Cave Mountain Lake Campground — George Washington National Forest
Cave Mountain Lake Campground is a developed USFS site on a small impoundment in the George Washington National Forest, roughly 10 miles north of Natural Bridge Station. It’s a tight, wooded loop with sites backing up to the lake — fishing, swimming, and a legitimate mountain feel without a lot of crowd pressure mid-week. Capacity is modest, fire rings and picnic tables at each site, vault toilets on-site. Weekends in summer fill fast with locals; hit it Monday through Thursday and you’ll likely have breathing room.
Access off VA-130 and FR 35 is paved to the campground gate — any street vehicle can make it. No hookups. Water is available seasonally at the pump. The surrounding forest roads fan out toward the Appalachian highlands and connect overlanders working the Clifton Forge to Wytheville stretch of the TAT through the Virginia ridges. Confirm seasonal open dates with the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District before committing.
Mountain lake camp on the Virginia TAT run.
Place Details
| Type | Established Campground |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 1340 ft |
| Nearest town | Natural Bridge Station, VA |
| Miles from pavement | 0.5 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Paved |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | $20.00 / night |
| Reservation required | Yes — Reservation site |
| Stay limit (nights) | 14 nights |
| Best season | May-October |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Drinking water, Fire ring, Picnic table, Shade, Toilets, Trash service |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |