Description
Elevation: 3674 feet
Laurel Bed Lake lies within Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area and is a manmade lake created by the damming of Big Tumbling Creek. The lake and the surrounding area are popular venues for bird-watching. For a description of the birding opportunities, refer to Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
Notes:
- To Access the Site: A Restore the Wild Membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
- This site may be closed during certain times of year for hunting or land management. See seasonal access information on the Clinch Mountain WMA website.
- If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange/pink for safety.
Wildlife Sightings
160 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Laurel Bed Lake, Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area:
- Canada Goose
- Mallard
- Ring-necked Duck
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Horned Grebe
- Eastern Phoebe
- American Crow
- Common Raven
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 2026 | 8 | Clancey Deel |
| 6 Jan 2026 | 4 | Robert Riggs |
| 6 Jan 2026 | 4 | Elaine Sharpe |
| 20 Aug 2025 | 12 | Robert Riggs |
| 20 Aug 2025 | 12 | Elaine Sharpe |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
- Boat Ramp
Other Amenities: Camping/Lodging
Accessibility Considerations
This location does not have a Birdability Site Review available at this time
Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces
Maps & Directions
Location: Laurel Bed Lake is located within Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which is north of the town of Saltville, Virginia.
Site Information
Managed By:
- VA Dept. of Wildlife Resources
Access Requirements:
- Often inaccessible in winter. Restore the Wild Membership, hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
Contact Information:
- Virginia DWR Region 3 Office: 276-783-4860, Contact Us
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.