Numerous DWR Facilities Closed Due to Storm Damage

Important Notices

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests ClosuresThe USDA Forest Service George Washington and Jefferson National Forests has closed the Clinch Ranger District and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in response to Hurricane Helene. These areas have experienced widespread power outages, severe flooding, fallen trees, and impassable roads. Several recreation areas on the Eastern Divide and North River Ranger Districts have also been closed due to damage from flooding. The Temporary Forest Closure Order went into effect on October 2, 2024 and will be effect until October 1, 2025, unless rescinded earlier. Please check the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests website for the latest information.

Numerous DWR Facilities Closed Due to Storm DamageUpdated October 3, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Due to recent flood events, water levels and flow rates are extremely high in rivers throughout Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Regions 2, 3, & 4. DWR boating access sites in those regions may not be accessible at this time. Staff is currently working to evaluate sites and restore access as conditions allow. Concerns include slippery ramp and dock surfaces; significantly higher than normal water levels; and trees, trash and other debris that could be floating on the surface or just below the waterline.

In addition, due to damage from Hurricane Helene, DWR has closed several wildlife management areas located in the western part of the Commonwealth. Due to continuing damage evaluations, DWR doesn’t have an estimated re-opening date for these facilities. DWR encourages everyone to avoid any body of water in the western region of the state and to refrain from visiting any wildlife management area in the western region of the state until a full facility assessment can be completed. Please see the tables below for a full list of affected properties and status updates.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is gifted with passionate constituents that value access to the public lands it manages. The Department understands that a lot of people want to see these closed areas reopened as soon as possible and have offered to assist in any way they can. DWR appreciates the public’s spirit of volunteerism during this time but cannot currently accept volunteer assistance in this endeavor. DWR thanks all that want to help and suggests registering with the Department Volunteer Coordinator so they can assist with future projects.

In addition, if an area is closed, no one outside of Department personnel and hired contractors are allowed on the property. Do not attempt to enter a closed property to clear areas on your own.

Department personnel are working hard to reopen properties as quickly as possible. While some areas and facilities may take days to clear, others could open faster. Be sure to check this page regularly for updates and before you plan to head to a DWR managed property.

Wildlife Management Areas and DWR Facilities

Property	Status
Clinch Mountain WMA	A majority of the WMA and sighting-in range is currently inaccessible. White Rocks road from route 91 to the 765 transmission line is currently open. Check back soon for more updates.
Crooked Creek WMA	Forest Oak Road access blocked
Hidden Valley WMA	WMA inaccessible
Stewart’s Creek WMA	Upper access blocked by trees and power lines

Boating Access Sites

Waterbody	Access Location	County	Status
Claytor Lake	Allisonia	Pulaski	Inaccessible
Claytor Lake	Dublin	Pulaski	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Blackford Bridge	Russell	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Carterton	Russell	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Pucketts Hole	Russell	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Nashs Ford	Russell	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Clinchport	Scott	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Dungannon	Scott	Inaccessible
Clinch River	State Line	Scott	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Saint Paul	Wise	Inaccessible
Clinch River	Rexrena	Scott	Inaccessible
Hidden Valley Lake	Hidden Valley Lake	Washington	Inaccessible
Laurel Bed Lake	Laurel Bed Lake	Russell	Inaccessible
New River	Byllesby Pool	Carroll	Inaccessible
New River	Rich Creek	Giles	Inaccessible
New River	Narrows	Giles	Inaccessible
New River	Snidow Park	Giles	Inaccessible
New River	Mouth of Wilson	Grayson	Inaccessible
New River	Bridle Creek	Grayson	Inaccessible
New River	Baywood	Grayson	Inaccessible
New River	Old Town	Grayson	Inaccessible
New River	Riverside	Grayson	Inaccessible
New River	Independence	Grayson	Inaccessible
New River	Whitethorne	Montgomery	Inaccessible
New River	Allisonia	Pulaski	Inaccessible
New River	Harry Dehaven	Pulaski	Inaccessible
New River	Peppers Ferry	Montgomery	Inaccessible
New River	Austinville	Wythe	Inaccessible
New River	Loafers Rest	Wythe	Inaccessible
New River	Ivanhoe	Carroll	Inaccessible
N Fork Holston	Saltville	Smith	Inaccessible
N Fork Holston	Clinch Mountain	Washington	Inaccessible
S Fork Holston	Damascus Bridge	Washington	Inaccessible
Lovills Creek	Lovills Creek	Carroll	Inaccessible
Powell River	Flanary Bridge	Lee	Inaccessible
Powell River	Beach Grove	Lee	Inaccessible
Powell River	Poteet Ferry	Lee	Inaccessible
Powell River	Estes Bros.	Lee	Inaccessible
S. Holston Lake	Whitaker Hollow Park	Washington	Inaccessible
S. Holston Lake	Avens	Washington	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Alma	Page	Inaccessible
South River	Basic Park	Waynesboro	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Bentonville	Warren	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Berry’s	Clarke	Inaccessible
Shenandoah River	Castleman’s Ferry	Clarke	Inaccessible
N. Fork Shenandoah River	Chapmans	Shenandoah	Inaccessible
Rappahannock River	City Docks	Fredericksburg	Inaccessible
Rivanna River	Crofton	Fluvanna	Inaccessible
N. Fork Shenandoah Riverr	Deer Rapids	Shenandoah	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Elkton	Rockingham	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Fosters	Page	Inaccessible
Shenandoah River	Front Royal	Warren	Inaccessible
James River	Glasgow	Rockbridge	Inaccessible
South River	Grotto’s Park	Rockingham	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Grove Hill	Page	Inaccessible
James River	Hardware River	Fluvanna	Inaccessible
Hardware River	Hardware River (Rt. 6)	Fluvanna	Inaccessible
James River	Howardsville	Albemarle	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Inns Keep	Page	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Island Ford	Rockingham	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Karo	Warren	Inaccessible
Shenandoah River	Lockes	Clarke	Inaccessible
James River	Maidens	Powhatan	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Massanutten	Page	Inaccessible
Potomac River	McKimmey	Loudoun	Inaccessible
Shenandoah River	Morgans Ford	Warren	Inaccessible
	Hadley		Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Newport	Page	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Port Republic	Rockingham	Inaccessible
South River	Ridgeview	Waynesboro	Inaccessible
N. Fork Shenandoah River	Riverton	Warren	Inaccessible
James River	Scottsville	Albemarle	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Shenandoah Riverside	Page	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	Simpsons	Warren	Inaccessible
James River	Watkins	Powhatan	Inaccessible
S. Fork Shenandoah River	White House	Page	Inaccessible
James River	New Canton	Buckingham	Inaccessible
James River	Columbia	Cumberland	Inaccessible
James River	Cartersville	Cumberland	Inaccessible
James River	Wingina	Nelson	Inaccessible
James River	Midway	Nelson	Inaccessible
James River	Bent Creek	Appomattox	Inaccessible
Slate River Watershed	Slate River	Buckingham	Inaccessible
Staunton River	Clover	Halifax	Inaccessible
Hyco River	Hyco	Halifax	Inaccessible