Trail Access:

If you would like to plan a day visit during the months of May - October, you may park in the Hotel parking lot for a $5.00 donation or in the MLC trail access lot located 1 mile past the hotel entrance, on the right.  There is a $5.00 per car donation that can be made using the feeder tube located next to the kiosk.  If you would like to come up between the months of November - April, please park in the Mountain Lake Conservancy Trail Access lot mentioned above.  The parking area is open 7 days a week from dawn until dusk. 
Please obtain a parking tag from the kiosk and place your $5.00 donation in the envelope.  We encourage you to provide us with your contact information so that you may receive email updates from The Mountain Lake Conservancy.  Your donations help defray the costs of trail improvements to help with the undertaking of new projects.  We cannot operate successfully without the help of volunteers.  To join in our efforts, send an email to mlc@mountainlakehotel.com. 

You may also purchase a Year-Round Trail Access Pass for only $20.00.  We can mail this to you or you may pick one up in the Conservancy Visitor's Center.  Please call 540.626.7121 x444 for information or email mlc@mountainlakehotel.com.
We have new waterproof topographical trail maps available at any of the locations listed below: 

• The Mountain Lake Conservancy Visitor's Center (May - November)
• Recreation Office (May - November)
• East Coasters Bike Shop
• Blue Ridge Mountain Sports
• Backcountry Ski and Sports
• Tangent Outdoors
• Bike Barn

Please abide by all posted rules and regulations.  Mountain Lake is private property and not responsible for your well-being.

Please be aware that there is limited hunting in the forest surrounding our trail system during deer season, October 3rd through January 7th (excluding November 23-27 and December 21-16). In an effort to reduce the negative impacts of over-populated deer browsing in the forest, Mountain Lake is participating in the Deer Management Assistance Program with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Hunting is allowed by a small, select group of Mountain Lake employees ONLY, and is allowed from sunrise to sunset, Monday - Saturday.. More information is available by calling the Conservancy at 540-626-7121 ext. 444.

Our Policies:

• NO PETS are allowed on Conservancy property. This is for the well-being of you and your pet and to protect our wildlife.
• No picnicking facilities.
• Please beware that your cell phone may not work.
• We do not allow camping or campfires. 

For your safety, we suggest:

• Do not hike alone
• Carry a map and compass to avoid becoming lost
• Please make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to be back
• Bring your own water – local sources may not be safe for drinking
• Please do not feed or touch any animals as they do not know where good intentions and food end and your hand starts.
• If you see a bear cub – quietly leave – do NOT run.

Between the months of May – October, you are welcome to tour our facilities, including our gift shop and gallery, you can also make dining reservations in our hotel dining room.

Available Community Activities:

Orienteering - A local volunteer, Mark Lattanzi, has built an orienteering course at Mountain Lake.  You may obtain a course map at the Recreation Office in the main parking lot, be sure to bring your own compass!  Please visit http://www.marklattanzi.com/MtnLake for course information.

Geocaching - There are a variety of geocaches hidden at Mountain Lake - check out www.geocaching.com for information.

Frisbee Disc Golf - Local volunteers have designed and implemented a new disc golf course at our Horse barn - it consists of 9 INNOVA-quality holes.  To access the disc golf course, please park at our trail access lot located 1 mile past the hotel entrance.  You will find a course overview map with par distances and course layout. Click here for course information.

Cross Country Skiing - Mountain Lake receives ample snowfall ideal for cross country skiing.  We do not provide rentals and trails are not groomed.  Rentals are available at Backcountry Ski and Sports in Blacksburg, VA. Click here for more information. 

Snowshoeing – Our trails are ideal for snowshoeing.  We do not provide rentals.  Snowshoe rentals are available at Backcountry Ski and Sports in Blacksburg, VA.

Hiking – Mountain Lake has over 22 miles of trails ideal for hiking Visit the scenic vistas of Bald Knob, Bear Cliffs and the Old Golf course for breath-taking views of the New River Valley. Click here for hiking information.

• We are also only 10 minutes away from the Appalachian Trail located in the Mountain Lake Wilderness Area of Jefferson National Forest.

Mountain Biking – We have trails for all levels of cyclists.  Mountain Bike rentals are available to our guests during the months of May – October in our Recreation Office. Click here for mountain biking information.