Smith Mountain Lake State Park — Hotel in Gretna

We visited on a Saturday morning in late May 2023 (Memorial Day weekend). The park office/visitor center was very nice with ample parking. There are nice bathrooms here and water fountain as well. If you walk straight back there is a number of exhibits along with a giant fish tank. To the right when you walk in a small fishing shop that sold any fishing items you might need. Then the main desk and behind that was the small park store which sold merch and apparel.

The kids did pick up junior ranger books here and completed them during our visit.

We were not staying at the park but at a lake house near by. We intentionally visit with the idea of biking a number of the trails. We parked at the trailhead parking near Turtle Island Trail. We took the trail all the way down to the island which was nice and went around the island as well. The bridge over to the island was a bit difficult for our 8 year old. We only passed 2 groups of people on this trail which wasn't bad. We saw no one else on any of the other trails we took. It was a lot of fun but our 8 year old did have to hike his bike up a couple of the inclines. We went straight from the Turtle Island Trail onto the Opossum Trot Trail who took us basically to the road leading to the discover center.

We rode over to the center but it was closed on the day we were visiting. We were going to do lake view trail but decided not to as the road didn't really connect to the parking lot (at last we didn't see an obvious trail head). There was a nice playground which my youngest played on for a couple mins while we were planning our next trail. There were plenty of outside picnic tables as well and no one in the parking lot. Great place to go for a walk and just have a picnic and hang out for an afternoon.

We then took Tobacco Run Trail out to the point and came back. We were going to complete the last loop with Beaver Den Trail and take it back to the parking lot (on the other side of the road) but the trail did not look very well maintained at the end near the discovery center. There was a lot of leaves on the trail. We also had see a number of hikers go down this trail from the parking lot so we decided to just ride our bikes back up the road to the parking area. Maybe it would've been nicer to bike Beaver Den Trail from the parking lot down to the discovery center and then ride the road back uphill to the parking lot. Maybe next time we will try this route.

We did see the beach area which looked really nice but we didn't actually go out there. This park looks like it has a lot to offer and we wouldn't mind staying here at the park at all. Would definitely visit again as there was a lot more to do that we didn't...

Used to be a regular when I lived close by, but havent been in a couple years since moving to Roanoke. Nice size beach and extended it some years ago. But that section was often closed to swimming, even on weekends. A lot of rules including no floats or flotation devices past first rope. No coolers allowed on beach. Lifeguard turned in guy for alcohol on his breath and guy was put in handcuffs without a breathalyzer being given. He wasnt causing any trouble at all even after being arrested. Alcohol isnt allowed on premises even in your cabin, although I dont think they really check that. Nice in season concession stand. Bathroom with showers.

Overall Im just used to the small public beaches on the Va. coast that dont draw a lot of tourist. (Buckroe Beach, Grandview Beach, Ocean View Beach, Yorktown Beach and Huntington Beach). Particularly you can swim on those beaches after they close for the day and in the off season. It was really frustrating to have beautiful days in September and early October and you couldnt swim.

Nice wide mountain bike and hiking trails with beautiful views of the lake. Enjoyed them in cooler months when no bugs out. Not really kept up good for serious mountain 8biking. Many fallen trees. I hit one going downhill and got thrown over the handlebars.

I do think it is good Rangers enforce the speed limt throughout the park, and Im sure they also get many drunks off the road.

I do see the park reads reviews. I know we have to follow rules. Just curious why swimming at your own risk isnt allowed at SMLSP like at the public municipal parks I...

In both of my visits (spring of 2015 & 2016), I have had to deal with rude and/or ambivalent staff. Whether it be questions they don't want to respond to over the phone because you can get the answer from other sources (e.g., from printed materials given after you arrive or from the internet) or staff who drive past you and won't return a friendly wave, this prevalent attitude is unusual and certainly unnecessary from my perspective as a full-time camper who travels to state and federally-managed parks all over the country. To be fair, both visits did have one friendly office staffer.

Also, beware of some of the inner pull-thru campsites because you can easily scrape the ground as you go from the road onto the pad. Hearing the grinding sound of metal from the back of your trailer scraping across the ground is disconnecting. The paved gutters have deep dips that should not be there and are in need of a permanent fix. Instead, a couple sites had some gravel dumped in these dips to build up the height. Most didn't. Just grab a back-in campsite on the exterior instead.

Other than all that, the park is beautiful. I was there too early in the spring before the beach area opened for the season but that looks like it would be a lot of fun for kids. If you don't have a MH, trailer, or tent, there are also a handful of very nice cabins to rent near the lake further past the campground.

If it wasn't for a good friend I like to visit with who lives nearby, I would not bother returning...