Douthat State Park RV & Campground Guide

Douthat Lake offers excellent largemouth bass fishing and is stocked frequently with brown, rainbow and brook trout. You'll also find channel catfish, sunfish and black crappie. Don't forget to check out the kid-friendly fishing area below the dam on Wilson Creek. Generally, all anglers over the age of 16 must have at least a freshwater fishing license. Depending on the season, you may also need a Virginia Trout permit. Fishing hours are subject to change and are posted at the park.

One of the easiest and most popular geocaches at this Virginia state park is located near the amphitheater. It's a medium cache in a clear container that includes a log book and collector's card. Take the trail to the amphitheater, passing by a campfire ring as well as several stairs and a bridge. You'll find this geocache under the stage.

The Allegheny Mountains are home to countless mammals like red foxes, cottontail rabbits, weasels, field mice, raccoons, whitetail deer and groundhogs. The most commonly spotted birds are osprey, hermit thrushes, crows, owls, hawks and the occasional eagle. Black bears, coyotes, beavers and minks also roam the area, but they're not seen as often.

Douthat State Park has recently applied to be considered an International Dark Sky Park. This park has taken steps to cut back light pollution and offer unobstructed views of the nighttime sky. Feel free to set up your telescope on the banks of the river or enjoy the stunning stars and constellations from your campsite.

The majority of the park consists almost entirely of second- or third-growth hardwood forests. As you hike the trails, you'll likely spot red maple, black cherry, yellow birch and pine trees. The region also has more than 20 known species of reptiles and 54 species of vertebrates like grub worms, cave crayfish and leeches that live in and around the rivers.

Hikers have access to over 40 miles of thickly wooded trails. There are also six miles of bridle trails for equestrians. Consider checking out the difficult, 4.2-mile Stony Run trail or the easy 2.52-mile Flat Run path. Several miles of the Alleghany Highlands Multi-Use, Equestrian State Trail also runs through the park.

You can rent paddleboats, paddleboards, hydro bikes and rowboats seasonally. No gas-powered boats or watercraft are permitted on the water. There's a free, public boat launch and a designated mooring area. Boat storage is also available all year long for a fee.

The park's sandy swimming beach is open between May and October. Visitors are not allowed to use the diving dock, and all swimming is unsupervised and at your own risk. Swimming is not allowed anywhere else at the park. The beach house offers free Wi-Fi, snacks and equipment.

While many of the hiking trails are open to mountain bikers, please remember that hikers always have the right-of-way. Bikers are permitted on all trails except Buck Lick, Heron Run, Mountain Side and YCC. Many of the epic biking paths here are rated moderate to difficult, promising hours of thrilling summer adventure.