The park was built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1388.
Many of the park’s original structures, including cabins and the lodge, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 50-acre Douthat Lake is a cold-water reservoir specifically managed for seasonal trout fishing.
The park contains the Blue Suck Falls, a waterfall that flows after periods of significant rainfall.
The park boundary encompasses over 4,500 acres of land.
Several trails within the park were designed to follow old logging paths and wagon roads from the 19th century.
The park's geology features significant deposits of Oriskany sandstone.
Douthat State Park is one of the original six Virginia state parks, opened in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is centered around a 50-acre lake located within the Alleghany Mountains. The park features over 43 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails that navigate varying elevations. Its primary draws include seasonal trout stocking, boat rentals, and extensive cabin rentals originally constructed by the CCC. The park topography reaches elevations exceeding 3,000 feet, providing distinct microclimates and forest types. Visitors can access a designated swimming beach on the lake, which operates seasonally. The facility maintains full-service campgrounds in addition to its historic cabin inventory. The park is situated within the George Washington National Forest, serving as an outdoor hub for the Bath and Alleghany county region.
The spillway at the dam overlooking the lake.
Bring polarized sunglasses to better sight trout in the clear lake water.
Check the VDGIF trout stocking schedule online before visiting if your primary goal is fishing.
Download offline trail maps, as cellular service is intermittent or non-existent in the lower valleys of the park.
Attempting to swim in the lake outside of the designated beach area or during off-season months.
The swimming beach is open only during the summer season; trails are accessible year-round, weather permitting.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive mountain vegetation; pack out all trash.
