Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
View of Buzzard Rock from Whitetop Mountain
At the edge of town, the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (MRNRA) stretches as far as the eye can see, across the highest peaks in the state, over mountain balds and spruce-fir forests, trout streams, and more than 500 miles of trails. The MRNRA was established in 1966 and protects 200,000 acres of National Forest land surrounding Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia. From hiking, camping, biking, and fishing, to paddling, birding, stargazing, and scenic driving, you'll find a new adventure around every turn. Over one million visitors come to the MRNRA every year.
Plan your visit to the National Forest:
Wild ponies on Wilburn Ridge
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Fishing on Whitetop Laurel
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Biking on the Virginia Creeper Trail
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Virginia Creeper Trail
Best for: family-friendly biking, trail running, dog walking, flora and fauna, cross-country skiing
Learn more about the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Note: Damascus is right in the middle of the Virginia Creeper Trail. There are 7 outfitters in town that provide bike rental and shuttle service for the Virginia Creeper Trail. They make trip planning easy!
Appalachian Trail
Best for: hiking through the heart of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Learn more about the Appalachian Trail.
Note: There are many trailheads and access points to the Appalachian Trail near Damascus. Find a spot on the map and choose your own adventure!
Whitetop Laurel Creek
Best for: trout fishing, whitewater paddling (seasonal), swimming holes
Known for: one of Virginia's largest and most beautiful wild trout streams, with seven miles of stocked trout waters and an additional five miles of special regulation waters
Learn more about fishing around Damascus.
Note: The trailheads along the Virginia Creeper Trail from Whitetop Station to Damascus also provide abundant fishing access for Whitetop Laurel! The Creek Junction trailhead offers fishing piers that are wheelchair accessible.
Mount Rogers
Known for: highest peak in Virginia at 5,729' elevation, only accessible by foot
Best for: day hiking, backpacking, trail running, peak bagging
Whitetop Mountain
Known for: second highest peak in Virginia at 5,525' elevation, highest drivable point in Virginia, family-friendly and accessible summit
Best for: day hiking, backpacking, sunsets, picnics, stargazing
Note: Forest Road 89 can become impassable in inclement (especially winter) weather.
Grayson Highlands State Park (nearby)
Known for: third highest peak in Virginia (Wilburn Ridge/Pine Mountain), high elevation balds, wild ponies
Best for: day hiking, backpacking, camping, horse trails, bouldering, scenic overlooks, flora and fauna
Note: Please observe and photograph the wild ponies from a distance. Do not attempt to feed or pet wild animals.
Beartree Lake Recreation Area
Known for: peaceful lake and campground
Best for: picnics, quiet developed sites for RVs and tent camping, group sites available, scenic lake open to fishing and non-motorized boating
Learn more about fishing around Damascus.
Note: Beartree Lake is drained to 1/3 of its standard capacity for a restoration project, Aug to Nov 2024.
Wilderness Areas
The MRNRA has four federally designated wilderness areas: Lewis Fork, Little Wilson Creek, Raccoon Branch, and Little Dry Run. Wilderness areas are defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964 as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Wilderness areas remain untouched by mechanized travel, commercial activity, and permanent roads.
National Forest Campgrounds
Best for: sleeping under the stars, tent camping, RV camping, vanlife
The MRNRA offers the following developed recreation sites and campgrounds: Beartree Lake Recreation Area (9mi from town), Grindstone Recreation Area (18mi from town), and Fox Creek Horse Campground (20mi from town), as well as Hurricane Campground and Raccoon Branch Campground in the Sugar Grove area about 30 miles from Damascus. Campground sites available by reservation on Recreation.gov or on a first come first serve basis.
More information.
Wild ponies along the Appalachian Trail in the Mount Rogers High Country near Damascus
