Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Virginia

Big Tumbling Waterfall on Clinch Mountain, VA © Katrena

Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA), located near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, sounds a bit stale, but don't let the name fool you. For those who enjoy fishing, hunting, and the sheer beauty of nature, this is like homemade yeast rolls right out of the oven! This large protected area includes portions in four Virginia counties: Tazewell, Smyth, Russell, and Washington.

Clinch Mountain River in Virginia © Katrena

My dad was an avid fisherman, and he would drive for hours from his North Carolina home to wade and fish the Clinch Mountain river, a beautiful stream dappled with gleams of filtered sunlight and beautiful butterflies. Dad always claimed that this stocked river had the biggest rainbow trout around and often caught his limit. You will need a Virginia fishing license and a fee is charged for fishing here.

Fun Things to do with Kids Near Blue Ridge Mountains © Katrena

I will admit that trying to keep three hooks baited and in the water while attempting to keep three little girls on shore is a daunting task that I would rather not tackle at this stage, so we simply trekked up to the home of Big Tumbling waterfall to enjoy the scenery. We weren't disappointed.

Appalachian Mountain Trout Fishing © Katrena

Whenever I worked as a cancer nurse, I once had a patient from Virginia who claimed that he had been to the most beautiful place in the world. As he began to describe a gorgeous lake on top of a Virginia mountain that fed amazing waterfalls down the side, I was not surprised when he revealed the location. My dad was not the only one partial to this Virginia trout fisherman's dream come true.

Enjoy Natural Beauty Near Chilhowie © Katrena

It takes a while to get to this wild and wonderful travel destination – about an hour from exit #35 off I-81 at Chilhowie (pronounced like "CULL-uh-wee") toward Saltville. Small signs lead travelers to the area; however, it is a good idea to remember the road names because I could not find signs leading back to the interstate until we were on the next to last turn. Cell phones may not pick up in this rural setting. Being unplugged is not always a bad thing.

Enjoy Simple Pleasures in Rural Appalachia © Katrena

The road narrows to one lane and eventually turns to gravel at the mountain, so you might want to wait until after the trip to wash the vehicle! Large motor homes would have a difficult time maneuvering the sharp turns going up the mountain, and there are some rather steep areas on the road if you wish to go to the top.

Fisherman's Heaven at Clinch Mountain © Katrena

The serene sound of the water beckons young and old to the shore at Clinch Mountain River. Some areas are easily accessible by the side of the road, and there are several widened parking areas beside the roadway. A few paths are quite steep and would be better suited to exploring with the older kids and those who are very sure-footed. Elevation ranges from 4700 feet to 1600 feet amidst the more the 25,000 acres land found here, creating a unique atmosphere of both Southern and Northern forests.

Clinch Mountain Big Tumbling Waterfall © Katrena

Many areas have large rocks on which my kids greatly enjoyed climbing and exploring. Small waterfalls can be found meandering down the mountain. The area has signs denoted by letters, and Big Tumbling, the largest waterfall, can be found by the sign identifying section D.

Millipede at Clinch Mountain River © Katrena

If you plan to stay in the shade for long, you might consider bug spray because the mosquitoes can be a little fierce along the river in particular. The rocks can be slippery, but smaller kids may enjoy staying on the shore while watching the water and wildlife. You might consider packing a blanket and enjoying a picnic by the water's edge or on one of the huge table-sized rocks.

Beartop Mountain Lake in VA © Katrena

A trip to the top of the mountain unveils a man-made 300-plus acre lake at the highest elevation of 4,700 feet. In recent years, we have seen the shore muddy once and rocky the last time. If you plan to have the kids wade in the lake, old shoes would be a good idea because there are quite a few small rocks in the shallow areas. The drop-off is quite steep by the large rocks, as my second-oldest discovered!

Beautiful Travel Destination Near Blue Ridge Mountains © Katrena

If you sit quietly and watch, you may be able to see a few fish swim by. We saw several fish and also something that looked like a fish with legs. I believe it was a mudpuppy or a mud dog, as my uncle used to call them. Unfortunately, the little guy was too quick for my camera to catch.

Wet and Wild Travel Opportunity in VA Mountain © Katrena

The lake seems to transform into a huge mirror for the clouds and sun above and can create a great canvas for photos. We saw several people boating on the lake when we visited the last time. I believe that gasoline motors are not allowed on the lake. Someone had a canoe – I could see that as a great opportunity on one of our future trips. The web site mentions that horseback riding is allowed here as well.

Beautiful Butterflies at Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area © Katrena

This is a great place to watch butterflies and other animals as well. We saw a wonderful array of butterflies that we had not even noticed at first because of the dazzling lake's beauty. The wildflowers are plentiful and offer a splash of color.

Serenity on Top of Clinch Mountain © Katrena

Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area offers a wealth of natural beauty but very little pampering. They have a welcome center with bathrooms and concession stand, but it was closed on our last visit. Primitive camping is offered at various locations on the mountain, but at this point I haven't tried that with my kids. Perhaps when they are a little older and don't shriek every time they see a bug!

Enjoy Simple Pleasures in VA Mountains © Katrena

If you are looking for natural beauty of the Appalachian area of Virginia with few frills or for an amazing trout fishing hole, Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area may whet your appetite. My kids decided they should change the name of this place to something like Beautiful Lake State Park. I think that name is quite fitting!

Places to Fish and Camp in Virginia © Katrena

Visit the Clinch Mountain WMA official web site for information regarding fees, hours, directions, and more. Find more of my travel articles at the Love 2 Travel With Kids sit map.