Amazing!! Great outfitter to work with and the campground on the river along the way is great with…read moreporta potties! We were given a thorough safety briefing before they drove us to our launch area. This is a well run operation!

My son and I just wrapped up our first overnight kayaking trip together--two beautiful days…read morefloating (and occasionally paddling) down the James River! As a dad, planning this kind of trip comes with a lot of moving parts... and a little bit of overthinking. Thankfully, Twin River Outfitters made it all easy. Robert gave us a great orientation and walked us through the whole course like seasoned river guides (which we definitely are not). We booked the glamping tents and took full advantage of their kitchen box, firewood, and luggage service--which meant we could have an awesome adventure without needing a crash course in ultralight backpacking. It was a perfect balance of the outdoors and just enough comfort to keep everyone smiling.

The folks were extremely helpful and great to work with. Our boat was fantastic (albeit a bit old)…read moreand they moved us to a lovely cove for fishing and privacy. We would highly recommend them for anyone wanting a peaceful yet fun adventure.

I visited on a weekday in July to use the beach/swim area. Prior to arriving I used the online…read morecontact information for the Marina office to inquire whether pets were allowed in the swim area and was told "yes"; however upon arriving there was a posted "no pets" sign. At that point I had my dogs in tow and could not leave them in the car (too hot) so I let the written confirmation from the office staff supersede the signage and took them onto the sand. It was not very crowded and so we were able to unobtrusively occupy a little corner and not bother / interact with other beach goers. None of them seemed to mind our presence. The beach itself is super duper pleasant! Loved our day there. Just wish it were easier to know how to follow the rules!

This is the cleanest campground I have been to. I traveled to Alaska earlier this year so I stayed…read moremany places. Amber, the hostesses this summer, goes the extra mile to keep the latrines clean and the sites edged. This is a quiet, dark place across from a lake and a few miles from the high point of WV. Sites are large and spaced away from each other. Walk up sites available.

So tidy. So clean. Man, they run a tight ship here. I'm talking this place is like spotless,…read moresterilized, clinically, zestfully clean all up in here. Even the vault toilets. The folks here are friendly and leave you be. Its perfectly isolated up here on the mountain. The road to get here is a pain if you have a city car but if you have anything 4 wheel drive you will love the dirt, the mud splashes, the potholes and the bumps along the *entire stretch of road to get here.

There are not enough stars to share how we feel about our experience with Justin and Middle River…read moreOutfitters. From start to finish - it was top notch, well-organized and well-communicated. Two fishermen: one a complete novice and, the other an early enthusiast. Justine was part teacher, part coach and part trout whisperer - and 100% focused on our experience. He has the gift of knowing his craft and reading the room. He was by our side when we needed him - yet gave us all the space we needed to try out what he taught us....which was considerable, yet never felt overwhelming. His instructive pacing is impressive. Each point was easy to understand and built up. By the end of the day we felt like we had learned so much. Could not have asked for a better time on the water. It was everything you could ever want. The result? Justin deepened the resolve for one of us and created a new fly fishing fan in the other. Thank you!!

From the owner: Our business specializes in guided fly fishing tours in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.read more

We had seen this reservoir on a list of "natural" things to do in the Roanoke area so went to check…read moreit out. Fairly soon after crossing under I-81, the road becomes quite curvy and narrow. As you approach the park area, there's a $7/car fee, that goes to the Water Authority. (The reservoir supplies water for the city of Roanoke). We were there in mid-October, and the area was beautiful with the lake reflecting the colors of the changing leaves on the nearby hillside trees. There are many recreational opportunities from fishing on the piers, to renting single- or double-kayaks (through late October), and hiking the nearby trails. Clean restrooms are available.

My 20-year old son and I were staying in Roanoke in May 2026 and decided to visit Carvins Cove…read moreNatural Reserve. When you drive into the main parking lot, a staff person will step out to collect a $7 per vehicle entry fee. Lots of pluses. First, the area has clean restrooms and a well-marked trail. Second, it's a peaceful and quiet setting as you walk along the Happy Valley trail. Third, we saw many kayakers on the lake and a few people fishing by the dock and along the left bank of the lake. However, I was surprised by the low level of lake water (you can see exposed rock). This is a family-friendly location to rent a kayak or take a peaceful walk along the reservoir.

it's beautiful and perfect for boating of any anykind but motor boats but people and dog are NOT…read moreallowed to swim in it!!! Makes no sense! Birds swim in it and poop in it has fish and boats are allowed! Also people do not clean up after themselves today I went and saw a bread bag and fishing line tied to a root and left! That kind of stuff is dangerous to wildlife and yet people and dogs can't swim there?! make it make sense!

Looking for an easy spot to social distance outdoors? Look no further! While there is no swimming…read morein this lake, it's the perfect spot to kayak, canoe, or paddle board. We rented paddle boards from Rivanna River Co and brought them over to the lake. The launch area is super easy for loading and unloading, and the lake is massive and provides plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. There was no entrance fee, plenty of parking, and gorgeous views. I'll definitely be back next time I need to beat the heat while getting some outdoors time in!

Our group of 8 rented a pontoon boat from SMBR this weekend. The owners Jason and Jenny were great…read moreto work with. They even delivered the boat and picked us up to return. We will definitely return and rent from them again. Friendly, flexible and accommodating - thanks so much Jenny!

We've rented boats from there twice and the boats have been in great shape and the rental process…read morewas quick and easy. My only complaint is that the price they charge per gallon of gas is ridiculous.

Had a day to kill waiting for my daughter to finish finals at Roanoke College so I made a trip out…read moreto see the lake. I had no plan to rent a boat but the fleet looked well cared for (almost new) and I jumped. The crew was really nice and helpful. I took out a "Tritoon"with a 200hp Yamaha. The lake is huge and there is some amazing sightseeing. I found a cove, anchored, finished up some work and then went for a swim. My 2 hour rental flew by and when I arrived back at the dock, the crew was waiting to help dock and replace my used fuel. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. For a spur of the moment adventure it was amazing. I highly recommend Bridgewater Marine.

Do not rent from this place! My son and his wife came to visit me for the first time in 2 years…read morefrom out west. I rented a wakeboard boat which I paid for months in advance and then they were unable to deliver a boat with gauges that worked. I said I did not want a boat without gauges and they still charge me over $4200 for nothing! They are horrible people who will steal your money and won't deliver anything. BE FORWARNED!!

Five stars for SML boat rental. We were able to rent a brand new Tritoon boat for our lake trip and…read moreit was a fantastic experience working with SML. They were very through making sure you are comfortable to operate the boat and have all the supplies and accessories you need for a fun day on the water. All folks were very polite and helpful. I will definitely come back!!!