The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Wild Geraniums (Geranium maculatum) along the Bottom Creek Gorge. © Dana Blackmer Photography

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Take a look around and spot some of Bottom Creek Gorge's amazing plants and animals. View All

Plan Your Visit

Download a map of Bottom Creek Gorge. Don't forget your binoculars! View All

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit

Forming the headwaters of the Roanoke River, Bottom Creek Gorge boasts spectacular scenery: the second highest waterfall in Virginia, virgin hemlocks and hundreds of wildflowers.

Bottom Creek is a powerful mountain stream that forms a stair-step series of broad-basin waterfalls known as the "kettles." One of the headwater streams of the South Fork of the Roanoke River, Bottom Creek boasts a 200-foot high waterfall. Flanking Bottom Creek are forests of mixed hardwoods (tulip poplar, maple, oak, hickory) and upland meadows. Five rare species thrive in this habitat.

Location

Montgomery County

Hours

Open daily, dawn to dusk

Size

1,657 acres

Conditions

More than five miles of accessible trails. There are no restrooms.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site

Bottom Creek Gorge is a hotbed for rare aquatic species. It contains three rare fish and one globally rare plant.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

The Conservancy has improved the trails at Bottom Creek Gorge while reducing their impact on surrounding habitat. Researchers continue to monitor the rare species and Conservancy staff are working with adjacent private landowners on conservation easements.

Things To Do

What to See: Fish

Bottom Creek is critical habitat for four species of fish native to the headwaters of the Roanoke River: the orangefin madtom, the bigeye jumprock, the riverweed darter and the Roanoke darter. It also contains approximately 10 percent of all fish species known from Virginia, including native brook trout.

What to See: Plants

A half-acre shale barren provides habitat for the globally rare chestnut lipfern. Formerly known only from north-central Mexico to the southwestern United States, this lipfern occurs in isolated patches in southwestern Virginia and eastern West Virginia.

An old-growth hemlock forest rising from the north side of the creek remained largely untouched due to its inaccessibility. A mix of forest and field covers the rest of the preserve. Mixed hardwood stands of tulip poplar, maple, oak and hickory are complemented by several meadows and dense rhododendron thickets in ravines.

Plan Your Visit

For information, contact the Virginia program office at  (434) 295-6106. 

Trail Map

Download a trail map of Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve (pdf, 167KB).

Directions

From Roanoke and points north: 

• From I-81, take exit #141, Route 419 south, to Salem.
• Go south on Route 419 for about eight miles to Route 221 at Cave Spring.
• Take winding Route 221 south for 13.8 miles to Route 644.
• You will pass through the town of Bent Mountain, then pass an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway on your left. About 0.6 miles past the Parkway entrance, turn right on Route 644. 
• After 1.1 miles, the road forks. Stay to the right on Route 669.
• Continue straight on Route 669. DO NOT turn right on Bottom Creek Road.
• After 1.5 miles, you will come to a "Y" intersection. Bear slightly right, staying on Route 669.
• Soon you will be driving alongside Bottom Creek on your left. After 1.3 miles, you will cross a small bridge. Look for the Preserve sign on your left. Turn left at the sign and go up the gravel driveway to the gate.
• Park on the side of the road at the gate. Walk about half a mile up the gravel road to the trailheads where you will find another sign and trail maps.

From Blacksburg and Christiansburg: 

• Take Route 11/460 northeast to the town of Shawsville.
• At Shawsville, turn right on Route 637 (Allegheny Springs Road).
• Stay on this road all the way to the first stop sign in Simpsons. [NOTE: after about seven miles, Route 637 turns to the left while Route 653 continues straight. DO NOT turn left on Route 637, but stay straight on Route 653 to Simpsons].
• At the stop sign, turn left on Route 610.
• At the next stop sign, turn left on Route 221. Stay on Route 221 for about seven miles.
• You will pass through the town of Copper Hill. Turn left on Route 644.
• After 1.1 miles, the road forks. Stay to the right on Route 669. Follow the above directions from this point.

Discussion

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Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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