Smith Mountain Lake Hiking: Insider’s Guide (2024)

Get ready to lace up your boots and hit the trails for some hiking at Smith Mountain Lake! Our breathtaking area offers a variety of parks with trails that will appeal to every hiker, from casual walkers to those seeking a more strenuous adventure.

In this article, we delve into the hiking trails directly surrounding Smith Mountain Lake and recommending a few additional spots farther out in scenic Bedford and Franklin counties that are worth the trip.

Perfect for residents and visitors alike, our recommended hikes are all dog friendly, just be sure to keep your pets leashed and remember to pick up after them. Happy trails!

Embark on a family-friendly hiking adventure at the expansive Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston.

With 14 trails that wind along the shoreline, you’ll navigate through picturesque landscapes while enjoying scenic lake views. Ranging from easy half-mile walks to moderate 3-mile treks, these trails are also available for mountain biking.

Open daily from 8:15 a.m. to dusk, the park offers ample time for exploration and enjoyment. Access a downloadable trail guide.

Smith Mountain Lake Community Park

For a leisurely hiking escape that’s ideal for all ages, head to the 37-acre Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, located about 15 minutes southeast of Westlake Corner.

The easy, 1.7-mile trail loops around the park’s peninsula and offers breathtaking lake views, along with additional amenities like a fishing pier, playground, beach, picnic shelters and restrooms.

SML Community Park is open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Smith Mountain Lake Cooperative Wildlife Management Area Trail

If you’re looking for a spectacular, bird’s-eye view of the lake and dam, plan a trip to the nearly 5,000-acre SML Cooperative Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This trail is the answer to the frequently asked question: How do you hike to the top of Smith Mountain?

The SML Wildlife Trail, a lightly trafficked 5.6-mile dirt/gravel road, provides an easy hike. While beautiful in any season, the best views can be enjoyed in early spring, late fall and winter when foliage doesn’t obstruct views of the lake.

Two primary parking areas, located in Bedford and Pittsylvania counties, are accessible year-round.

Booker T. Washington National Monument

Enjoy exercise, history and nature at Booker T. Washington National Monument, which honors the famed African-American educator.

Enjoy family-friendly hikes amid historic farm buildings and scenic landscapes. The Plantation Trail, a half-mile loop, features reconstructions of 19th-century farm buildings. The 1.5-mile Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail offers a leisurely walk through fields and trees and along a babbling stream.

The park is free (donations accepted) and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round. Visitor Center hours vary so check the website for details.

Lovely Valley Loop Trail

This 2.25-mile multipurpose trail, which opened in May 2024, is located in Wirtz, near Napoli Cowboy.

Part of the 395-acre Smith Farm Park, the family-friendly Lovely Valley Loop is an easy hike or bike that winds its way through scenic landscapes featuring mature hardwoods, clear streams and abundant wildlife. The trail is open from dawn to dusk.

Moneta Park

Enjoy exercise, history and nature at Booker T. Washington National Monument, which honors the famed African-American educator.

Enjoy family-friendly hikes amid historic farm buildings and scenic landscapes. The Plantation Trail, a half-mile loop, features reconstructions of 19th-century farm buildings. The 1.5-mile Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail offers a leisurely walk through fields and trees and along a babbling stream.

The park is free (donations accepted) and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round. Visitor Center hours vary so check the website for details.

Peaks of Otter

The Peaks of Otter off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County offer several great hiking trails, with Sharp Top Mountain being a standout.

The hike is 1.5 miles from the camp store to the summit with a challenging 1,540-foot elevation gain. The panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains make Sharp Top a favorite among locals.

There are several other lovely hikes at Peaks of Otter, including the Abbott Lake Trail, which is super kid friendly and ADA accessible.

Falling Creek Park

Falling Creek Park in Bedford County is a hidden gem that offers rolling hills, beautiful views and extensive, well-maintained trails.

The park’s 10-mile trail network caters to hiking, trail running and mountain biking, with treks ranging from easy to advanced. There’s also a paved walking path.

Falling Creek Park is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week.

Waid Recreation Area

Waid Park, near Rocky Mount, boasts over 5 miles of hiking trails that wind through rivers, hills and farmland.

This 450-acre park is the largest in Franklin County and offers diverse activities, including biking, fishing and seasonal tubing on the Pigg River. The park features two playgrounds, sports fields and a historic quarter-mile section of the “Great Wagon Road,” used by early settlers.

Waid Park is open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Grassy Hill Nature Area Preserve

Grassy Hill in Rocky Mount features a 6.6-mile hiking trail system within its 1,300-acre nature preserve. The trails are well-maintained and perfect for beginners and families.

The area, characterized by rocky slopes, hardwood forests and unique magnesium-rich bedrock, supports rare plants and woodland communities.

Nearby is the YMCA trail, a paved, .63-mile loop that winds through the woods. Both are open from dawn to dusk.