Coles Point
Campground · Virginia · 2 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
George Washington National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 2
- Bookable sites
- 15 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 50
- People per site
- 1,714 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Coles Point Picnic Shelters are tucked in a small opening surrounded by a hardwood forest. Opportunities abound for hiking, photography, nature study, birding and viewing wildlife. Best of all, Coles Point is perched along Moomaw Lake, providing convenient access to boating, fishing, swimming and relaxing on the beach.Recreation
An inviting swimming beach within the recreation area lures crowds, and the picnic area has an open field for games like Frisbee and soccer.The park offers boating and fishing for large and smallmouth bass, brown trout, bluegill, crappie, shad, catfish, sunfish and chain pickerel. Two fishing docks, two boat ramps and a swimming beach with a bathhouse are located on-site. Back Creek is nearby, also a nice stream for trout fishing.
The 1-mile Morris Hill Bike Trail is popular among hikers and bikers. The 3-mile Fortney Loop Trail is open to hiking along a path with several switchbacks.
Facilities
Each shelter can accommodate up to 50 people and 20 vehicles. Eight picnic tables sit on a concrete pad, and several additional tables are scattered around the shelter. Each shelter is also equipped with two large barbecue grills, one electrical outlet, drinking water and flush toilets.Natural Features
The shelters are situated on a wooded peninsula on the south end of Lake Moomaw in Alleghany County. The manmade lake, at 2,530 acres, sits on the Jackson River and has 43 miles of wooded shoreline.Coles Point is part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests which span across Virginia and parts of West Virginia and Kentucky. These forests protect 40 species within mostly Appalachian hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests, 60 species of mammals and 200 species of birds.
Nearby Attractions
Head downstream on the Jackson River for fly-fishing, canoeing, rafting and kayaking. A half-hour east of the lake is Hot Springs, Virginia, a quaint and small rural resort town.The nearest groceries and gas are located in Covington, Virginia about 30 minutes from the lake. A pay phone is located at the nearby Morris Hill Campground.
The facts
- 2 bookable sites
- 2 sites for day use only
- Vehicles up to 15 ft
- Up to 50 people per site
- Loops: COLES POINT
Site types
- 2 Group Shelter Electric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
2 campsites at Coles Point
Check-in 8:00 AM · Check-out 10:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picnic Shelter #1 | COLES POINT | Group Shelter Electric | — | Paved | 15 ft | 50 | 🐾 |
| Picnic Shelter #2 | COLES POINT | Group Shelter Electric | — | Paved | 15 ft | 50 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From I-64 at Exit 16A or 16B in Covington, follow signs to U.S. Highway 220 and travel north about 5.5 miles. Turn left on State Road 687/Jackson River Road and travel about 3.2 miles. Turn left on State Road 641/Indian Draft Road, which soon becomes State Road 666. Travel about 4.2 miles on 641/666 to a 3-way intersection. Turn right on State Road 605 and travel 4.5 miles past the Morris Hill Campground entrance, and across the Gathright Dam. Picnic shelter #1 will be on the left.
37.95028, -79.96222 · 37°57'1.0"N 79°57'44.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 82°F in Jul, down to 41°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 41 | 45 | 53 | 65 | 72 | 79 | 82 | 81 | 75 | 65 | 54 | 44 |
| Low °F | 23 | 24 | 31 | 40 | 49 | 58 | 62 | 61 | 54 | 42 | 32 | 26 |
| Precip in | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Coles Point
- Can you reserve a site at Coles Point?
- Yes, Coles Point is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Coles Point have?
- 2 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Coles Point?
- 15 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Coles Point?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Coles Point.
- Does Coles Point have hookups?
- Electric.
Camping near Coles Point
- Morris Hill Campground 1.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bolar Mountain Recreation Area 2.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- McClintic Point 2.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake Sherwood 4.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Blowing Springs 9.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Hidden Valley Campground 12.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Greenwood Point Campground 0.6 mi · Campground
- McClintic Point Campground 5 mi · Campground
- The Omni Homestead Resort 7.8 mi · Facility
- Brushy Ridge (FT#456) - WSRD 9.4 mi · Facility
- Pocahontas Campground 10.6 mi · Campground
- Beards Mountain (FT #459) - WSRD 13.3 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 540-279-4144
- Email smohney@fs.fed.us
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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