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Mountain Lake is only natural lake larger than a beaver pond in the mountains of Virginia. It was formed by a landslide some 2000 years ago. It is home to a historic resort that's surrounded by miles of wilderness woodlands. The resort's centerpiece is the huge stone hotel featured in the movie "Dirty Dancing" (Inside: 1 | 2). Surrounding the hotel are a number of rental cottages. Rates run from $150 to nearly $700 double occupancy depending on the room and time of year (in my book Fall is best!). Visit http://www.mountainlakehotel.com/ for further information.
You don't need to be an overnight guest to enjoy the resort. Hiking opportunities abound in the area. A number of trails start at the hotel. A field guide for trails is available at the hotel. At an minimum, go for a stroll around the beautiful grounds. You can also rent a paddle boat or canoe for an hour or a day, and play a large scale version of chess. A nearby attraction worth a visit is the Sinking Creek Covered Bridge just outside of Newport.
North of the lake are vast national forest lands. The Mountain Lake Wilderness, largest in Virginia, offers short hikes to rocky viewpoints (panorama) and backpacking into uncrowded woods. Nearby White Rocks Recreation Area includes a developed campground with many varied and widely dispersed sites.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (USFS)
George Washington National Forest (GORP)
Shivers Home Page & Outdoors America
Last Modified: January 19, 2003
