Otter Creek Campground is located at the Blue Ridge Parkway's lowest elevation, only 649 feet above sea level. Both RV and tent sites are available at this well-kept campground. This area's abundant water and warmer temperatures support plant and animal communities that are unlike those found at other areas on the Parkway.
max Stay
30 days
Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.
Both RV and tent sites are available at this well-kept campground. Sites are equipped with grills, picnic tables and lantern posts. Amenities such as flush toilets, drinking water and a dump station are also at hand. All sites are available for advance reservation, and may be booked on the day of arrival.
This area's abundant water and warmer temperatures support plant and animal communities that are unlike those found at other areas on the Parkway. A short walk along the Trail of Trees or a hike along the clear, cool waters of Otter Creek will give ample proof that there is more to the Blue Ridge Parkway than mountain-top vistas.
The James River/Otter Creek recreation area has fishing in Otter Lake and a number of hiking trails including Trail of Trees, Otter Creek, Otter Lake Loop, and James River Canal. Hike the Otter Creek Trail to James River Visitor Center. There visitors can view a restored canal lock from the Kanawha Canal, part of the historic James River transporation artery which was once the primary commercial route in the state of Virginia.
Otter Creek Trail (3.5 miles/5.6 km) parallels the Parkway road as it meanders from Otter Creek campground to the James River Visitor Center. Most sections of this trail are easy to hike and can be reached from many points along the motor road. Otter Lake Loop Trail (0.9 miles/1.4 km) provides scenic views of Otter Lake. This is also a good trail for watching wildlife. Look for beaver lodges and dams along tributary streams. Early morning and late evening are prime times for wildlife observations. Trail of Trees (0.4 miles/.6 km) begins near the James River Visitor Center and wanders through a shaded stream drainage. Trail signs identify many of the trees and shrubs of the river valley. This trail also affords a handsome view of the James River water gap, a rare geological feature. Canal Lock Trail (0.4 miles/.6 km) begins at the visitor center and crosses the James River on a walkway beneath the bridge. The restored Battery Creek Lock, located a short distance from the bridge, is typical of those constructed in the 1800s as part of the James River and Kanawha Canal. This canal, with nearly 100 locks, helped make the river a major transportation corridor before the Civil War. Exhibits at the Battery Creek site explain how locks were used to raise and lower boats to adjust for the changing elevation of the river.
Site markers come from Recreation.gov campsite coordinates.
A sample of official campsite metadata for scanning equipment fit before booking.
B
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vehicle
6
people
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shade
B
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6
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B
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6
people
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A
54 ft
vehicle
6
people
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A
66 ft
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6
people
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shade
A
18 ft
vehicle
6
people
Full
shade
B
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vehicle
6
people
Full
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B
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vehicle
6
people
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B
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vehicle
6
people
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shade
A
16 ft
vehicle
6
people
Full
shade
B
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vehicle
6
people
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shade
B
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vehicle
6
people
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shade
A
31 ft
vehicle
6
people
Full
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B
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vehicle
6
people
Full
shade
B
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vehicle
6
people
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B
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vehicle
6
people
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B
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vehicle
6
people
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B
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vehicle
6
people
Full
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B
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vehicle
6
people
Full
shade
B
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vehicle
6
people
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shade
A
16 ft
vehicle
6
people
Full
shade
B
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vehicle
6
people
Full
shade
A
23 ft
vehicle
6
people
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A
35 ft
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6
people
Full
shade
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Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.
Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.
