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Washington County Park – South Holston Lake

Description

Elevation: 1739 ft.

Washington County Park is a popular destination for campers and fishermen along the western shore of South Holston Lake. The park provides lake access and spectacular views that stretch across the lake into Tennessee. The campground is a relatively open mixture of old white pine and eastern hemlock. The lakeshore has a denser mix of shrubby oaks. Be careful of the healthy population of poison ivy!! Productive almost year-round, look for breeding birds in summer and numerous shorebirds and waterfowl during migration. Summer breeding birds around the campground include the typical woodland songbirds and woodpeckers. The sheer number of shorebirds and waterfowl that congregate on the lake during migration will awe visitors. Those interested in reptiles have to look no further than the surrounding woods which host a variety of snakes including black rat and black racer. The lake itself is home to eastern painted turtle and snapping turtle.

Wildlife Sightings

116 species have been reported at this site to date.

Birds Recently Seen at Washington County Park – South Holston Lake:

  • Canada Goose
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • American Crow
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Brown-headed Nuthatch
  • European Starling
  • Northern Mockingbird
  • Eastern Bluebird

Recent Checklists:

Date# of SpeciesSubmitted By
13 Feb 202613Robert Riggs
12 Feb 20261Ryan Rice
11 Feb 20262Joe McGuiness
11 Feb 20262Roy Knispel
11 Feb 20266Tammy Bright

See more recent checklists…

Amenities & Accessibility

Amenities

  • On-site Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Kayak/Canoe Launch

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

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Physical Address: 19482 County Park Rd, Abingdon, VA 24211

From the Previous Site on the South Holston Loop of the VBWT:

From TVA Access Area – Mouth of Wolf Creek – South Holston Lake, travel west on Rt. 664 for 2.9 miles to County Park Road. Turn left and continue 0.3 miles to the campground and boat landing.

Access Requirements:

  • Fee, Open: April 1 - September 30 (closed October - March)

Contact Information:

  • Washington County Park Authority: 276-628-9677, washcovaparks@gmail.com
  • 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.

About the VBWT

The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail is a network of over 600 greenspaces and blueways throughout the Commonwealth selected for their wildlife viewing potential. Walk a nature trail, paddle a river, or enjoy a scenic overlook and you’ll soon see why Virginia is a premier destination for birding and wildlife viewing.

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