Claytor Lake State Park — Attraction in Dublin

I've grown up by the river my entire life, so there was never much need to visit a crowded lake. Now that I'm an adult, I've had the pleasure to take many adventures, and this is my 2nd lake in Virginia. I wish that I could've given this a better review because I anticipated visiting Claytor for many, many years. Here's how the 3-star story goes.

July 26th, my sister-in-law rented a plot to throw a belated birthday for her kids. Being labeled the "fun" aunt and uncle creates a high bar to impress the little ones. We gathered gifts and all of our camp gear to meet 2 mommas and 6 kids at the lake. When we got to the plot, we dove straight into setting up camp while everyone else hit the water. As we were setting up Mom A's 8-person tent, we had to make a tarp cover to avoid the spotty showers & keep the kids dry for the night. We had our tarp connected to 3 trees + 1 lantern post of camp and the tent under it. Drenched in sweat from humidity, impatient from longing to visit the lake I had yet to see & struggling with the trees to hang the tarp to complete our shelter, I accepted the struggle. In our gravel plot there was a bolt and broken glass that could prove to be hazardous so I awaited a golf cart to show in order to ask why these items were not cleaned before we checked into our site. Golf cart #59 showed up to our site green tee and light blue eyes, and his first comment began with,"I don't get paid for this, and I'm not here to argue with you, but you got to move your tent." I asked about the hazards I had stumbled upon, THANKFULLY, before the children did, and his retort was,"Well, aint that gravel a chocking hazard? Ain't that stick in the woods a chocking hazard?". After he was finished being rude and condescending, I requested the park ranger. I left the tent as it was and waited at the picnic table to have all my Claytor Lake questions answered. The park ranger greeted us with a welcoming attitude and further explained why things must remain within the border of the defined plot. He educated us that in this preservation area, we are here to keep this earth around as long as we can, so they make the plots to avoid ruining the dirt, whereas tents going up and down in dirt can create sediments causing things to disintegrate into less and less over time. Staying in the plot and not on the grass also protects tree roots so they can continue to grow opposed to being damaged. He also told us that as far as wood gathering goes, you are free to find and use whatever you find already on the ground. You may not cut or damage the trees to get a fire. He also told us that hammocks were okay, and our tarp suspended in the air was fine, too. He wished us a good trip and carried on with his occupation, fulfilling his title and answering every question I presented to him. After the great debate, we complied and moved the tent within the border. PLEASE READ THE SIGNS ENTERING CAMP THAT SAY STAY WITHIN THE BORDER.

After camp was set up, my partner and I decided to meet 2 mommas and kiddos at the water. They were tired and ready to go back to camp. We kept the oldest kid w us, so we had a tour guide to show us how to get to the beach. We read a sign stating adults: $4 swim fee, kids: $3 swim fee. If you are like us,"better late than never people," we showed up at 6 pm, the booths were closed, and lifeguards were gone, so we got to hit the water for free. The next day, we visited the beach again with everyone in tow, and my sister-in-law was able to present her camp pass, which meant we were all able to get in at no charge. By the entrance, there is an air tool to fill your floats and/or clean the sand off of you. By the ladies' room, there's an animal exhibit presented by wonderful M. Easter who convinced me easily to pet a ball python who seemed so sweet!

Other notable campsite tips would be they sell bundles of wood for $8 each, 2 bundles lasted us all night. The bathrooms & showers are in separate stalls but the same building. There are electrical outlets at the building & an outdoor sink.

Philpott...

20211205 I hiked the Claytor Lake Trail today. Cost $7 to enter this park. Parked at the parking lot on the right at the Campground B and C entrances. The trail is 1.65 miles one way. I hiked about 0.8 miles, and turned around once I got a view or the lake through some trees. It was late and I didn't go any further. The trail is nice, and I like the Fall scenery with some fall Foliage left, and some new baby pine trees about 5 feet tall or shorter.

3 years ago ... I was driving back from Asheville to D.C, and needed a 1/2 way stop to hiking with my little pups. After looking at many State Parks, Historic Sites, etc... with hiking trails, I picked Clayter Lake State Park. After entering the park, I drove toward the lake where one of the Lake View Trail is located. While looking for a place to park, there were many parking lots along the lake. Some of these parking lots have boat ramp, bathrooms (Portable Toilets for off seasons), gift shop, etc... My pups and I walked along the lake on the Lake View Trail. The trail was paved, and it has a nice view of the lake, but the trail is not located right next to the water. The parking lots are located between this trail and the lake. It was still beautiful. The trail took me into the woods, and it offers glances of the lakes every now and then through the trees on the left. I saw a couple of deer in the woods, which I loved because I love animals. Although when I visited this state park, it was November. Leaves covered all the trails in the woods, but the trails are clearly marked that I didn't have difficulties finding the connecting trails. In the wooded part of the trail, I saw signs on black bear. I was curious to see one (in a distance) but I didn't encounter any, which is a good thing since I have 2 little dogs with me. I looped around in the woods, and exited back onto the Lake View Trail and started heading back to my car. Once I got to my car, I walked toward the water to get a better view of the lake, and there I found on my right a wooden bridge behind a building. We walked across to the other side and found the beach. WOW. I didn't know, or forgot, that there was a beach there. My little ones love the sand, and thank-goodness it was off season, and on one was there. My little ones got to run around on the beach, and I got to take some great pictures of them enjoying the beach with sand under their little paws. This State Park is smaller than I had expected, but it is a perfect size for me to spend a couple of hours before continuing my drive home. This park is also very clean, and I also feel very safe hiking alone with 2 little dogs, because I saw the park ranger driving around a couple of times. It is perfect for a short stop or spend the day. This part is great for kids and dogs. Very Dog Friendly!! I will definitely return to...

We visited in early November 2024 on a Saturday morning. This was our 26th Virginia State Park for the VA State Park Trail Quest.

We first stopped by the visitor center which is inside what looks to be an old historic home. The visitor center is to the right when you enter. The bathrooms area in the basement and i think park offices are upstairs. The visitor center area was a self guided tour, there were no rangers or interpreters there. It was very nicely done and is split into 2 different rooms. I think one of my kids was surprised that "all the buttons work!" on the exhibits. I guess they are used to many things being broken. We spent maybe 15 mins in there.

When we walked out back behind the visitor center we saw that there was a lot of noise from boats and barges clearing debris from hurricane Helene that had come through a month or so prior. But that aside there was a pretty large open area with a "LOVE" sign which was very picturesque and a gazebo too. As we were heading back to the car we bumped into a ranger who told us the store down by the marina should be open and had merch we could look at so we quickly drove over.

The marina gift shop was larger than we expected. It was apart of the "Water's Edge Meeting Facility". There was a conference room inside and a large atrium area. We shopped for a few mins to pick up our pins and hiking medallions.

The kids wanted to do at least 1 trail so we drove to the end of the parking lot and dropped them off at the trailhead for Shady Ridge Trail. it's also a "Track Trail" for those who are trying to complete those and for once had a full set of brochures. Usually when we see the signs they are all empty and gone. We knew the other end of the trail came out near the front of the park so we dropped them off and drove to the front to wait while we were looking up what to do for lunch. Hint hint, The Mason Jar is on the left as you head back to the highway. 100% recommend.

Overall the park was great. We wished we had a little more time to explore some trails and maybe bring our kayaks and paddle boards next time too and do some fishing. We hope the lake clean up doesn't take too long and is back to its...