Virginia / Alleghany County / George Washington National Forest

Coles Point

Closed — Closed for the season. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Day use fee is $5 per vehicle.

About

Coles Point Day Use Area sits on a wooded peninsula at the south end of Lake Moomaw in Alleghany County, providing access to one of Virginia's clearest lakes. The 2,530-acre manmade lake on the Jackson River features 43 miles of wooded shoreline. The recreation area includes picnic shelters tucked in a hardwood forest, a swimming beach with bathhouse, two fishing docks, and two boat ramps. An open field provides space for games like Frisbee and soccer. The lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for large and smallmouth bass, brown trout, bluegill, crappie, shad, catfish, sunfish, and chain pickerel. Back Creek nearby provides additional trout fishing. The 1-mile Morris Hill Bike Trail and 3-mile Fortney Loop Trail with several switchbacks are popular for hiking and biking. The area is part of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, protecting diverse Appalachian hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests with abundant wildlife.

Directions

From I-64 at Exit 16A in Covington, follow signs to U.S. Highway 220 and travel north about 5.5 miles. Turn left on State Road 687/Jackson River Road and travel about 3.2 miles. Turn left on State Road 641/Indian Draft Road, which soon becomes State Road 666. Travel about 4.2 miles on 641/666 to a 3-way intersection. Turn right on State Road 605 and travel 4.5 miles past the Morris Hill Campground entrance, and across the Gathright Dam. Picnic shelter #1 will be on the left.

Nearby Campgrounds