Description
Elevation: 1810 ft.
Sherando Lake is a recreational area with an extensive 25-acre spring-fed lake that also offers camping, fishing, boating, picnicking and hiking opportunities. This site also houses an amphitheatre and a visitor’s center. Trails meander through hardwood forests, lakeside habitat, open fields, and mountain ridgelines. These woodlands are nesting grounds for scarlet tanager, Canada and black-throated green warblers, and yellow-breasted chat. In the fall and winter, the lake attracts shorebirds and waterfowl. While wood duck, belted kingfisher, and green heron are resident here, look for bufflehead and American black duck in the winter. This is also a good spot to find the colorful (and fast!) Blue Ridge two-lined salamander. Other salamanders such as northern dusky salamander may also be hiding beneath rocks along the creeks. This is an extensive area, with several trails that traverse a wide variety of habitat. It is a popular spot for beach recreation, but there are numerous opportunities for wildlife watching as well.
Wildlife Sightings
131 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Sherando Lake:
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 2026 | 15 | Tyler Demetriou |
| 14 Nov 2025 | 14 | Linda Halpern |
| 16 Oct 2025 | 6 | Cory Swift |
| 6 Sep 2025 | 8 | Beth Peters |
| 3 Sep 2025 | 13 | Mark Kosiewski |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
Other Amenities: Camping/Lodging, Hiking Trails
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: Sherando Lake Recreation Area, 96 Sherando Lake Rd, Lyndhurst, VA 22952
From I-64: Take exit 96 just east of Stuarts Draft. Turn south onto State Route (SR) 624 and continue. At Lyndhurst, the road changes to SR 664/ Mount Torrey Rd, but there is no distinct turn. Continue south on SR 664 approximately 8 miles to the entrance to Sherando Lake Recreation Area on the right.
To return to the interstate, return to the Blue Ridge Parkway and follow it south to SR 56. Turn right and follow this to I-81. From here, turn north to begin the Forest Trails Loop or south and start the Rockbridge River and Ridge Loop.
Site Information
Managed By:
- U.S. Forest Service
Access Requirements:
- Admission Fee, Open April 1- October 31, 6am - 10 pm; Day Use Area Opens May 15, 6am - sunset
Contact Information:
- U.S. Forest Service, Glenwood and Pedlar Ranger Districts: 540-291-2188
- 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.