carvins cove natural reserve

MikeM855

This is gem in the Roanoke Valley. This park surrounds the water source lake of Roanoke City. No swimming is allowed but you can boat there. Off of route 311 you can access a road that will take you to a parking lot that has miles and miles of great bike trails through a beautiful woodland landscape. You can also hike and if enter from the Route 11 side you park at the boat dock and rent a boat or take a short walk to a lovely picnic area.

Mom2mjp1

We went here as a family and had a picnic and kayaking. I have never been on this lake before and it was great. We had a wonderful time.

Jackson1028

Lots of trails, beautiful lake. And a very peaceful setting. It is not a well publicized outdoor spot but it is worth seeing. It is owned by the water authority so there is no swimming allowed but you can take a small boat out on the water and can fish as well.

jessicarL3099IE

We like biking out on the trails and finding a spot along the lake to relax. There are trails for all levels of adventure!

ievasandy

We go there to relax on the water, rent a boat (super cheap), row out to a quit little nook and let the kids roam wild. Perfect little get away for a few hours

605jasonp

Great mountain biking trails. Some easy stuff, some hard stuff. Do some route research beforehand so you know what kind of trails you want to ride.

bgins

This reservoir, about 8 miles outside of town, is kept nice by limiting boat sizes. It is great for paddling and there are many miles of trails around it. Only downside was that some of the mountain bikers on the trails were very rude and acted like we were in their way as we were hiking, not riding.

ievasandy

We love Carvins Cove. A few bucks for all 4 of us to get in and a few more and we have a boat. Pack lunch, find a serene spot and we have a mini adventure.

Brendasreview

Ample parking, beautifully maintained. Could offer a bit more to those coming to do some water activity. Perhaps row boats? Paddle boats? Or events that could educate by offering a course in studying some type of forestry? Water management? Bird or other wildlife studies? Good for biking and hiking. I've taken my kyak there a couple times, but if you do frequent it to get in the water, it is a bit pricey. Overall, not bad to hop in your car and disappear in to nature.

Mdawn77

Monday was first day for me at Carvins Cove and first time kayaking, it was recommended by a friend and I have fallen in love. Felt very safe here and talked extensively with the very knowledgeable staff about rules and safest way to have fun. You can rent kayaks, paddle boats and more! Life jackets are provided with rentals and fees are reasonable even if you bring your own equipment. Loved the views and can't wait to go back again.

JoeSwindell

This is a great place to see wildlife and relax with the family. Many large black bears live here, as well as deer, fox, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, bobcats, and any lake fairing species. The Appalachian trail runs through the reserve. There is easy access by driving and parking, hiking in from 2 different directions of the AT, or an easier footpath from a back road. The AT hike from Tinker mountain is very steep.

KathrynL524

There are two ways to come in to the reserve. I usually head out towards Catawba and circle in the back parking lot. There is a fee to use the reserve, but it's low. I always hike, but it looks perfect for biking and I often see mountain bikes in the parking lot. When I was there, there were NO toilets and no maps. I took a picture with my phone of the trailhead map for reference. Many many miles of trails, and I rarely see more than 2-3 bikers while I am out. I have not seen bear or turkey but plenty of deer, raccoon, possum and birds. THe trails are mostly shady, and the ratings (easy, intermediate, advanced) are pretty accurate. Perfect for trail running, hiking or biking. Lots of streams. Not many viewpoints on the lower trails-- they just sweep through wide open valleys with rocks and streams, wooded with moderate growth mixed pine and hardwoods. Many of the trails allow a loop, so you are not backtracking. Very peaceful for so close to Roanoke. (about 20 minutes from SW Roanoke). There is no hunting, so it is pretty safe all year.

491ky

I was surprised to drive in and find that all (16 and up) who wanted to set foot on the property had to pay a "user fee." There were boats available for rent as well as a boat ramp, a walking trail and pavilion, but we didn't think it was worth the fee since we only wanted a place to have a picnic.

a1scuba

This a small reservoir for the city of Roanoke and surroundig areas. There are two ways to get into the reserve one is off of Rt 11 just north of Roanoke. The other way is through Bennett Springs off Rt 311. The big attraction for me was miles of mountain bike trails that range from beginners to expert. every time I ride I see bear, deer, turkey, and some things I'm not sure I want to know. Make sure you bring water and basic maintenance equipment in case you pop a chain it is a long walk out

travelmansam

We have done mountain biking and biking at Carvin's Cove. It is a beautiful place so close to Roanoke city. An easy "getaway" that gives the feeling of the wild outdoors. It can get crowded on weekends, especially if the weather is good.