Attractions

Giles County:

Fish-Giles County is home to year round fishing on streams, creeks and 37 miles of the New River. From native brook trout, brown and rainbow trout to catching citation size small mouth bass, this area is gaining notoriety for great fishing.

Hike-The Appalachian Trail continues is trek from north to south though Giles County offering scenic overlooks and varying difficulty of hiking. The county offers many other great places to hike including Glen Alton, Kelly Flats, White Rocks, and Dismal Falls. One of the most often photographed places to hike is to Cascades Fall, a 60 foot drop waterfall located in the Jefferson National Forest and easily accessed off Highway 460 in Pembroke. Another area of scenic hikes is located around Mountain Lake Resort.

Canoe, Kayak-With four local outfitters ready to shuttle you to a put in spot, the New River is a great place to enjoy the scenic shoreline and rocky cliffs. The 37 miles range from Class 1 to Class 3 rapids, offering beginners to intermediate level enthusiasts an enjoyable outing.

Birding-Two migratory birding paths cross in Giles County bringing avid birders each year to site the many species that travel to and from. Most interesting are the hummingbirds that travel as far south as Mexico and Costa Rica yet return to the Mountain Lake area. Each May, the Migratory Bird Festival is held with a weekend of early morning walks, speaker and other activities. Check www.mountainlakebirding.com for more information.

Touch History-Giles County has two of the still standing covered bridges from nearly 100 years ago. Located near Newport, a town that thrived on the travelers on the Wilderness Trail, these bridges are easy to find and view.

The Andrew Johnston House and Genealogical Research Center, located in Pearisburg, offers a sense of history from the Civil War with a museum to tour and the original home open to visitors. Those seeking family history can spend time reviewing information in the research center.
Of more recent history is Mountain Lake Resort. Located above 4000 feet on the mountain overlooking a ever changing lake, this resort was home to some of the filming of “Dirty Dancing”. It is now the site for the filming of the new BBC reality show with the same name.

The Giles County website offers more information about the area and the many activites. www.gilescounty.org

Montgomery County:

Just a few minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail, nestled between the picturesque Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the New River Valley, with Montgomery County as its center, offers visitors small town charm and big city amenities combined. The county includes the cities of Christiansburg, Blacksburg, and Riner.  Its residences and long time visitors included Davy Crockett, Booker T. Washington, Daniel Boone, Lewis & Clark, George Washington and many more.

You will experience world- class dining, antiquing, cultural activities, festivals, a beautiful rural setting and unique recreational opportunities. Whether you plan to visit for bird watching, nature’s spring/autumn display, fishing, hiking, biking, boating, golf, history, artisans and cultural activities or a visit to Virginia Tech, your visit to Montgomery County will be an enjoyable one. Points of interest include; Smithfield Plantation, the Wilderness Trail, the Huckleberry Trail, the New River, Virginia Tech, Montgomery County Museum and much more.
 

Click the following pictures to find links to specific Wineries, Outdoor Recreation, Musical, Art & History Venues!