Beartree Recreation Area

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground was closed for the entire 2025 season due to Hurricane Helene damage and should reopen mid-May 2026. Beartree Lake has been drained for organic material removal. Normal operating season is mid-May through late October.

About

Beartree Recreation Area offers a relaxing, family-friendly camping experience in the diverse vegetation and scenic beauty of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The campground features 70 campsites divided between two loops: 35 units in Chipmunk Circle and 35 units in Beaver Flats, with both reservable and first-come, first-served sites available. Each site includes a parking spur, lantern post, fire grill, and picnic table. The campground welcomes both tent campers and RVs, with some sites accommodating recreation vehicles up to 40 feet in length, though no hookups are provided. Bathhouses throughout the campground provide toilets, warm showers, sinks, and drinking water during normal operations. Group camping is also available with four walk-in tent clusters and four paved RV clusters in the Group Loop. A dump station is located near the campground exit. The recreation area centers around the 14-acre Beartree Lake, which offers fishing for smallmouth bass, sunfish, rainbow trout, and brown trout. Two fishing piers provide access, and self-propelled or electric trolling-motor boats are permitted. The Beartree Lake Trail circles the lake with half the trail paved for easier access. The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Visitors can access the nearby Appalachian Trail and the popular Virginia Creeper Trail, with many shuttle and rental services available. The area features dense forests, a small creek flowing through the campground, and connections to Iron Mountain Trail and other regional trails. The Mount Rogers Scenic Byway passes near the campground, showcasing the impressive valleys, mountains, and rural countryside of western Virginia.

Directions

Beartree Campground is located at 20993 Beartree Gap Road, Damascus, VA, approximately 9 miles from the town of Damascus. From I-81 Southbound: Take exit 29 and turn left on State Route 91 South for 13 miles. In Damascus, at the intersection of State Route 91 South and U.S. 58 East, continue on U.S. 58 East for approximately 7 miles. The campground is on the left. From I-81 Northbound: Take exit 19 at Abingdon. Turn right and continue on U.S. 58 East for 12 miles to Damascus. Continue on U.S. 58 East another 7 miles to the campground on the left.

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