One Scenic Drive Worth Taking Offers Motorists Many Rewards

Beginning at Mountain Gateway Community College, a motorist may drive through the Town of Clifton Forge by following U.S. Route 60 or by taking I-64 east to Exit 27.

Both ways will bring a traveler to Virginia State Route 629 which is known to locals as Douthat Road, the highway that leads from I-64 to Douthat State Park. The two-lane (SR 629) curves its way alongside Wilson Creek, the stream which feeds Douthat Lake, a 50-acre body of water formed by the dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal.

Douthat State Park is one of Virginia’s first six state parks built by the CCC, and it opened on June 15, 1936.

Wilson Creek meanders from its headwaters in Bath County to the lake, over the spillway and farther south from Bath County into Alleghany County where it empties into the Jackson River between the Town of Clifton Forge and the Town of Iron Gate.

The drive on SR 629, designated as a secondary road, from I-64 to Douthat State Park will take motorists past Whispering Pine Campground, Douthat State Park’s newest and southernmost campground which is located in Alleghany County, on beyond the park and through the George Washington National Forest to Virginia’s SR 39.

Motorists will have a clear view of the lake with its sandy beach, boat launch area and Lakeside Campground before crossing the bridge to exit the park and head farther north along the winding road that passes a cavalcade on the right side before it brings them to a 17-in-a-row curve section that climbs a hill not far from SR 39, a primary road.

Motorists traveling the route have reported seeing wild turkeys, quail, deer, squirrels, rabbits, black bears and at least one cougar.

By turning left on SR 39, that leads west to the W. Va. state line which is near Mountain Grove where it becomes W.Va. 39, motorists will cross Warm Spring Mountain. Before driving down the north side of the mountain, there is a vista that provides an eagle’s view of the lower mountains that stretch for miles to the southeast.

The marker at the vista lists sites that can be seen in the distance such as Panther Gap in eastern Bath County.

On the other side of Warm Springs Mountain from the vista, SR 39 intersects with U.S. 220, and by turning left, the sightseer will pass Jefferson Pools on the right before reaching Hot Springs where the historic Omni Homestead Resort is located at 7696 Sam Snead Highway.

Driving onward on U.S. 220, the motorist will pass the late Sam Snead’s home on Sam Snead Highway, named for the world famous golfer.

Continuing south on U.S. 220, the Falling Spring Waterfalls will come into view on the right side of the road where there is a viewing area to snap photographs of the 80-foot waterfalls, one of the highest in Va.

The City of Covington on the Jackson River is situated five miles south of the falls, and by continuing on, the motorist can opt to include Humpback Bridge on the sightseeing trip by taking U.S. Route 60 west from Covington to the historic covered bridge that was built in 1857, the oldest of its kind in Va.

There is a picnic area located adjacent to the wooden structure with a view of the LoveWorks sign that utilizes a sycamore tree to form the “V” in LOVE.

If the motorist finds that time is running short, then a left turn onto I-64 in Covington will take the driver back to MGCC.

Should the motorist decide to view the covered bridge, there is a nearby onramp to I-64 just west of the bridge where a left turn will return the motorist to his starting point.

Humpback Bridge (Photo by Trip Advisor)