Top 6 Best Franklin County Outdoor Adventures (NOT on Smith Mountain Lake!)
Downtown Rocky Mount, the county seat of Franklin County, VA
Located in Southwest Virginia along the Roanoke Valley, Franklin County is perfectly nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains to host a variety of activities for all outdoor enthusiasts. Sure, you can spend days at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake soaking in all the adventures that SML offers, but in this blog post I’d like to share some of my favorite outdoor experiences outside of Smith Mountain Lake to encourage you to explore additional adventures that can be found in Franklin County.
Waid Park
Just outside of the town of Rocky Mount is Waid Park. Waid Park boasts an extensive well-maintained, five-mile trail system for walking, running, or riding your bike through the woods and rivers, over fields, and down old dirt roads. New to Waid Park is a pro level wooded 18-hole disc golf course. With so much for the family to enjoy at Waid Park, be sure to pack a picnic and enjoy lunch at one of the shelters or along the river.
Blueway Access
Franklin County has two major rivers, Blackwater River and Pigg River, that offer fishing and canoeing. With multiple public access points, there are plenty of opportunities to hop on and off to float the day way.
Grassy Hill Natural Area Preserve
Image credit: DCR-DNH, Irvine T. Wilson
The Grassy Hill Natural Area Preserve offers a 6.6-mile hiking trail system providing access to 1,295 acres of deciduous forest which is very colorful in the fall and three overlooks providing views of Rocky Mount and the surrounding areas. Several rare plants grow in small grassy openings near the hill’s summit such as the grass-leaf blazing-star (Liatris graminifolia), glade wild quinine (Parthenium auriculatum) and Piedmont fame-flower (Phemeranthus piedmontanus). Parking for hikers is available near the preserve at the Rocky Mount YMCA.
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Explore the birthplace of Booker T. Washington to learn how slavery, the Civil War, and emancipation touched the land that is now Booker T. Washington National Monument. The National Monument has a Visitor’s Center along with two trails to meander through that provide a chance to step through time and learn more about African American history in Virginia.
Philpott Lake
Philpott Lake is a 2,880-acre man-made lake located in the Southwestern portion on Franklin County that borders Patrick and Pittsylvania Counties offering a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts. Philpott is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE) which they manage primarily for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. Because there is no residential development along its shoreline, you will find numerous facilities scattered throughout the lake such as boat landings, campgrounds, picnic areas, beaches, and hiking trails. The pristine shoreline offers anglers ample opportunity to catch Black Bass and Walleye.
Homestead Creamery Farm Market
While technically not an outdoor adventure, no exploration of Franklin County is complete without a visit to the Homestead Creamery’s Farm Market. At the Farm Market, you can enjoy sandwiches from the deli menu, fresh milk, and delicious ice cream made just down the road at Homestead Creamery’s dairy farm as well shop locally made goods from other area farms and small businesses.
I hope that I’ve inspired you to spend the next sunny day in beautiful Franklin County, Virginia exploring the beautiful surroundings and taking advantage of some of the wonderful outdoor adventures that I’ve had the honor to enjoy.
