Can you reserve a site at Salthouse Branch?

Yes, Salthouse Branch is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Salthouse Branch have?

111 sites in total, of which 110 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Salthouse Branch?

90 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Salthouse Branch?

Yes, pets are allowed at Salthouse Branch.

Are campfires allowed at Salthouse Branch?

Campfires are allowed at Salthouse Branch. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Salthouse Branch

Campground · Virginia · 110 bookable sites ·

Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers

110
Bookable sites: 90 ft
Max rig length: up to 12
People per site: 1
Accessible site: 977 ft
Elevation

View of Philpott Lake from the parking area. — Photo: USACE · Recreation.gov

Overview

Salthouse Branch Campground is nestled on the shores of Philpott Lake in the rugged foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The park is located in a rural and sparsely populated part of Franklin County near the small community of Henry.

Philpott Lake's clear water and natural shoreline make it a unique place for visitors to enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking and camping.

Click here for the Philpott Lake Virtual Tour: https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/virtual/philpott/tour.html

Recreation

The lake provides visitors with great boating and swimming opportunities. Anglers enjoy fishing for large and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie and catfish.

There are two hiking trails accessible from the park. The Dogwood Glen trail is a 4.5 mile out-and-back, multi-use trail open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The trail is moderate to strenuous in difficulty and connects Salthouse Branch Park to the Philpott Dam Tailrace. The Laurel Ridge trail is 2.25 miles out-and-back trail open to hikers and mountain bikers. It is moderate in difficulty and connects Salthouse Branch Park to Twin Ridge Park.

Facilities

The park offers both camping and day-use facilities, including 44 family sites with electric and water hookups and one group picnic shelter with electric and water. Also available are 46 primitive sites without utilities.

Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A beach, boat ramp, dock, playground, and amphitheater are also on-site.

Natural Features

Philpott Lake covers 2,900 acres and has 100 miles of shoreline. The lake's steep, rocky banks meet beautiful mixed forests of oak, maple, hickory, pine and cedar.

Wildlife is abundant throughout the area. Deer, turkeys, squirrels, raccoons, and a variety of songbirds and waterfowl are commonly viewed.

Nearby Attractions

The lake is adjacent to Fairystone State Park and Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area, which includes 5,300 acres of public recreational lands.

The facts

110 bookable sites
111 sites in total, including non-bookable
1 accessible site
Vehicles up to 90 ft
Up to 12 people per site
Loops: DISL, HILL, RBRA, SBRA, Standard electric 1 -18

Site types

43 Standard Electric
32 Tent Only Nonelectric
21 Boat In
14 Standard Nonelectric
1 Management

Amenities

Electric hookups
Water hookups
Campfires allowed
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: sewer hookups, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

111 campsites at Salthouse Branch

Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 2:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
1D-21D1	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D10	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D11	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D12	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D13	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D14	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D15	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D16	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D17	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D18	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D19	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D2	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D20	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D21	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D3	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D4	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D5	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D6	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D7	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D8	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
1D-21D9	DISL	Boat In	—	—	—	—
055	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	44 ft	6	🐾
056	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
057	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	90 ft	6	🐾
058	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
059	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
060	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
061	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
062	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
063	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
064	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
065	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
066	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
067	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
068	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
069	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
070	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
071	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
072	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
073	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
074	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
075	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
076	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	76 ft	6	🐾
077	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
078	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
079	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
080	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
081	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
082	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
083	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
084	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
085	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
086	HILL	Tent Only Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	30 ft	6	🐾
022	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	38 ft	6	🐾
023	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	41 ft	6	🐾
024	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	43 ft	6	🐾
025	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	39 ft	6	🐾
026	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	41 ft	6	🐾
027	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	37 ft	6	🐾
028	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	36 ft	6	🐾
029	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	6	🐾
030	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	43 ft	6	🐾
031	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	58 ft	6	🐾
032	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	34 ft	6	🐾
033	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	56 ft	6	♿ 🐾
034	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	37 ft	6	🐾
035	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	43 ft	6	🐾
036	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	6	🐾
037	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	31 ft	6	🐾
038	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	34 ft	6	🐾
039	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	41 ft	6	🐾
040	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	36 ft	6	🐾
041	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	47 ft	6	🐾
042	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	6	🐾
043	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	6	🐾
044	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	6	🐾
045	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	6	🐾
046	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	6	🐾
047	RBRA	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	38 ft	6	🐾
048	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
049	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
050	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
051	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
052	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	12	🐾
053	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
054	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
087	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	6	🐾
088	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	32 ft	6	🐾
089	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	6	🐾
090	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	30 ft	6	🐾
091	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	30 ft	6	🐾
092	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	35 ft	6	🐾
093	SBRA	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	30 ft	6	🐾
001	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	6	🐾
002	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	48 ft	6	🐾
003	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	49 ft	6	🐾
004	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	48 ft	6	🐾
005	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	46 ft	6	🐾
006	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	48 ft	6	🐾
007	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	52 ft	6	🐾
008	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	6	🐾
009	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	6	🐾
010	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	56 ft	6	🐾
011	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	56 ft	6	🐾
012	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	43 ft	6	🐾
013	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	76 ft	6	🐾
014	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	53 ft	6	🐾
015	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	6	🐾
016	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	54 ft	6	🐾
017	Standard electric 1 -18	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	55 ft	6	🐾
018	Standard electric 1 -18	Management	Back In	Gravel	45 ft	6	🐾

Getting there

From US 220, turn onto Henry Road (SR-605), go 6 miles; turn left onto Knob Church Road and go 2 miles. Turn left onto Salthouse Branch Road and follow signs to the entrance.

GPS Users: Do not use SR-727 (Stoney Brook Lane) or SR-894 (Johnson Hill Road).

36.81361, -80.04000 · 36°48'49.0"N 80°2'24.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 87°F in Jul, down to 48°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	48	52	59	70	77	85	87	86	81	71	61	51
Low °F	26	28	34	43	53	61	66	64	57	46	35	30
Precip in	3.7	3.1	3.9	3.5	4.3	4.7	5.0	4.5	4.8	2.9	3.1	3.9

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

A small playground nestled in the trees and surrounded by manicured grass. — Photo: USACE · Recreation.gov

The entry gate and kiosk surrounded by forest as you enter the campground. — Photo: USACE · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Salthouse Branch

Can you reserve a site at Salthouse Branch?: Yes, Salthouse Branch is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Salthouse Branch have?: 111 sites in total, of which 110 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Salthouse Branch?: 90 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Salthouse Branch?: Yes, pets are allowed at Salthouse Branch.
Does Salthouse Branch have hookups?: Electric, Water.
Are campfires allowed at Salthouse Branch?: Campfires are allowed at Salthouse Branch. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Salthouse Branch

Goose Point 1.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Horseshoe Point 1.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Philpott Park 2.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping 16.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Rocky Knob Campground 16.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Caldwell Fields Group Campground 39.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Boley Field Group Campground 40.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Rocky Knob Visitor Center (Milepost 169) 17.1 mi · Facility
Visitor Center 27.1 mi · Facility
Pandapas Pond Day Use Area 40.1 mi · Facility
Blacksburg Shooting Range 40.3 mi · Facility
Blue Ridge Music Center (Milepost 213) 47.9 mi · Facility

Comments

Contact

Phone (540) 365-7005
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.