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Carvins Cove Natural Reserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 502 Google reviews · Running trail in Roanoke, Virginia · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Carvins Cove Natural Reserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Carvins Cove Natural Reserve
“The trails are well maintained with a variety of options and difficulty levels.”
“The area is absolutely beautiful and the folks staffing the visitor center are always so kind and helpful.”
Always the hidden gem if you want to get out. They have rentals here, we went kayaking and fishing. Huge fish would jump out the water every now and again. We seen a bald eagle at one point. We didn't even explore all the lake it's pretty vast with trails but wonderful to explore even by water.
Y’all - whether you live in Roanoke or are just passing through, Carvins Cove is a ‘must visit’ for anyone who enjoys some quiet time out in nature. This site offers so many activities ranging from hiking, kayaking, and fishing.
Great spot for an open water paddle, hike or bike in SW Virginia. Neatly tucked into the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, this lake is a paddler's dream filled with endless scenery, wildlife, and an extensive network of trails for those looking to hike or mountain bike.
Great time. Great weather. Kayak rentals are $7 per person per hour for a single seater and $11 per person per hour for a tandem. If you bring your own Kayak/canoe its $5 per boat. There is no swimming or wading allowed but you can fish from shore or boat. Wonderful views.
Trail conditions & character
“The area is absolutely beautiful and the folks staffing the visitor center are always so kind and helpful.”
“There are picnic tables with shelters, stand a lone bathrooms and Porter potties, charcoal grills, kayaks, paddle boats and heaps of other things to do.”
“We are experienced gravel riders and rode 20mi on rigid gravel bikes with 2.”
Plan your run at Carvins Cove Natural Reserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Websitewesternvawater.org
- Phone+1 540-362-1757
Hours
| Monday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Friday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 6:30 am–9:30 pm |
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