes) is required for other users. • Vehicles: At campsites, two vehicles per site in addition to the camping unit. All others are charged the standard parking fee. Camping guests may use the boat launch for up to two boats at no additional charge. • Two camping units are allowed per campsite; only one axled camper is allowed per site. • All equipment and vehicles must be kept within the site bordered by 6 x 6-inch timbers. Additional vehicles must be parked in the lot adjacent to the campground contact station or in the Dogwood Campground parking lot. • Visitors to overnight guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. and are charged the normal parking fee. • Each campsite has a picnic table, lantern hanger, and a fire ring with a metal grill. All rest on the ground and can be used for campfires. • Firewood is available for a small fee. Please do not bring your own as it may have insects that could harm the park's trees. • Generators are not permitted in the campground. • Dogwood Campground: Water and electric hookups; sites accept outlets for 20, 30 amp current. Accommodates various equipment and large RV units up to 40 feet; however, it’s preferred units up to 30 feet use Birch Campground, when available. There are no sewer hook-ups, but there is a dump station. The area is sparsely wooded and mostly flat. Most large RV sites are pull-through. The restroom is universally accessible. Sites D-27 and D-35 are near the bathhouse and are universally accessible. • Birch Campground: Water and electric hookups; sites accept outlets for 20, 30, 50 amp current. Accommodates various equipment and smaller RV units up to 30 feet. There are no sewer hook-ups, but there is a dump station in Cedar Campground. The area is mostly wooded and flat. Most of the sites are back-in with some pull-through available. • Alder and Cedar Campgrounds: Will accommodate a mix of equipment; however, mostly tents and small trailers up to 20 feet long. No hookups for electric and water. Campgrounds are mostly wooded. The terrain varies from level to hilly. Alder Campground has an accessible bathhouse available Memorial Day through Labor Day. Total sites of each type: STD, 36; E/W, 67 Site type: • STD - Various equipment up to 20 feet; Alder and Cedar campgrounds. No hookups. • E/W - Various equipment up to 40 feet in Dogwood campground and up to 30 feet in Birch campground. Electric and water hookups. Total campsites: 103 Group campsite - Standard tent site; no hookups, tents only. Maximum of 35 people, 10 tents and 10 vehicles. Gravel picnic pad, two pedestal grills, a campfire fire ring with a metal grill, six picnic tables, and two lantern hangers. Group site area is 125 feet by 60 feet. • No water or electricity. • No tent pads. Camping surface is grass. • Rented only to groups. • In Dogwood Campground, which has a bathhouse with running water and hot showers. • Generators are not permitted. • Parking is available in front of the campsite or at the Dogwood Campground overflow parking lot.

Cabins Cabins 1-12: Two-bedroom, one bathroom, water view; cabins 1, 6 and 7 are universally accessible. Maximum occupancy: six Minimum stay • Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day • Six-night minimum stay • Cabins 1-6 starting on Saturday • Cabins 7-12 starting on Sunday • Minimum stay reduced depending on availability • Six-night minimum stay reduced depending on availability to: • Four-night minimum 90 days prior to arrival • Two-night minimum 30 days prior to arrival Check-In/Out • Cabin check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. Cabin Furnishing and Amenities • Cabins have rustic furniture and are climate-controlled (heat and air conditioning). You may want to bring food, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, board games or cards, bath towels, washcloths and dish towels. The cabins have no dishwasher, phone, TV, washer or dryer. • Cell phone service is available in most of the park. • Kitchen: refrigerator, stove, drip coffeemaker, dishes, dishcloth, dishwashing liquid, dish towel, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, oven mitt, potholder, microwave oven and toaster. • Living area: sofa, chair and dining table. • Bedrooms: nightstands, dressers. • One bedroom has a queen-size bed. • The second bedroom has two bunk beds. • Twin mattresses are slightly oversized. We recommend twin xl-sized linen. • Pillows are provided. • No linens are provided. Guests must bring sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bath mats, kitchen towels and cloths. • Cabins have a fireplace. The park provides one bundle of complimentary firewood. Extra firewood is available for a nominal fee. Please do not bring your own as it may have insects that could harm the park's trees. • Fire-pit • Screened-in porch with rocking chairs. • Patio. • Picnic table and a charcoal pedestal grill in the yard beside the cabin. Guests must supply the charcoal. • Late arrivals: During mid and off-season, those arriving after 4 p.m. will find cabin access information in the "late arrival box" by the cabin door. • Two vehicles per cabin. All others are charged the parking fee. • Cabin guests use the boat launch for free. There are three small boat docks located in the cabin area (between cabins 1 and 2, behind cabin 4 and behind cabin 10) for cabin guests to use free of charge. They are first-come, first-served. Overnight boat slips are available at the park marina for a fee. • No smoking. • Recycle bins for aluminum and plastic bottles are at the entrance to the cabin area and other areas of the park. Cabins 13, 17 and 18: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom, wood-framed cabin with a water view; cabin 13 is universally accessible with ADA-compliant fishing access. Maximum occupancy: eight Minimum stay • Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day • Six-night minimum stay • Cabins 13 and 18 starting on Friday • Cabins 17 starting on Saturday • Minimum stay reduced depending on availability • Six-night minimum stay reduced depending on availability to: • Four-night minimum 90 days prior to arrival • Two-night minimum 30 days prior to arrival Check-In/Out • Cabin check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. Cabin Furnishing and Amenities • In cabin 13, the kitchen, dining area, living room, one bedroom and one bathroom are universally accessible. • Cabins have rustic furniture and have heat and air conditioning. Bring food, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, board games or cards, bath towels, washcloths and dish towels. The cabins have no phone, TV, washer or dryer. • Cell phone service is available in most of the park. • Kitchen: refrigerator, stove, drip coffeemaker, dishes, dishwashing liquid, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster and dishwasher. • Living area: sofa, chairs and dining table. • Bedrooms: nightstand. Dressers in Cabins 17 and 18. • One bedroom has a queen-size bed. • One bedroom has two twin-size beds. • One bedroom has two sets of bunk beds (this room sleeps 4 people). • Pillows are provided. • No linens are provided. Guests must bring sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bath mats, kitchen towels and cloths • Twin mattresses are slightly oversized. We recommend twin xl-sized linen. • Cabins 17 and 18 have a gas fireplace. Cabin 13 has a wood-burning fireplace for which the park provides a bundle of complimentary firewood. Extra firewood is available for a nominal fee. Please do not bring your own as it may have insects that could harm the park's trees. • No smoking. • Wrap-around deck; open porch with rocking chairs. • Cabin 13 has a fire-pit, a charcoal pedestal grill and an ADA-compliant picnic table. Cabins 17 and 18 have a fire-pit, grill and a standard picnic table. Guests must provide the charcoal. • Late arrivals: During mid and off-season, those arriving after 4 p.m. will find cabin access information in the "late arrival box" by the cabin door. • Three vehicles per cabin. Cabin 13 has six parking spots and one for a boat trailer. Cabins 17 and 18 have three spots each (or two car spots and one trailer spot per cabin). Parking fees apply to additional vehicles. Additional parking is very limited and may be unavailable near the cabin. Overflow parking is available in the cabin area. • Cabin guests use the boat launch for free. • Free first-served boat docks are nearby. The closest to cabin 13 is across from cabin 15. The closest to cabins 17 and 18 are below cabins 4 and 10. Overnight slips at the marina may be rented as well. • Recycling bins for aluminum and plastic bottles are in the cabin and lodge area and throughout the park. Lodges Lodges 14, 15 and 16: six-bedroom, three-bathroom, water view; universally accessible. Maximum occupancy: 16 Minimum stay (depending on demand) • Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day • Six-night minimum stay • Lodges 14 and 15 starting on Friday • Lodge 16 starting on Sunday • Minimum stay reduced depending on availability • Six-night minimum stay reduced depending on availability to: • Four-night minimum 90 days prior to arrival • Two-night minimum 30 days prior to arrival Check-In/Out • Lodge check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. Lodge Furnishing and Amenities • Universally accessible: kitchen, dining area, living room, one bedroom and one bath. • Lodges have rustic furniture and have heat and air conditioning. Bring food, coffee filters, coffee, salt and pepper, nonstick cooking spray, board games or cards, bath towels, washcloths and dish towels. The lodges have a washer and dryer but no phone or TV. • Cell phone service is available in most of the park. • Kitchen: refrigerator, stove, drip coffeemaker, dishes, dishwashing liquid, silverware, cooking utensils, pots, pans, microwave oven, toaster and dishwasher. • Living area: sofa, chairs and dining table. There is a fireplace with gas logs. • No smoking. • Bedrooms: nightstand. No extra bed rentals. One bedroom and one bathroom are universally accessible. • Two bedrooms have queen-sized beds. • Two bedrooms have two twin-sized beds. • Two bedrooms have two sets of bunk beds (each room sleeps four people). • Pillows are provided. • No linens are provided. Guests must bring sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, bath mats, kitchen towels and cloths. • Twin mattresses are slightly oversized. We recommend twin xl-sized linen. • One open porch on the front and a second open porch on the back of the lodge with rocking chairs. • Fire-pit, picnic table and charcoal grill provided. Guests must provide the charcoal. • Late arrivals: During mid and off-season, those arriving after 4 p.m. will find cabin access information in the "late arrival box" by the cabin door. • Camping is not allowed in the cabin and lodge area. • Maximum six cars and one additional boat trailer parking space per lodge. Parking fees apply to additional vehicles. Additional parking is very limited and may be unavailable near the lodge. • There is a first-come, first-served boat dock nearby, across from cabin 15. There's no cost for cabin guests. Overnight slips are available at the marina for a fee. • Recycle bins for aluminum and plastic bottles are across from cabin 13 and in other areas of the park. Yurts Functionally speaking, they’re a cross between a tent and a cabin. Claytor Lake has four yurts, which are located in Birch Campground . Reservations are required. The rental season is April 1- Oct. 31. Cabin rental and cancellation policies apply. Camping is not allowed in the yurt area, only on designated campsites Maximum occupancy: four, sleeps three. Minimum stay • Friday and Saturday nights • Two-night minimum • One-night minimum other days Check-In/Out • Yurt check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m. Yurt Furnishing and Amenities • One queen-sized bed and a twin-sized trundle pull-out. Guests must bring sleeping bags or linens for the beds. Pillows are provided. • No smoking, cooking or pets, except service animals, are allowed in the yurt. • Each Yurt has a water spigot and a power outlet on the deck. The yurt has no bathroom, heat or air conditioning. Guests may use the nearby campground bathhouse. A common-use water spigot is also at the campground bathhouse. • Each yurt has a large wooden deck with a picnic table and rocking chairs. • Each also has a pedestal charcoal grill, a fire-ring with a cooking grate and a second picnic table. • A food storage locker is available outside of the yurt. The storage locker size is 48” wide x 32” high x 26” deep (23 cubic feet). • Each yurt has a couch, sitting chair, coffee table, dining table with three chairs, a queen-sized bed, a twin-sized trundle pull-out and two nightstands. • Yurt Osprey is universally accessible. An accessible bathhouse is in Dogwood Campground. There's also an accessible bathhouse in Alder Campground from Memorial Day through Labor Day. • Parking for two vehicles is allowed for each yurt. Those with additional vehicles must pay the daily parking fee and park in the overflow lot near the campground entrance. • A shared wagon is available adjacent to the yurt parking lot for guests to transport items. Instructions provided at check-in. Bunkhouse The park has one camping lodge (bunkhouse) for rent. It is in Alder Campground . The camping lodge has a covered front porch and a small deck behind it. Reservations are required. The rental season is only during camping season for Alder Campground (the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day). The transfer deadline and cancellation and pet fees are the same as those for cabins. Maximum occupancy: 14 Minimum stay • Two-night minimum stay; no weekly requirement Check-In/Out • Bunkhouse check-in is 4 p.m., check-out is 10 a.m. Bunkhouse Furnishing and Amenities • The camping lodge is a two-room, climate-controlled trailer. There are seven sets of bunk beds as well as a refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot. • Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own linens and pillows. • Guests are responsible for any damage. • No bathroom, kitchen or fireplace. • No cooking or smoking is permitted in the camping lodge. • Firewood is available for a small fee. Please do not bring your own as it may have insects that could harm the park's trees. • Five vehicles are permitted with the rental of the camping lodge. All others are charged the standard parking fee. Parking is available at the camping lodge for four vehicles only; the fifth vehicle must park in the campground overflow parking lot. • Electrical outlets are available but limited to 50-amp service. • Outside are two picnic tables, a fire-pit and a charcoal grill. Total sites of each type: 2-bedroom cinderblock waterview, 12. 3-bedroom wood-frame waterview, 1. 6-bedroom wood-frame lodge, 3. Site types: 2-bedroom cinderblock waterview – two bedrooms, one bathroom, typically sleeps up to four (one full-size bed, two twin-size beds). Maximum occupancy is six. 3-bedroom wood-frame waterview – three bedrooms, two bathrooms, sleeps up to eight, one queen bed, two twin beds in the second bedroom, two sets of bunk beds (room sleeps four) in the third bedroom. 6-bedroom wood-frame lodge – six bedrooms, three bathrooms, sleeps up to 16, universally accessible, two queen-size beds in two bedrooms, two single beds in two bedrooms, two sets of bunk beds each in two bedrooms (sleeps four in each room). Yurts (four) Camping lodge (one) - bunkhouse

The park has six trails - a total of 7 miles of easy-rating hike or bike trails - open year-round. The plant life is predominantly representative of a mature oak-hickory-poplar forest. Extensive reforestation is ongoing. White-tailed deer, various birds, raccoons, squirrels and other species are common. Within the trail system lies a 5K cross-country trail designed by Boy Scout troop 244. The trail starts on Lakeview Trail in front of the Water's Edge Meeting Facility and ends in front of the lodges. It's great for seasoned and novice runners. Those interested in hosting a 5K at the park should contact the park office. The park's Shady Ridge Trail, a .66-mile self-guided interpretive loop trail, is part of TRACK Trail Adventures, a program that uses brochures to help kids explore nature. A different story unfolds with each page of the brochure.

Between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available for a fee. The swimming area has a snack bar and gift shop. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Weather and other issues may sometimes force the suspension of guarded swimming. When guarded swimming is unavailable, guests may swim at the beach's designated area. Swimming elsewhere in the park is not advised. Click here for park fees. From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, operating hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A possible shortage of lifeguards before mid-June and after mid-August may result in unguarded swimming. Call the park for details. Pets are not allowed on the beach at the swimming area.

Motorboats permitted. Except for the beach and cabin area, fishing is permitted from the shoreline throughout the park. Bass, catfish, muskie, walleye and striped bass are among the popular sport fish found in the lake. A valid Virginia freshwater fishing license is required. Licenses may be purchased at the Water's Edge gift shop when it's open or at the park office during the off-season. For more information about fishing and boating, visit Claytor Lake. The park offers boat slip rental, a launch ramp (no charge to overnight guests), gasoline sales, fishing supplies and licenses, and a gift shop. Long-term boat slips are available at the Marina from March through October by calling the park at 540-643-2500. Two overnight dock rentals are available at A Dock, the dock to the launch ramp's right. You can reserve these online or by calling 800-933-PARK (7275). Boats longer than 24 feet cannot be accommodated. Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is at 3 p.m. Rental of the boat slip includes a park/launch pass for 1 vehicle. There's a 14-night maximum stay limit. Camping cancellation/early departure policies apply to overnight dock rentals. Also located within the park is the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) launch ramp. This ramp is located at 4555 Bear Dr., Dublin, VA 24084. Since this is not state park property, we do not collect a daily parking/launch fee. Claytor Lake Water Sports at the marina offers various pontoons, motorboats, canoes and kayaks and can handle all your boat rental needs. Call 540-731-8683 or visit its website for details or to make reservations. Self-serve paddle rentals are available through Whenever Watersports from 6 a.m. to sunset, seasonally. Single and tandem kayaks as well as Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) are available. The self-serve paddle kiosk is located at the beach point along the water between the marina and left side of the beach. Claytor Lake sometimes is lowered each year in November for maintenance. It takes about two weeks. Launching from the boat launch may be impossible during this time, and fishing from the shoreline is difficult. Those with larger boats should use the public boat launch on Bear Drive. Please contact the Park Office for additional details or visit http://claytorhydro.com/. Annual parking-launching passports are available online or by calling 1-800-933-PARK. Attention: Clean plant debris, insects and mollusks (snails) from your boat and accessories before arriving at the park. Invasive species harm the lake's native species. Your vigilance ensures a quality fishing and recreational experience for you and future park guests.

Motorboats permitted. Except for the beach and cabin area, fishing is permitted from the shoreline throughout the park. Bass, catfish, muskie, walleye and striped bass are among the popular sport fish found in the lake. A valid Virginia freshwater fishing license is required. Licenses may be purchased at the Water's Edge gift shop when it's open or at the park office during the off-season. For more information about fishing and boating, visit Claytor Lake. The park offers boat slip rental, a launch ramp (no charge to overnight guests), gasoline sales, fishing supplies and licenses, and a gift shop. Long-term boat slips are available at the Marina from March through October by calling the park at 540-643-2500. Two overnight dock rentals are available at A Dock, the dock to the launch ramp's right. You can reserve these online or by calling 800-933-PARK (7275). Boats longer than 24 feet cannot be accommodated. Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is at 3 p.m. Rental of the boat slip includes a park/launch pass for 1 vehicle. There's a 14-night maximum stay limit. Camping cancellation/early departure policies apply to overnight dock rentals. Also located within the park is the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) launch ramp. This ramp is located at 4555 Bear Dr., Dublin, VA 24084. Since this is not state park property, we do not collect a daily parking/launch fee. Claytor Lake Water Sports at the marina offers various pontoons, motorboats, canoes and kayaks and can handle all your boat rental needs. Call 540-731-8683 or visit its website for details or to make reservations. Self-serve paddle rentals are available through Whenever Watersports from 6 a.m. to sunset, seasonally. Single and tandem kayaks as well as Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) are available. The self-serve paddle kiosk is located at the beach point along the water between the marina and left side of the beach. Claytor Lake sometimes is lowered each year in November for maintenance. It takes about two weeks. Launching from the boat launch may be impossible during this time, and fishing from the shoreline is difficult. Those with larger boats should use the public boat launch on Bear Drive. Please contact the Park Office for additional details or visit http://claytorhydro.com/. Annual parking-launching passports are available online or by calling 1-800-933-PARK. Attention: Clean plant debris, insects and mollusks (snails) from your boat and accessories before arriving at the park. Invasive species harm the lake's native species. Your vigilance ensures a quality fishing and recreational experience for you and future park guests.

A state fishing license is usually required.

• An All-Terrain Wheelchair is available for both children and adults. Please visit the All-Terrain Wheelchair page for more information and to request a reservation. • Picnic shelters 1 and 4. • Picnic area restrooms near shelters 1 and 4. • There is an accessible fishing pier in the picnic area. A 1/4-mile paved walkway leads to it. The pier is best accessed from the picnic area restroom parking lot. • The marina has an accessible fishing platform. It's best accessed by parking at the meeting facility and taking a sidewalk down the hill. • Several small picnic shelters in the parking area are wheelchair accessible. • The beach bathhouse restrooms, concession area and breezeways there are accessible. There is a rather long sidewalk connecting the bathhouse to the beach; the sidewalk meets accessibility standards. The sidewalk ends at a concrete platform adjacent to the water, however, there is no ramp into the water or transfer equipment. • Cabins 1, 6 and 7 are accessible. This includes level entry to exterior doors, modified interior door widths, renovated restrooms and kitchens, and widened exterior doors. Cabins 13, 14, 15 and 16 are also accessible. • Alder and Dogwood Campgrounds have accessible restrooms. Campsites D-27 and D-35 are accessible. Yurt Osprey in Birch Campground is accessible. • The Water’s Edge Meeting Facility has accessible parking spaces and a sidewalk that leads directly to the front entrance and deck. The meeting room, restrooms, gift shop and snack bar are accessible. • Howe House restrooms can be accessed through the house's back door. • Accessible parking spaces are designated at the beach, marina, visitor center and two picnic areas. • Lakeview Trail and a paved section of Poplar Leaf Trail that connects Dogwood Campground to the day-use area are accessible. Although gas-powered devices are not permitted on park trails, electric-powered wheelchairs, golf carts, Segways (r) and scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed.