Natural Tunnel SP VA

We just got back from a weekend at Natural Tunnel VA, State Park.   All I can say is WOW,  I think I've found my new favorite park.   The campground is very well maintained, clean, newer bath house, the sites were big and groomed after each camper leaves, the rangers were friendly, and they had lots of activities.   They also have an AWSOME pool with a waterslide for the kids.. "and us bigger kids"   The kids liked it so much that I booked another 3 days later next month.   I highly recommend this park.     Posted some photo's on my blog...  
 
 
http://ourfamilytreks.blogspot.com/

We will begin camp hosting there next Wednesday evening and will be there all throughout August.

We love it, too.

Hope to see you there and also several others. I believe there are a couple others that plan to camp during the month.

Donna, I was hopeing that you'd be there, I think I read where you were going to host next month.... while we were there I booked the holiday weekend in Lovers Leap. Hoping to finally get to meet you.

I remember last year that you were hosting there. I wasn't able to make it then, but hope to this year. I didn't know back then how cool of a state park Natural Tunnel really is... Just though it was just a hole in the rock. Now I've been... its my new favorite place to camp... going to be camping there some more. The whole family loved it.

Hope to see you and Butch!!!

We will be there Aug 16 - 19 in Lovers Leap campground. We have one other couple that will be coming as of now, hope to have 2 or 3 more make it.

I would like to camp there sometime... but don't like they idea of driving that far and not knowing what kind or which campsite I will have when I get there.

chuck wrote:I would like to camp there sometime... but don't like they idea of driving that far and not knowing what kind or which campsite I will have when I get there.

There are no BAD sites - some better than others, but no bad ones.

Come on up.

Chuck, I agree with Donna.... There are no bad campsites. On Reserve Amercia you can pick the campground. Natural Tunnel has 2, you can look at my photos on my blog and see what the sites look like in Lovers Leap campground. Its newer than the other campground, and the sites are more private. The other campground (I can't think of the name of it but has the word cove in it) has more shade and the sites are more open if you like to visit with neighbors. I looked both campgrounds over and there really isn't one site that I wouldn't want to camp at. Its an awsome state park and there are plenty of things to do. Worth the trip in my opinion.

I don't know if Richard has been there or not, if not he needs to put it on his list before Labor day when the pool closes.

this really looks like a cool place... in your opinions which is the best campground... and why? also are dogs allowed in the campsites? are dogs allowed in other areas like the overlooks and the chair lift?


looks like a lot of things to see... and I don't like leaving max in the camper.

We were looking to camp there for Labor Day weekend. Apparently, there are only a few campsites left and they are in cove view loop. Hopefully these are still nice and spacious.

this really looks like a cool place... in your opinions which is the best campground... and why? also are dogs allowed in the campsites? are dogs allowed in other areas like the overlooks and the chair lift? wrote:

Chuck, In my opinion Lovers Leap has the nicer sites.... I guess because that campground is only 3 years old. The other one is not bad though... I wouldn't hesitate, but if I had a choice... I'd pick Lovers Leap.

Dogs... I know that they are allowed in the campgrounds, our neighbors had 2 dogs and a couple sites up had a dog. I don't know about the chair lift area being dog friendly... Donna and Butch could answer that better than I. In between the two campgrounds in front of the store there is a big open field.... a good place for you and Max to toss a ball or play frizbee at.

Jason&Laura wrote:We were looking to camp there for Labor Day weekend. Apparently, there are only a few campsites left and they are in cove view loop. Hopefully these are still nice and spacious.

I checked out Cove View when I was there.... You shouldn't have a problem at all. They have more room than your site at Hot Springs.

I checked on Sunday and Lovers Leap still had 2 sites open, so it looks like they are filling up quick, I'd jump on making those reservations. From what they told me there should be some live music, and they are going to keep the chair lifts open late and light the tunnel up on that weekend.

Yes, Chuck, Max is welcome pretty much everywhere EXCEPT at the pool. You can take him on the chairlift with you, but you will have to hold him. Don't want him jumping out of there, but the highest you are is about 20' off the ground, but if you fell, you would roll a long, long way.

There are lots of trails and he could do those, inside the buildings, I'm not really sure about, but there are plenty of benches outside that he could be hooked to and be shaded.

Come on up. The last weekend of every month is the lighting of the tunnel and they have live music down on the deck beside the tunnel. They sell popcorn and drinks, have the chairlift open until about 10 pm or the last people leave. They have little lanterns they put on each chairlift, it's pretty cool. The cost of the chairlift is $3.00 per person for weekend trips. If there is a group of 8 people, it's only $2.00 each.

thanks for all the information.. Donna.. I want to camp there.. trying to figure out a date. don't have too many camping trips.... but it seems I am pretty busy through August and September. is natural tunnel open year round for camping?

Campground is open from March 1 until December 1.

Most of the facilities (chairlift, Block House, pool, etc.) close after Labor Day, but you can still hike, camp and all that other outdoor stuff.

Helmsey wrote:We will be there Aug 16 - 19 in Lovers Leap campground. We have one other couple that will be coming as of now, hope to have 2 or 3 more make it.

It was great to meet you and your family and hope to camp with you again in the future.  

Come back and visit us again at Natural Tunnel next year - we will probably be back camp hosting then.

merrykalia wrote:

Helmsey wrote:We will be there Aug 16 - 19 in Lovers Leap campground. We have one other couple that will be coming as of now, hope to have 2 or 3 more make it.

It was great to meet you and your family and hope to camp with you again in the future.  

Come back and visit us again at Natural Tunnel next year - we will probably be back camp hosting then.

It was great meeting you guys this weekend. That place is simply amazing, lots to do and see, and a great place to unwind. We have added it to our "must return to" list. We are just hoping it is a little warmer next time, poor Harper's lips were purple while she was swimming in the pool