The valley has long been a recreational giant. Now we’ve got a burgeoning greenways system, a multigenerational rec center, a bicycle-friendly movement and more.
By Gene Marrano
Did you know that Roanoke has its own version of the “Bridge to Nowhere”? The bridge just across the street from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is waiting to link two long stretches of the Roanoke River Greenway, one from the 13th Street sewage treatment plant and another from Wasena Park.
Once the connections are made, walkers, joggers and bicyclists will be able to enjoy a five-mile-plus stretch of uninterrupted greenway.
A 50-Mile Greenway System
Meanwhile, Roanoke County recently dedicated .8 mile of paved trail, another part of the Roanoke River Greenway, at Green Hill Park. Eventually that greenway, the spine of a proposed 50-mile system in the valley, will run from Roanoke County’s Spring Hollow Reservoir, through the City of Salem (where a smaller segment has already been in service for several years), through Roanoke City and on to eastern Roanoke County, terminating at Virginia’s Explore Park.
Elsewhere, proposed extensions to the Lick Run Greenway (between downtown Roanoke and Valley View Mall) and a connection between the east-west Roanoke River Greenway and the north-south Tinker Creek Greenway will eventually let users traverse much of the valley in several directions, by foot or bike. Carvins Cove, with another 40 miles or so of hiking and biking trails, is one terminus for Tinker Creek.
Stuart Mease, hired by the City of Roanoke several years ago to help retain and attract young professionals, says greenways are “a part of the mix” that cities use to attract that demographic: “The way people are using alternative forms of transportation with biking and the commitment of people to stay in good health … a greenway really adds value to a community.” Some cities, including Boulder, Colo., and Raleigh, N.C., have profited by being home to extensive greenway systems.
Read the complete article in the new Roanoker, now available at bookstores, on newsstands or by calling (800) 548-1672. Or try our Free Issue Offer.
GREAT PLACES TO PLAY
College Sports
•Virginia Tech. NCAA Division I programs in men’s and women’s basketball, cross-country, indoor and outdoor track, soccer, tennis, swimming and diving. Men’s golf, baseball, football and wrestling. Women’s volleyball, softball and lacrosse. Virginia Tech is now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. 1-800-VATECH-4 or 540/231-6731. www.hokiesports.com.
•Roanoke College. Sponsors Division III varsity sports, including a nationally ranked lacrosse team. Also field hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball, cross-country, track, volleyball and golf. Women’s basketball team has won the Old Dominion’s conference championship 13 times; men’s team 10 times. 540/375-2344. www.maroons.roanoke.edu/Sports/
Athletic Programs
•Valley Parks and Recreation. Sports for children and teens include Dixie League and Little League baseball, T-ball, girl’s softball, peewee softball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading and many others. For more information, call Roanoke City 540/853-2236; Roanoke County 540/387-6078, Salem 540/375-3057.
www.roanokegov.com
www.co.roanoke.va.us
www.ci.salem.va.us.
• Botetourt County Parks and Recreation 540-473-8326. co.botetourt.va.us.
• Franklin County Parks and Recreation 540-483-9293. franklincountyva.org
• Craig County 540-864-5010 craigev.net.
Outdoor/Indoor Tennis Courts
Botetourt County 4 (public) courts, 2 lighted
Franklin County 6 courts, all lighted.
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| The Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountain ranges help create the streams that provide great fly fishing in the Roanoke area.
PHOTO BY ANDY ALONSO |
Roanoke City. 61 courts, 44 lighted.
Roanoke County. 42 courts, 36 lighted.
Salem. 12 courts, all lighted.
Sun Tennis. Starkey Road, Roanoke County. 2 courts, indoors. Private lessons, group clinics. 540/725-4200. www.suntenniscenter.com.
Virginia Western. Six courts, all lighted.
N-DOR Tennis Club. Three indoor hard courts on membership basis. Ladies’ leagues; professional certified instructor on staff. 540/981-1281.
Ridgewood Tennis Club. Two private indoor hard courts for two-hour basis, monthly. 540/389-4000.
Lancerlot Sports Complex. One indoor court, lighted. 540/981-0205.
Camps
•Roanoke City Camps. Outdoor Adventure Camp; Adventure in the Park; Stars Come Out at Night Program; Youth Nature Camp; Discovery Camp. 540/853-2236. www.roanokegov.com.
•Camp Roanoke. Summer trail and adventure residential camp for kids. 540/387-6078. www.co.roanoke.va.us.
•Roanoke County Parks and Recreation. Day camps and overnight adventures at Camp Roanoke. 540/387-6078.
•Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing. Summer camp and year-round conference/retreat center in New Castle. Corporate teambuilding programs. 1-800-782-0779. www.eagle-landing.com.
Water Sports
•Smith Mountain Lake. More than 500 miles of shoreline; private and state access to boating, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and swimming. Also sailing, vacation rentals, golf. 540/721-1203, 1-800-676-8203. www.visitsmithmountainlake.com.
•Carvins Cove. Public boating, fishing, picnicking, rowboat rental and seasonal concessions. Surrounded by a 13,000-acre forest preserve with hiking, horse and biking trails. No swimming. 540/563-9170. www.ci.roanoke.va.us/water/boating.html.
•Claytor Lake. Boating, swimming, camping, hiking and picnicking, fishing. Marina. Twelve cabins overlook the lake. 1-800-933-PARK. www.dcr.state.va.us.
•James and Maury Rivers. Fishing and river-running. Canoe and kayak trips via James River Basin Canoe Livery, Lexington. 540/261-7334. canoevirginia.com.
•Loch Haven Lake. Canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, diving, beach, hiking trails, picnic areas and tennis courts. Membership. 540/366-1174.
•Mountain Lake. May-November. Canoes, paddleboats, beach, swimming pool, bike rentals, hiking trails, lawn games. 1-800-346-3334.www.mtnlakehotel.com.
•New River. Fishing, canoeing, tubing, river running. Livery and shuttle service, canoe and kiwi rentals on New River and Walkers Creek through New River Canoe Livery, Pembroke, 540/626-7189. Tangent Outfitters offers guided fishing and canoe trips, mountain bikes, tubing and rentals. 540/626-4567. www.newrivertrail.com.
• Franklin County: Smith Mountain
Lake State Park offers 37 acres that includes a beach area, as well as picnic facilities, ADA-accessible fishing pier
and hiking trails.
• Craig County: the Craig Creek Recreational area is one of the few rangelands inside the Jefferson National Forest. It offers swimming, canoeing and fishing for the water sports enthusiast. Go to craigev.net for more information.
• Sailing clubs: There are two major sailing clubs at Smith Mountain Lake, the Virginia Inland Sailing Association, with facilities on the lower Roanoke River, and Blackwater Yacht Racing Association, which operates out of the Pelican Point Yacht Club.
Trout Streams
Many streams are periodically stocked by the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries. For daily updates: www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/stock/troutstock.cfm.
Sporting Groups
•Roanoke Ski Club. North American and overseas trips. Year-round calendar of events, including summer activities such as biking and tubing. More than 400 members. 540/989-7797. www.roanokeskiclub.org.
•Blue Ridge Bicycle Club. Year-round events including weekend rides, rails-to-trails trips. www.blueridgebicycleclub.com.
•Roanoke Valley Volleyball Association. Year-round league for men and women, all levels of play. 540/342-1014. www.rvva.net.
•Roanoke Rugby Football Club. Year-round adult men’s league including tournaments and special events. 540/344-3221 or 540/556-2791. www.roanokerugby.com.
• Roanoke Valley Triathlon Club: a group of individuals interested in assisting others in training for triathlons and promoting triathlon training activities as well as events in the Roanoke area. Contact: james@roanoketri.org.
• Roanoke Cycling Organization: a group that sponsors a number of weekly bicycle outings, including the Tuesday night “Chicky Ride” for women and rides at Carvin’s Cove, among other venues. Contact roanokecycling.org or 540-580-7284.
• Roanoke Valley Chapter of Float Fishermen of Virginia: for people interested in canoeing and conservation. It organizes several floats each year and has rafts that are frequently used for white-water adventures on the New River Gorge. (540) 384-7345.
Running Club
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•Star City Striders. Sponsor annual Women’s Distance and Star City Half Marathon 5K races. Also participate in other runs throughout the year. 540/772-2782. www.starcitystriders.com.
Hiking
For a list of all of Virginia’s parks and their amenities, go to www.dcr.state.va.us or call 1-800-933 PARK for brochures. Visit www.roanoke.com/outdoors.
• Waterfall walks. Fallingwater Cascades is at milepost 83 of the Blue Ridge Parkway and includes a 1.6-mile hike. Near milepost 27, you have to make a modestly difficult 1.5-mile hike to see Crabtree Falls, Virginia’s highest waterfall. Roaring Run has a 1.4-mile trail just off Va. 621, near the remains of a pre-Civil War iron-ore furnace. The Cascades, on Va. 623 near Pembroke, offers hikes to the falls – a crescent of shale cliffs over 60 feet high, spilling Little Stony Creek into a large lagoon-like pool.
• For Appalachian Trail hikes and loop-hikes, see the beginning of this section or go to ratc.org
Indoor Racquetball
•Lancerlot Sports Complex. Six courts, free with membership. 540/981-0205.
•Roanoke Athletic Club. Five courts. 540/989-5758.
•Kirk Family YMCA. Three courts; free with membership. 540/342-9622.
• Carter Athletic Center. Two courts. Free with membership. 540-989-6641.
Horseback Riding
•Glenwood Horse Trail. 65 miles. Jefferson National Forest.
•Virginia Creeper Trail. Abingdon to the North Carolina line. Abingdon Chamber of Commerce. 276/628-8141.
•Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. 540/783-5196 or 1-800-628-7202.
•Grayson Highlands State Park. Virginia State Parks. 1-800-933-PARK or 276-579-7092. www.dcr.state.va.us.
•Centura Equine Center, Inc. Riding lessons – hunter/jumpers. 540/989-6567.
•Hurley Ward Riding Lessons. Hunters and fox hunting. 540/989-7232.
•Sundance Manor Riding Lessons. Saddleseat. 540/380-4001.
•Slocum’s Appaloosa Ranch. Rides, pony rides, birthday parties. By appointment, year-round. 4860 Glade Creek Road, Bonsack. 540/977-4432.
Mountain Biking
•Carvin’s Cove. Roanoke City watershed has miles of trails. 540/853-2236.
•Explore Park. 12 miles of trails, open dawn to dusk. 540/427-1800.
•Franklin County Recreation Park. 540/483-9293.
•Pandapas Pond. Jefferson National Forest (Roanoke office), 540/265-5100, 540/552-4641 or 1-888-265-0019.
Public Pools
• Gator Aquatic Center. 1130 Overland Rd., Roanoke. 540-982-7665.
• Fallon Park Pool. Fallon Park, Roanoke. 540-853-2206.
• Washington Park. 1919 Burrell Ave., Roanoke. 540-853-2369.
• Vinton Pool. 814 Washington Ave., Vinton. 540-983-0644.
Private Swim Clubs
•Aqua Net Swim Club. (May-Sept.) 899 Finney Dr., Vinton. 540/344-3791.
• Castle Rock Swim Club 5950 Brahma Rd. 772-1977.
•Elks Lodge. 1147 Persinger Rd., Roanoke. 540/345-8126.
•Forest Hill Swim Club. 2715 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. 540/776-8501.
•Hidden Valley Country Club. 2500 Romar Rd, Salem. 540/389-8146.
•Hollow Creek Swim Club. 217 Hershberger Rd., Roanoke. 540/366-7665, 540/344-4599.
•Hunting Hills Country Club. 5220 Hunting Hills Dr., Roanoke. 540/774-4427.
• Kirk Family YMCA. 520 Church Ave., Roanoke. 540-342-9622.
•Lake Drive Swim Club. 891 Niagra Rd., Vinton. 540/982-9759.
• Lancerlot. 1110 Vinyard Rd., Vinton. 540-890-3694.
• Loch Haven Lake Club (not a pool). 2755 Loch Haven Lake Dr., Roanoke. 366-1174.
•North Lakes Swim Club. North Lake Dr. NW, Roanoke. 540/562-2003.
•Olympic Park Pool. 3136 Harris Street, Roanoke. 774-9990
• Our Lady of Nazareth Swim Club. 2505 Electric Rd., Roanoke. 540-345-2847.
• Read Mountain Swim Club. 59 Downing St., Cloverdale. 540-966-4115.
•Roanoke Country Club. 3360 Country Club Dr., Roanoke. 540/345-1508.
• Salem Racquet & Swim Club. 1431 Red Ln. Ext., Salem. 389-3155.
• Spring Run Swim Club. 6328 Ran Lynn Dr., Roanoke. 774-9952.
• Stonegate Swim Club. 856 Stonegate Dr., Salem. 444-0025.
• Waldron Family YMCA. 267 Alleghany Springs Rd., Shawsville. 540-268-1623.
Health and Fitness Clubs
• Botetourt Athletic Club. 105 Summerfield Crt., Roanoke. 540-992-2993.
• Universal Kempo Karate. 120 Kingston Dr., Daleville. 540-966-3381.
•Carter Athletic Center. 4254 Colonial Ave. SW, Roanoke. 540-989-7284.
• Curves For Women – Daleville. 1436 Roanoke Rd., Daleville. 540-966-3122.
• Curves For Women – Hollins. 7216 Williamson Rd., Roanoke. 540-563-5318.
• Curves For Women – Roanoke. 3505-B Franklin Rd., Roanoke. 540-344-1040.
• Curves for Women – Salem. 1457 W. Main St., Salem. 540-444-0367.
• Curves for Women – Vinton. 1316 Washington Ave., Vinton. 540-345-3776.
• Downtown Sports Club. 16 W. Church Ave., Roanoke. 540-345-7001.
• Gold’s Gym. 3270 Electric Rd., Roanoke. 540-527-GOLD.
• LancerLot Sports Complex. 1110 Vinyard Rd., Vinton. 540-981-0205.
• LifeWise Fitness. 4633 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. 400-7733 or visit LifeWiseFitness.com.
• Roanoke Athletic Club. 4508 Starkey Rd., Roanoke. 540-989-5758.
• Salem Wellness and Fitness Center. 840 W. Main St., Salem. 540-389-1622.
• Fitsique. 5401 Fallowater Suite F. Roanoke. 540-774-0040 .
• YMCA of Roanoke Valley. ymcaroanoke.org
Kirk Family YMCA (downtown Roanoke). 520 Church Ave., Roanoke. 540-342-9622.
Family Branch. 108 Orange Ave., Roanoke. 540-344-9622.
Salem YMCA. 1126 Kime Ln., Salem. 540-387-9622.
• YWCA of Roanoke Valley. 605 First St. SW, Roanoke. 540-345-9922.
• Zoom Fitness on the Go. 215 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke. 540-224-5678.
Area Golf Courses:
The Quick Guide
• Ashley Plantation Golf Course
919 Greenfield St., 4 mi. off I-81 on 220N Daleville. 540-992-4653.
• Blue Hills Golf Club. 2002 Blue Hills Circle, off U.S. 460 east of Roanoke. 540-344-7848.
• Botetourt Country Club. 2414 Country Club Rd., Va. 665 off U.S. 220, Troutville. 540-992-1451.
• Brookside Par 3 Golf Course. 6303 Williamson Rd., Roanoke. 540-366-6059.
• Countryside Golf Club. One Countryside Rd., Roanoke. 540-563-0391.
• Hanging Rock Golf Club. 1500 Red Lane, Salem. 540-389-7275 or 1-877-77-DIVOT
• Hidden Valley Country Club. 2500 Romar Rd., Salem. 540-389-8146.
• Hunting Hills Country Club. 5220 Hunting Hills Dr., Roanoke. 540-774-4429.
• Mariners Landing. 2052 Lake Retreat Rd., Huddleston. 540-297-7888 or 888/297-PUTT.
• Ole Monterey Golf Club. 1112 Tinker Creek Ln., Roanoke. 540-563-0400.
• Roanoke Country Club. 3360 Country Club Dr. NW, Roanoke. 540-345-1508.
• Salem Golf Course. 601 Academy St., Salem. 540-387-9802.
• Sycamore Ridge Golf Club. 1270 Trails End Rd., Goodview. 540-297-6490.
• The Westlake Golf & Country Club. 360 Chestnut Creek Dr., Hardy. 540-721-4214 or 1-800-296-7277.
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