Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Claytor Lake State Park is a go-to destination for water enthusiasts. Its 4,500-acre lake offers roughly 4 miles of lake frontage, including a sandy beach.

While the water draws many people in, it’s not all this park offers. You can find plenty of land-based adventures, too.

Whether you’re visiting for the day or a weekend, here are the five activities you don’t want to miss at Claytor Lake.

1. Go boating.

Kayaking on the lake

Just because you don’t own a boat doesn’t mean you can’t get on the water at Claytor Lake State Park. You can rent one from the marina.

Claytor Lake Water Sports has pontoons, ski boats, a WaveRunner, kayaks, canoes and a pedal boat, while Mountain 2 Island Paddleboard Company has pontoons, paddleboards and kayaks.  

Own a boat? The park offers boat slip rentals, a launch ramp and two overnight dock rentals. If you’re not an overnight guest, there’s a small boat launch fee or you can purchase an annual parking/boat launching passport that’s good at all Virginia State Parks.

As you plan your boating adventure, make note that sometimes the lake is lowered in November for maintenance. This can make launching a boat impossible and fishing from the shoreline difficult. Call the park to learn more.

2. Cast a line.

Fishing on the lake

Fishing is a popular activity at Claytor Lake, and for good reason. The lake is teeming with various fish species, including bass, catfish, muskie and walleye.

You can fish from a boat, shoreline or the accessible fishing platform if you have a valid Virginia freshwater fishing license. You can buy one at the Water’s Edge gift shop when it’s open or at the park office during the off season.

To help improve fishing, the park and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources installed various fish attractors along the lake. You can learn more about those locations here (PDF).

3. Relax on the beach.

The beach at Claytor Lake

Have you ever been to a beach in the mountains? If not, here’s your chance. The park has a designated sandy area where you can relax, sunbathe and take refreshing dips in the lake. There's even a roped-off swimming area for safety, making it a great spot for children to splash around.

From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, guarded beach swimming is available, and the lake’s snack bar and gift shop are open. When a lifeguard isn’t on duty, you can swim at your own risk.

The beach is very popular in the summer months, so get there early if you want to ensure you get a spot on the sand.

4. Find a trail.

Mountain biking at Claytor Lake State Park

Claytor Lake offers six trails (PDF), totaling 7 miles, that take you through mature oak-hickory-poplar forest. They’re rated easy to moderate and open to hikers and mountain bikers.

If you’re a runner, hit the Troop 244 Trail, a 5K cross-country trail. For younger visitors, there’s the .66-mile Shady Ridge Trail, a self-guided interpretive loop that winds through the woods. It’s part of the TRACK Trail Adventures program, which helps kids explore the outdoors. You can download the adventure brochures before your visit or grab one from the visitor center.

Whether you’re looking for a trail the whole family can enjoy or one that will make you break a sweat, Claytor Lake has it.

5. Spend the night.

A lodge on the water

Claytor Lake has several overnight options, whether you seek comfort or want to camp under the stars.

The park has 15 cabins with water views that are climate-controlled and furnished. While most of them are two-bedroom cabins with one bathroom, three have three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

If you’re coming to the park with a larger group, you can stay in one of the three six-bedroom, three-bathroom lodges that are also climate-controlled, furnished and have water views.

If you want something a little more rustic, you can rent a yurt or campsite. The park has four yurts* and four campgrounds*, totaling 103 sites. Campgrounds Alder, Birch and Cedar accommodate a mix of equipment up to 20 feet long but don’t offer electric or water hookups. Campground D can accommodate large RVs up to 40 feet and has water and electric hookups.

There’s also a group tent-only primitive campsite that has space for 35 people, 10 tents and 10 vehicles.

*Campground Cedar is closed for the season and reopens on April 4, 2025. Campground Alder is closed for the season and reopens on May 23, 2025. Due to anticipated improvements, Campgrounds Birch, including the yurts, is closed through the 2025 season.

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Complete your visit to the park by attending one of the ranger-led educational programs. From owl prowls and tree identification hikes to Howe House history tours and welcome campfires, the park offers a range of programs to appeal to visitors of all ages. You can learn more here.

So, whether you’re in for adventure or just looking to relax, Claytor Lake State Park is for you. Start planning your trip to this Southwest Virginia gem at virginiastateparks.gov/claytor-lake.