Camping Adventures
Looking to get away from it all? Here are a few ideas to help get you started
Douthat State Park is the perfect “base camp” for anyone looking to spend some quality time communing with nature. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the original six Virginia State Parks that opened in 1936. Nestled in the Alleghany Mountains the park features some of Virginia’s most 
outstanding scenery. Douthat was named one of the nation’s 10 best state parks by the Outside Family Vacation Guide ...and for good reason.
- Ideal for mountain biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, geocaching, canoeing, and kayaking
- More than 43 miles of trails (trail map)
- 50-acre lake with a life-guard staffed beach
- Tent and RV camping
- Civilian Conservation Corps-built cabins for rent
- Make reservations online
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile trail following the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine, 
544 miles of which are in Virginia. Winding through the Roanoke Region, the AT offers dozens of short and long hikes, easy to strenuous. Throughout the region you can enjoy trail loops that peak at waterfalls and cliffs, always promising spectacular views. The trails listed below are either on the Appalachian Trail or located nearby.
- Plan An Overnight Hike - The AT offers a great opportunity for overnight backpacking trips. Shelters, which are typically three-sided structures that allow you to camp without a tent, are spread along the trail at varied intervals which allow you to hike at your own pace.
- A nice five-day backpacking trip starts with a hike to McAfee Knob and continues to Devil's Marbleyard.
- An interactive Appalachian Trail map shows shelters, parking lots, and vistas along the AT. Zoom in on Roanoke and start planning your trip.
- The A.T. Guide is a "must have" book for anyone spending multiple days on the A.T.
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