Do you like the outdoors? Can’t get enough?

If you’re not happy unless you’re moving, working your muscles, getting the adrenaline going, come to the Bedford Area. There ’s so much to do, you won’t know where to begin!

Virginia’s second-largest freshwater lake is just down the road. Just about any water sport you can think of, you can do at Smith Mountain Lake: wakeboarding, jet skiing, waterskiing, sailing, swimming, motor boating, and fishin g... or maybe... tubing! There’s nothing quite like being lashed behind a fast motorboat, sitting inches from the water, bouncing over wakes and whipping from one side of the lake to the other.

But, maybe you prefer something with a little altitude? The Blue Ridge Mountains are nearby. You can see them in the distance. You could drive to them in 30 minutes or bike to them in a couple of hours. You can hike to the top of the Peaks of Otter. Or, you can camp in the Peaks of Otter campground or at other locations on the Parkway. For whatever outdoor activity you crave, come to Bedford.

Biking

If you like mountain biking, miles and miles of roads and trails in Jefferson and Washington National Forests are available year-round for mountain bikers. No permits, fees, or registrations are necessary for individuals and small groups. Unless it is closed to mountain bikes, you may ride your bike on any forest road or trail.
The National Forest Service recommends that you should expect to carry and walk your bike for considerable distances on almost all forest trails, which are not maintained for continuous mountain bike riding. Most trails are narrow, always pretty rough, and sometimes steep. Mountain bikes are not permitted in designated Wilderness areas. Virginia ’s Explore Park, just outside Roanoke has a 12-mile mountain bike trail system, which is open from dawn to dusk daily, at no charge. Bike rentals are available.

Camping

Smelling bacon frying over a breakfast campfire, listening to forest treetops bend to the wind, or watching the infinite nighttime sky through your tent flap; are just some of the allures of camping. The Bedford area has many campsites in the mountains or at a lake. So start rolling your sleeping bag.

Private Campgrounds

Campers Paradise
1336 Campers Paradise Trail, Moneta, VA 24121, (540) 297-6109
www.campersparadise.com

Eagles Roost Campground
15335 Smith Mt. Lake Pky., Huddleston, VA 24104, (540) 297-7381
www.eagleroost.20m.com

Wildwood Campground
6252 Elon Road, Monroe, VA 24574, (434) 299-5228

Public Campgrounds

Public campgrounds are available at the Peaks of Otter, off the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Jefferson and Washington National Forests, as well as in Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Peaks of Otter

Milepost 86 - Blue Ridge Parkway, Bedford, VA 24523

(540) 586-7321; (toll free) (888)-810-2903

The Parkway operates a 144-site campground at the foot of Sharp Top mountain, with sites for 92 tents and 52 trailers or RVs. Facilities include water, comfort stations with flush toilets and cold running water sinks, but no showers or hookups. Camping is only permitted in established campgrounds.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park
1235 State Park Road, Huddleston, VA 24104
(540) 297-6066 or (800) 933-7275

Jefferson National Forest
27 Ranger Lane, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579, (540) 291-2188

Summer Camps

Camp Staunton Meadows, 8144 Mt. Laurel Road, Clover, VA 24534
(434) 454-7676. www.campstauntonmeadows.com

Camp Lowman, P.O. Box 158, Huddleston, VA 24104, (540) 992-3696

Horseback Riding

Day Creek Horse Trailhead:

From Bedford take U.S. 460 west. Turn right on Route 697. Go .06 mile, turn left on Forest Service Road 196. Parking is 0.4 miles on left. Turn left on Forest Service 2087 to enter parking area.

Bearwallow Gap Horse Trailhead: From Bedford take Route 43 North to Peaks of Otter. Turn left on the Blue Ridge Parkway (this is also Route 43 North). Go 5 miles and turn right on Route 43 North, where it turns off Parkway. Turn left on Route 625. Parking is 0.3 miles on the left.

Hunting Creek Horse Trailhead: From Bedford take Route 122 North to Route 602. After 0.5 miles, Route 602 turns left. Continue on Route 602 for another 3.4 miles. Parking is on the left.

Hellgate Creek Horse Trailhead: From Bedford take Route 43 North to Interstate 81 and take Exit 175: Route 130 and Natural Bridge. Turn right onto Route 130 and go 3.2 miles. Turn right on Route 759, go 0.7 miles, then turn left on Route 782. After 1 mile turn right on Route 815 and go about 0.3 miles. Parking is on the right. For more information: www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj

Hunting

Hunting is permitted following state regulations. When on national forest lands, all people required to have a state license are also required to have a National Forest Stamp.