Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the second largest municipal park in the country. Within its 12,700 acres are opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor activities such as mountain biking, hiking, boating, fishing, and canoeing.  Canoes and paddleboats are available for rent at the Boat Dock offices for use on the picturesque 800 acre lake. A large picnic area overlooking the lake is located at the Boat Dock.

The hilly terrain surrounding the lake is packed with over 60 miles of biking, hiking and equestrian trails. Carvins Cove has a wide variety of single track trails, ranging from fast, smooth flowing trails to technical, rocky terrain. In addition, there are miles and miles of fire roads offering long steady cardio climbs. The Appalachian Trail follows the park boundary along the northern half of the park.

Before heading out to the park, be sure to acquire a park pass; info can be found at the Carvins Cove Nature Reserve website (https://www.westernvawater.org/i-am-a-/recreationalist/carvins-cove-natural-reserve), Boat Landing and the Bennett Springs and Timberview parking lots.

NOTE: When mountain biking bench-cut trails along some of the steeper hillsides, stay along the inner edge of the trail. The outer edge is soft along many sections and has the potential of giving way. We noticed these conditions on the following trails: Buck, The Trough, and The Gauntlet.