Jefferson National Forest in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky offers Forest Service recreation at Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area, Cane Patch Campground. For a walking or hiking visit, start with Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area, Cane Patch Campground. Each recreation site has its own facilities and access rules; use the official maps and current site instructions to plan your visit.

Camping & reservations

The booking button opens the official reservation destination for Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area. Other campgrounds in this forest may have separate reservations, first-come sites or district permits. Read the current instructions for your chosen site.

Truck-camping & permitted overnight use

This primitive campground is limited to first come-first serve. Camping loops across the stream are unavailable due to bridge reconstruction. Each has parking for 4 or 5 vehicles with trailers, wooden picnic tables, fire rings, hitching rails, garbage containers, and direct access to horse trails.

No forest-wide permission to camp is implied. Check the district’s current dispersed-camping rules, designated areas, fire restrictions, stay limits and seasonal closures before choosing an undeveloped site.

Activities, hiking & trails

Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area ↗
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area welcomes generations of families who enjoy the rustic beauty and peacefulness of the area. Easy access from I-81, close proximity to historic Lexington, and access to Natural Bridge make Cave Mountain Lake a perfect travel destination.

Cane Patch Campground ↗
Cane Patch Campground is within walking distance of Phillips Creek Day Use Area. The campground has 35 campsites, 7 of which have electric hookups.

Cave Springs Recreation Area ↗
Cave Springs Recreation Area is situated within the picturesque farming community of Olinger Gap. Highlights of this recreation area include a campground, small spring-fed pond, access to Stone Mountain Trail and Wilderness, and a short hike to an overlook of the Olinger Gap Community.

Maps & road access

• Official visitor maps, trail maps and Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) ↗
• Motor Vehicle Use Map ↗

Consult the current Motor Vehicle Use Map for permitted motor routes, vehicle classes and seasonal designations. A route on an MVUM is not a guarantee that it is maintained or passable. Check current road closures and conditions with the district; carry an offline map.

Use the official directions for the exact named campground or trailhead; forest boundaries and administrative offices are not campsite entrances. Official directions / site access ↗

Before you travel

Check the forest’s current alerts, seasonal services, fire orders and campground rules. Download the relevant official maps before entering areas with limited reception.

Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. USDA Forest Service official information ↗

Photograph sources & licensing

Banner: Virginia Creeper Trail, Mount Rogers recreation area
20021027-FS-GeorgeJefferson-002 Virginia Creeper Trail in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area of the George Jefferson National Forest. USDA Forest Service Photo.
Credit: US Forest Service - Southern Region. Original source ↗ · Public domain ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Second large photograph: Waterfall in Jefferson National Forest, Virginia
Bottom of waterfall Jefferson National Forest, VA :: Photo by Alex Ford
Credit: Alex Ford. Original source ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.

Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.