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Virginia Trailfinder
Full field brief

Trailhead view · Lyndhurst

Sherando Lake Recreation Area

Distance
Not on file
Climb
Not on file
Hiking time
Not on file
Difficulty
Not rated

Start: 37.91982, -79.00814 open in a map app

Official notes

Parking
A day-use fee is charged per vehicle at the entrance station, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources lists on-site parking at this location. Forest Orders prohibit parking or leaving a vehicle outside the space assigned to your own camp unit, possessing or parking more than two vehicles (motorcycles and bicycles excepted) per camp unit, and camping within 300 feet of any developed parking area or boat ramp. The Forest Service does not publish a parking capacity or an overflow arrangement for this site.
Water
Potable water is available at the site from April 1 through October 31. The Forest Service does not list it outside that window, so carry water on shoulder-season visits.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on leash
Cell
Not on file
Emergency
Not on file
  • Black bear activity: a Forest Order effective August 30, 2023 through August 30, 2028 names Sherando Lake and requires food and refuse to be stored in a bear-resistant container, in a closed solid-sided vehicle, suspended at least ten feet clear of the ground and four feet horizontally from any supporting limb or pole, or placed in bear-resistant receptacles
  • Swimming is allowed only between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and only inside the outer rope and buoy markers; swimming in Upper Sherando Lake is prohibited outright
  • Being on the concrete dams or spillway risers of either lake is prohibited
  • Glass bottles and other materials that may cause injury are prohibited in the beach area
  • Being on the beach or in day-use areas after dark is prohibited, and non-campers may not be in the developed recreation area between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
  • Private boats must be off the lake before dark, and anyone under 12 may not operate a boat unless accompanied by an adult
  • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the beach, picnic and swimming areas and in parking lots
  • Forest Order violations carry fines up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, and/or up to six months imprisonment
  • The Forest Service publishes no distance, difficulty or route description for the trails at this site, so carry your own map and navigation
Check current alerts and closures

This view is a reference, not navigation. The line is sampled from OpenStreetMap and USGS data; carry an offline map and treat cell coverage as unreliable.