Raven Cliff Recreation Area

About

Raven Cliff Recreation Area is a secluded primitive campground tucked into the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests near Ivanhoe, Virginia. The campground offers 20 first-come, first-served sites, each equipped with a gravel parking spur, picnic table, and fire grill. Some sites include pads suitable for tents or pop-up trailers, and select sites can accommodate RVs up to 25 feet. Cripple Creek flows through the recreation area, providing excellent opportunities for fishing, wading, and tubing. Large open fields adjacent to the day-use picnic shelter are ideal for sports and group gatherings. The area's signature attraction is the historic Raven Cliff Furnace, a 30-foot iron ore furnace built from local sandstone in 1810, accessible via the Raven Cliff Furnace Trail when open. This is a pack-it-light destination with no potable water, hookups, or showers. Portable toilets serve the campground, with a vault toilet near the day-use area. The campground operates from mid-April through late November and costs $5 per night per site. Bear country food storage rules apply.

Directions

From I-81 take Wytheville exit 70 or 72 onto US 11 (Main Street). Continue west onto US 21 south for approximately 7.1 miles to State Route 690 (Cripple Creek Rd) and turn left (east) for 3.7 miles. Stay straight on State Route 690 (Slate Springs Branch Rd) for 3.3 miles. Bear right on State Route 642 (Mule Hell Rd) and in 0.3 miles turn right (west) on State Route 619 (Gleaves Rd) for 1.2 miles. Turn left on Raven Cliff Lane and follow to campground.