The Shadow
Wilson Creek, a stream that flows south from its headwaters in Bath County to Alleghany County where it empties into the Jackson River, features an abundance of campgrounds on both sides.
As it meanders from near Route 39 in Bath County south to feed Douthat Lake, a 50-acre body of water owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is known for being designated as a Virginia trout stream.
Virginia opened Douthat State Park (June 15, 1936) in Bath County and recently purchased the Whispering Pines Campground in Alleghany County to extend the park’s camping facilities from those clustered around Douthat Lake to its newest facility in Alleghany County.
Douthat State Park is situated on 4,445 acres, the second-largest state park in Virginia. Only Pocahontas State Park has more acreage.
Situated near Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek, camping facilities can accommodate primitive tent camping, tent camping, and RV camping. Lakeside is a campground located on the west side of Wilson Creek where it flows into Douthat Lake.
Father upstream from Lakeside is Beaver Dam, a campground designated for equestrian, and farther downstream below the dam, the park operates White Oak, another campground on the hill overlooking a low-water bridge across Wilson Creek.
Farther downstream on the east side of Wilson Creek, Whispering Pines Campground accommodates both tent campers and RV campers.
On the west side of Wilson Creek less than 1,000 feet farther south, the Buckhorne Country Store and Campground provides accommodations for tent camping and RVers.
About a mile farther south, Alleghany Campground and Mobile Home Court is situated on the east side of Wilson Creek near where it makes its turn to curve west to empty into the Jackson River just beyond Clifton Dale Park.
Douthat State Park and the two privately owned campgrounds stay open year-round, and Wilson Creek is stocked with trout during the peak camping season.
Also, during high water in the Jackson River, bass, catfish and sunfish make their way upstream as far as Whispering Pines Campground.
Campers from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries have camped at the Buckhorne (circa 1990), and Douthat State Park has attracted visitors from all 50 states and around the world.
Combining the state-owned and privately owned campgrounds, there are six located north of the I-64 Exit 27, all located alongside Route 629, also known as Douthat Road.
