Blacksburg / Christiansburg Virginia Tourism

Coasting down the first big hill, the wind rushes past your face as you gain speed. In the process you are reminded why you loved riding your bike so much as a child.

After an exhilarating walk through pristine woods past picturesque streams, you are awed by the sight of a magnificent waterfall that cascades down, forming a deep blue pool that beckons you to jump in.

If you find either one of these scenarios appealing, then you’ve come to the right place. Montgomery County is, indeed, a recreational paradise.

For the biking enthusiast, the Huckleberry Trail is more than twelve miles of paved biking, walking, jogging and skating paths that run between Christiansburg and Blacksburg. The trail gets heavy use year-round, and is full of sights such as old railway trestles, rock cliffs, and a heritage park. Nearby is the New River Trail, which is 57 miles of the rails to trails system that turns former railroad routes into recreational paths. The trail is used for biking, hiking, walking and horseback riding and traverses the beautiful New River – the oldest river in the United States. The New River is used by campers, canoeists and fishermen year- round, and is nationally recognized for its outstanding fishing and clean clear water.

If you are looking for a more secluded hiking spot, the Appalachian Trail encompasses more than four hundred miles of footpaths through the state of Virginia with three miles traversing Montgomery County. The trail winds through fourteen states in the eastern United States and offers backcountry camping with shelters, hiking, bridges, incomparable vistas and dazzling natural scenery. If you prefer to drive to see long winding vistas, then the Blue Ridge Parkway is just the ticket. Conceived in the 1930’s as a 470 mile link between the Shenandoah National Park and the Smoky Mountains National Park, the parkway offers historical sights, a winery, resorts, bed and breakfasts, as well as extensive hiking and camping choices.

During the summer months you can jump right into nearby Claytor Lake. The lake is twenty-one miles long with more than 100 miles of shoreline. Surrounded by beautiful woodlands and forested mountains this man-made wonder has been in existence for more than 64 years. Nearby hiking trails allow visitors to mingle with and observe the local wildlife, birds and fauna while the lake is a fishing, boating, swimming and hiking heaven for the water devotee.

The area’s first rate accommodations include historic bed and breakfast inns offering luxurious Victorian décor, hospitality and ambiance, modern luxury lodgings, rustic cabins and notable resorts. The area’s most recognizable resort is Mountain Lake. Open during the summer and fall, the resort’s high elevation of 4,000 feet makes it an ideal place to come and cool off in one of two natural lakes in the commonwealth. The resort also boasts cozy accommodations in a majestic stone hotel that serves outstanding cuisine and provides numerous activities for its guests. The hotel is perhaps most famous as the backdrop for the film Dirty Dancing, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Nearby is a beautiful four-mile hike to The Cascades waterfall. This natural wonder is 68 feet high, and provides a spectacular hike among lush flora and fauna, complete with well-marked footpaths and picnic areas.

In the same general vicinity off route 460 West, is Pandapas Pond recreation area. A one-mile hiking trail and mountain biking routes for the more adventurous cyclist surrounds the eight-acre man made pond.

Whether it is hiking, biking, swimming, rafting, boating, sight seeing or any outdoor enthusiast’s favorite pastime the slice of heaven on earth that is the Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia area offers it with a majestic background, unforgettable scenic splendor and welcoming hospitality.