Alleghany Living 2019 - 22

RECREATION

In addition to the two rivers, the area
also features Lake Moomaw, with 43 miles of
rugged, undeveloped shoreline, and Douthat
State Park, which has a 50-acre lake and has
consistently been named one of the top state
parks in the entire country. In fact, former
Virginia governor and current U.S. Senator
Tim Kaine has visited the park frequently
and has called it one of his family's favorite
vacation locations. Each lake offers camping
and boat rentals, while Douthat also has
a restaurant and cabin rentals available
throughout the year.

Trails in the
Alleghany Highlands
If the water sports don't quite whet the
appetite, perhaps a hike, bike or horseback
ride on one of the many trails in the
area could satiate that desire. Previously

22 Alleghany Living

mentioned Douthat State Park has some
of the premier hiking trails in all of
Virginia, featuring over 40 miles of trails
highlighted by the Blue Suck Falls, which
offers breathtaking views of the surrounding
area. One of the newest and most popular
outdoor attractions has been the completion
of the Jackson River Scenic Trail, a converted
"rail-to-trail" path that runs 14 miles mostly
alongside the Jackson. The soft crushedgravel track features waterfalls, majestic
views, and vibrant flora and fauna that truly
warrant the "scenic" moniker. The trail
has hosted a USATF-certified marathon for
each of the past few years that attracts a
growing number of visitors from all across
the region, and is also enjoyed by cyclists and
equestrians throughout the calendar year.
In addition, the Eastern National
Children's Forest is a unique site in the
area, built by over 1,000 children in 1972

ABOVE:

Camping, paddle boating and
biking are just a few of the
outdoor recreation activities that
the Alleghany Highlands offers
Alleghany Living 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Alleghany Living 2019
