Alta Mons is a United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center located in Shawsville, VA. We have 7 tent camping sites and 37 RV camping sites (water and electric only; we do have a dump station). 

Camp Alta Mons

Would you believe a dog was the first one in the hole at the top of the hill... followed by several inquisitive farm boys — that was in 1920. And in 1923, Dixie Caverns was open to the public. There have been many changes over the years in lighting and passageways, but the beauty of this cavern has entertained thousands from then `til now. Dixie Caverns is open for tours 363 days a year. 

Campers... Come to our shaded campground, where you'll feel right at home.

Dixie Caverns is 2 minutes off of I-81 at Exit 132, and close to shopping, restaurants, garages and conveniently open all year.

VA Tech is approx. 35 miles away.  Radford  University approx. 40 miles away.  Roanoke College is approximately 6 miles away - 

making Dixie Caverns Campground an easy drive from I-81 or Rt. 460

 

And don't forget Martinsville and Bristol Speedways are an easy drive after a RELAXING rest at our campground.

Dixie Caverns

Chantilly Farm is the perfect place to pitch your tent or set up your RV while visiting our part of the stunningly beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains! We’re located 6 miles from Downtown Floyd, convenient to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and The Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail.

Southwest Virginia is full of so many fascinating places and many of those are a hop, skip, and a jump away from Chantilly Farm! Many visit for our awe-inspiring outdoor recreational opportunities, thriving arts and music scene, and some of the best dining options that you’ll find in the region. No matter your interests, this area has something that appeals to everyone!

So, what are you waiting for? Pack up your gear and join us at the Chantilly Farm Campground—the perfect home away from home!

Chantilly Farm RV/Tent Campground & Event Venue

**Floating Heaven** is a treehouse site. You can sleep in the small, zinc-roof-covered 'casita' or cabin, which can accommodate two adults and two (small) children. Or you can sleep on the deck platform in a hammock (we have one free one), a tent (bring your own or rent our 2- and 4-person tents), or in a sleeping bag(s). One platform is 10 x 10 ft. and the other is 10 x 12 ft. Eight trees pass through the platforms, located 21 feet off the ground. A sturdy low-riser step leads you up (no climbing necessary). An acre of heavily forested trees and a meadow surround the site, which is not a primitive campground (i.e, far removed from civilization) but insulated from the town on its ex-urban perimeter. The term, floating heaven, refers to the tree-anchor bolts that allow the platforms to "float" when the tree canopies (60 feet tall) move in the wind. We'll get you going with some kindling and a few logs; lots of down branches and tree trunks on the property for making a nice bonfire, or you can use a small fire pit (metal) for a cozier setting. We have tables, chairs, a very slow drip-camp shower (unheated), a Theborn RV commode on the ground, and a urinal on the top deck. There is a charcoal grill for your use at no charge. . There is also a 3-outlet otlet for charging up your phones or using other electric devices. Ours is an ex-urban location; you are just two miles from Virginia Tech (5 minutes from Starbucks, and Mexican and Thai restaurants) but you are nestled under a nice hardwood canopy. Its the best of all possible worlds1

**R U L E S**

1). Try to arrive before sunset so we can show you around; after all, it is a treehouse and there are safety issues you should be apprised of.

2). ***You will forfeit your reservation if you arrive after 9 p.m***.

3). While 6 people is the maximum, the standard book rate includes 4 campers; additional campers over 12 years old should pay $15 a person. Thus far, The Dyrt hasn't figured out how to pay for the fifth and sixth guests so be prepared to pay cash or via Venmo.

4). Parents must take care that their children obey the safety features. There are trails around the property that are nicely graded and gravel-covered.

5). All electronics go off after 9 p.m.; sounds carry in the valley.

6). We recycle: two wastebaskets exist for trash and another for recyclables (aluminum, glass, cardboard, plastic). Please carry wastebaskets up and leave on the driveway. We'll separate and dispose of them.

7). A camping ethic to which we adhere is that you take out of the forest what you bring into it; be considerate. This is not a trailer park.

8\.) We are proudly LGBTQ-friendly.

And 9.), if you are over 12-years-old and are **not vaccinated,** you must wear a mask when engaging with the owners and others outside your party.



Floating Heaven

## Overview

Caldwell Fields Group Campground is actually two separate fields adjacent to each other. George and Milton, each provide group camping and can be reserved together or separately. They are great for groups who prefer old-fashioned, rustic camping who require few amenities. 

## Recreation

Craig Creek meanders along the edge of the fields where visitors can enjoy splashing and relaxing in its cool waters. The creek is also stocked with trout, providing good fishing opportunities for visitors. 

## Facilities

Caldwell Fields provides two fields that may be rented separately or together. Each field can accommodate a group of 50 or less people with space for up to 20 vehicles. Groups may choose to rent them together accommodating a group of up to 100 people and 40 vehicles total. Each field has an entrance gate, and they share a vault toilet. There is no potable water, no hookups and no trash collection. State Highway 621 to Caldwell Fields is unpaved. 

## Natural Features

Located in a narrow valley and flanked by National Forest lands, the two large grassy fields are bordered by large shade trees. 

## Nearby Attractions

Caldwell Fields is located 20 minutes from Blacksburg, VA, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Caldwell Fields Group Campground

Very private, lots of shade and level ground. On The New River! 15 minutes to Virginia Tech campus. This spot offers a boat dock, and a boat landing. Fire pit and Porta John!

Great fishing, floating, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, you name it. Relax around the campfire. Enjoy the peaceful sounds and sights of nature!

Great spot for a tailgate before a game!

Tractor bucket of firewood available for 25.00

Camping on The New River, Blacksburg VA

CLOSED Roanoke Mountain - Blue Ridge Parkway

## Overview

Boley Field Group Campground provides old-fashioned, rustic group camping for those that require few amenities. The large open field is great for groups that wish to picnic and tent camp together.

## Recreation

Poverty Creek is adjacent to the picnic area where visitors can enjoy splashing in its cool waters. Poverty Creek is also stocked with trout, providing good fishing opportunites for anglers. Hikers and mountain bikers can easily access the 17-mile Poverty Creek Trail System from the site.

## Facilities

Boley Field is available for groups of 50 or less. The field has an entrance gate and contains a group fire ring, picnic tables, standing grill and vault toilet. There is no potable water, no hookups and no trash collection. Please pack out everything you bring! 

## Natural Features

The campground is located at the base of Brush Mountain in a narrow valley along Poverty Creek. The surrounding forest provides shade. The road to the camping area is unpaved and vehicles towing a trailer will hit the ground at the creek crossing. 

## Nearby Attractions

Boley Field is located 20 minutes from Blacksburg, VA, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. The New River is minutes away which offers a 'big' river experience.

Boley Field Group Campground

## Overview

Located on the famous Blue Ridge Parkway in the hills of rural Virginia, Rocky Knob Campground is nestled amid rolling meadowlands with impressive displays of seasonal flowers, endless night skies and green pastures. Numerous nearby overlooks and the winding parkway provide an ideal backdrop for a traditional camping experience.

## Recreation

The campground is located in the Rocky Knob Recreation area, surrounded by more than 4,000 acres of forest.   
The site offers easy access to the **Rock Castle Gorge Trail** , a 10.8-mile (17.4 km) loop trail ranging in elevation from 1,700 to 3,572 feet (518 to 1,089 m). Rock Castle Gorge, a 1,500-foot (457 m) ravine carved by the waters of Rock Castle Creek, is the focal point of this trail, offering hikers breathtaking scenery. 

**Black Ridge Trail** : a moderate 3-mile loop passing through the forest on a seldom-used gravel road and through a meadow. Accessed from the Rocky Knob Visitor Center.

Numerous tours and interpretive talks are given near the Gorge and surrounding trails during the summer, offering campers the chance to learn more about the area's historical significance and abundant plants and wildlife.

## Facilities

Rocky Knob Campground combines the exhilaration of a traditional outdoor camping experience with modern amenities like flush toilets, dump station, and drinking water. Both RV and tent sites are available, each equipped with picnic tables, lantern poles, and fire rings/grills--perfect for picnics, barbecues or late night s'mores.   
  
The campground almost always has campsites available. In addition to the 44 sites available for advanced reservation, 62 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability of the first come, first served sites cannot be tracked through Recreation.gov. The sites must be booked in person at the campground kiosk.

Primitive Backcountry Camping is available at Rock Castle Gorge. Obtain a free permit from the Rocky Knob campground office (May-October) or the Rocky Knob District Office (540-745-9660).

## Natural Features

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic byway that stretches almost 500 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina and Virginia. It offers plenty of natural attractions and recreational opportunities for visitors, as well as a cross-section of Appalachian mountain history from pre-historic times to early European settlements, and on to today. Rocky Knob Campground, one of the first established sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway, is home to several famous geological attractions. Rock Castle Gorge, known for its beautiful rock crystalline quartz formations, was once home to several mountain families. Visitors can still find remnants of their old apple orchards and abandoned stone chimneys along parkway trails. 

## Nearby Attractions

The nearby town of **Floyd** offers entertainment, shopping, food, gas and lodging. There are also multiple wineries nearby that offer tours and tastings.   
  
Visit **Mabry Mill** at milepost 176 near Meadows of Dan, Virginia.   
  
The campground is about 30 miles from **Mount Airy, North Carolina** , the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the fictional TV-series town of Mayberry. Mount Airy also offers grocery stores, gas stations and medical facilities.

Rocky Knob Campground

Be sure to adhere to camping restrictions for these areas: https://www.ratc.org/mcafee-knob-and-the-triple-crown/



Dragon's Tooth

## Overview

Horseshoe Point Campground is nestled on the shores of Philpott Lake in the rugged foothills of Virgina's Blue Ridge Mountains. The park is located in a rural and sparsely populated part of Franklin County near the small community of Henry.   
  
Philpott Lake's clear water and natural shoreline make it a unique place for visitors to enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking and camping.   
  
Click here for the Philpott Lake Virtual Tour: <http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/philpott/tour.html >

## Recreation

The lake provides visitors with great boating and swimming opportunities. Anglers enjoy fishing for large and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie and catfish.  
  
Many miles of hiking and biking trails surround Philpott Lake, allowing visitors to get out and explore this scenic area.

## Facilities

The park offers both camping and day-use facilities: 15 campsites with electric and water hookups are available, as well as 34 primitive sites without hookups.   
  
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. For additional family-friendly entertainment, a beach, boat ramp, dock, picnic shelter and playground are also on-site.

## Natural Features

Philpott Lake covers 2,900 acres and has 100 miles of shoreline. The lake's steep, rocky banks meet beautiful mixed forests of oak, maple, hickory, pine and cedar.   
  
Wildlife is abundant throughout the area: Deer, turkeys, squirrels, raccoons, and a variety of songbirds and waterfowl are commonly viewed. 

## Nearby Attractions

The lake is adjacent to Fairystone State Park and Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area, which includes 5,300 acres of public recreational lands.

Horseshoe Point

Private

Its ok. RVs on both sides of the road, one side backs up to nice river. Otherwise had a creek and small pond. Large cabanas for parties. Great hiking trails to a beautiful waterfall. 

Methodist campground

**Campground Review: Alta Mons Campground, Shawsville, VA**

A Shenandoah Valley goldmine! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5_wV2ao_Jo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5_wV2ao_Jo)

**PROS**

•close to Salem/Roanoke

•850 acres

•mountain trails

•Stiles Falls

•peaceful

•clean and cared for

•cheerful staff

**CONS**

•limitations of use during youth camps

•some “amenities” unavailable to campground users

I wish I would have found this campground four years earlier! We find ourselves in the Salem/Roanoke, VA area each spring for my daughter’s collegiate athletic post-season play. Finding a campground with a showerhouse within a half hour drive to the stadium is limited…and noisy, as they often are perched along one (or more) highways and wedged in a small valley between mountains.

Enter Alta Mons Campground! Tucked away in Shawsville, VA just outside Christiansburg. [www.altamons.org](http://www.altamons.org)

Alta Mons Campground enjoys a rich history, which I enjoy uncovering by talking with staff and locals. Two such Springs brought folks from near and far to gain benefit from their apparent “healing” spring waters. These were huge resorts complete with lavish hotels to pamper such guests during a bygone era. Nearby was Allegheny Springs and this, Crockett Springs (owned by…you guessed it…the Crockett family).

Lore has it an ailing Shawnee Indian Brave, injured during battle, healed himself via the water from these Springs. These very spring waters then shipped the world over for their medicinal properties. A campground staff member shared that the waters actually flow from or through an arsenic mine and was believed the arsenic cured cancer. The hotel resort no longer exists, but there are a few old buildings and log cabins that dot the property.

In the late 50’s, the Roanoke United Methodist Association began purchasing tracts of land and ultimately transformed Crockett Springs into Alta Mons Campground. The name Alta Mons meaning “high mountains.”

It should noted that there is s differentiation between the actual campground and the youth camp. Of greater note, during youth camp weeks most of the land, trails, falls and streams are off-limits to RV and tent campers. Wisdom says to call ahead and inquire, lest you be disappointed. This particular year youth camps run weekdays from a June 24-Mid August, so there is plenty of availability.

Camping here midweek during shoulder seasons…we enjoy the camp to ourselves…literally. We are the sole campers of this paradise midweek. The weekend saw two RV camp closer to the bathhouse. Though the RV/Camper sites across the Allegheny Springs Road along the river filled up. As with most mountain/valley campgrounds, you do hear some sporadic local traffic noise during quiet hours. I have an uncanny knack of camping the same times and locales of area Scout Troops and this was no exception. They enjoyed a separate camping area on the opposite side of the creek…having fun while learning of the great outdoors.

There are 37 RV sites with water and electric, and 7 tent sites (along a creek). With the exception of tent site 7, no foliage separates or secludes one site from the next. RV sites are $25 nightly, tent sites $15\. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There is one bathhouse…clean and well-stocked but small…possessing only two shower stalls. I can only imagine most campers are cooled off in the streams and falls.

In addition to the bathhouse, there are a couple portable outhouses in the camping area. Several pavilions are throughout the grounds.

Various activity areas exist…basketball court, volleyball court, horseshoe pit, playground, catch and release bait pond (loaded with fish lined up to be caught), interpretive trail. The pool and high-ropes course are by contract only, so I don’t expect admittance for campers.

A church building was built in the early 70’s at the front of the entrance and is not part of the camp…and you’ll either enjoy or be tolerant of the early afternoon chimes.

Being adjoined to a youth camp…read, know and follow the campground rules and restrictions

.The property trails are open to the public. Visitors have available parking and must sign-in to use the trails. Most come to see Stiles Falls. Stiles Falls derives it’s name from the untimely demise of a young Confederate Navy soldier who fell to his death while horsing around at its top. I would put the hike to the falls moderate to strenuous with three creek crossings and some boulder scampers…give yourself an hour each direction from the parking lot.

The first bear of the season was spotted the morning we arrived and promptly skidaddled back into the wooded mountains. Song birds are prolific and wake you early with their welcomed chorus. The chortle of raccoon was heard but none spotted, as the cackle and call of elusive turkey. Surprisingly, I was unable to find any reptiles.

Bring your bug spray, mosquitos here swarm you in apocalyptic proportion at nightfall. Also be prepared for rain, lush green meadows and sod farms give indication of ample rainfall.

The Alts Mons staff are exceedingly helpful, pleasant and eager to answer any question. Plan ahead…I’m told weekends are usually sold out…I can see why!

A wonderfully tranquil campground that I would highly recommend.

**Product Review: Brunton Echo Pocketscope 7x18**

Brunton Echo Pocket Scope 7x18

[https://www.brunton.com/](https://www.brunton.com/)

**Highlights**

•7x Magnification

•High Density Bak-4 Prism Glass

•Multi-coated High Contrast Glass

•Lightweight

•Exceptional Warranty

**Specs:**

Field of View-181 ft at 1,000 yards

Exit Pupil 2.4

Eye Relief 12mm

Length: 3.25"

Weight: 1.8 oz.

Package Contents:

•Echo pocket scope

•Case

•Lanyard

“**_Let nothing stand in the way of adventure_**” is Brunton’s catch phrase.

The diminutive size and feather-light weight of the Brunton Echo Pocket Scope surely won’t stand in the way of any adventure! You won’t be aware of its presence until you are ready to use it.

As a Review Ranger, the Brunton Echo Pocketscope [https://www.brunton.com/collections/optics-1/products/echo-pocket-scope-green](https://www.brunton.com/collections/optics-1/products/echo-pocket-scope-green)was provided by the manufacturer for review.

There are those that resist bringing certain items into the field based on size, weight and durability. Oftentimes magnified optics are one such item. Unless you are a bonafide birdwatcher or hunter…which high quality optics are the first thing in your kit. But in the case of the Brunton Echo Pocketscope, you have no viable excuses. Brunton’s warranty claim is strong…”buy it, try it, bust it, return it-no questions asked.” Can’t argue with that.

Someone might argue that 7x18 isn’t a powerful enough offering. Depending on its application, that argument might be accurate. But for the weekend explorer or the ultra-light thru-hiker stowing this minuscule lightweight into a pack or pocket would be unnoticeable until you desired to see an object 7x closer than your naked eye.

In layman’s terms, that first number is magnification and the second number is the front objective size (diameter in millimeters). So with this particular 7x18 monocular, 7 being the magnification…as stated, it will bring objects 7 times closer than the naked eye. The 18 mm objective is fairly small which limits both light transmission for low light conditions (dawn and dusk), and your field of view.

The Brunton Echo Pocketscope also provides a rubber diopter ring to adjust clarity for optimal viewing of the subject matter. Brunton does make other monoculars with both greater magnification (in fact, one model has a zoom feature) and larger objectives.

Brunton utilizes BAK-4 prisms, which simply put, incorporate higher quality glass resulting in sharper images from edge to edge. A nice touch for a tiny, inexpensive package.

A monocular can offer a challenge to those raised solely on binoculars. Though I may prefer the ease, comfort and stability of binoculars…I have used monoculars an entire career for discreet observation and appreciate the advantages.

The lanyard and case are nothing to write home about and I wouldn’t place my full trust in them, such as lashing the case to my pack or anticipating the lanyard to maintain its retention integrity for too long.

**Final Thoughts**

I like Brunton’s Echo Pocketscope and look forward to using it a great deal on the trail. It fits nicely into my backpack’s hipbelt pocket for immediate access.

Nearly unnoticeable, I hiked a beautiful 6 mile river gorge trail with lanyard about my wrist and the Pocketscope between my first and second finger.

As inexpensive as you can find the Brunton Echo Pocketscope online, it’s kinda silly not to have one.

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