Shared by Rachel Cooper, as Guest Blogger.

You can spend a lifetime exploring the scenic shoreline of the 48,000- acre John H.  Kerr Reservoir. Also known as Buggs Lake, this waterway is so massive that its creeks expand across three counties in Virginia and three in North Carolina.

With more than 30 boat launches around the lake, it can be overwhelming to decide where to launch a kayak.

Kayaking the Kerr Reservoir from Occoneechee State Park

As the author of the new guidebook Quiet Water Mid Atlantic, AMC’s Canoe and Kayak Guide to the Best Lakes, Ponds and Easy Rivers, I chose to kayak the waters surrounding Occoneechee State Park in Clarksville, VA. This state park offers a quiet oasis that is perfect for paddling and a weekend getaway. There are panoramic views and many opportunities to see bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and other migratory birds. It is also a popular spot for fishing as anglers often catch striped bass, perch, and other freshwater fish.

To reach the calmest waters for kayaking, launch from the main boat ramp and paddle to your right. You will eventually reach a narrow cove that is surrounded by hardwood forest and the shoreline is dotted with an abundance of buttonbush, a low deciduous shrub with clusters of fragrant white flowers that look like pincushions and attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. At the end of the cove, you can keep paddling as far as you like through a shallow creek.

The shoreline was dotted with an abundance of buttonbush

Named for the Native Americans who once lived in the area, Occoneechee is one of Virginia’s lesser known parks. It has modern and convenient amenities including cabins, campsites, an equestrian campground, boat ramps, and a marina. You can bring your own kayak or rent one from the onsite outfitter: Clarksville Marine Rentals: 1192 Occoneechee Park Road, Clarksville, VA 23927, 434-374-2755. Some of the cabins and campsites at the park are right on the shoreline and have private access to the water. The park has three boat launches making it easy to get out on the water.

We spent the weekend in one of the two-bedroom frame cabins that sleeps six people. The beautiful wooded setting provides plenty of privacy and the cabins are well-appointed and quite comfortable with a full kitchen, a large living room with a fireplace, a barbecue grill, a deck with rocking chairs and even air-conditioning. The park also has 20 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. While the park is located in a pretty rural area, you will find a Food Lion grocery store and a few restaurants just three-miles away in the town of Clarksville. For more information about overnight accommodations call 800-933-7275.

More about the park: Occoneechee State Park, 1192 Occoneechee State Park Road, Clarksville, VA.

Getting There: From I-85, take the exit to US 58 West at South Hill. Drive 26.4 miles, then turn left onto VA 364 South, 1 mile east of Clarksville. From this main entrance, turn right and follow VA 364 North (Occoneechee Park Road) for 0.5 mile to the main boat ramp.

Rachel Cooper is a freelance writer specializing in outdoor recreation, Washington, D.C. and Mid-Atlantic travel. Her book Quiet Water Mid Atlantic features 60 of the best flat-water paddling locations in eastern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. With trips for all skill levels, this curated list is ideal for families, anglers, canoeists, and kayakers.

Disclaimer: Rachel was provided overnight accommodation in return for this article. All thoughts and opinions are her own and not influenced by Virginia State Parks, or its affiliates.