A Little Alleghany Adventure: Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw

Sometimes, Kim gets nostalgic for childhood picnics with her Mom and Dad.  Back in the early 1990s, we'd take Sunday afternoons and head to outdoorsy places near Alleghany County with snack food and a little Hercules film as a tablecloth.  Kim distinctly remembers Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw as a favorite spot, having been pretty fascinated by a dam we could drive across.  It wasn't the Hoover Dam, but it was impressive and close to home.  A childhood friend's father worked there, and it was just plain interesting to think about the dam's construction and its role in controlling local flooding.  On our last trip "over home," Kim decided it was time Justin, Elijah, and Gwen enjoyed an afternoon there.

On the day of our visit, the recreation areas were hardly crowded, giving the whole place a nice "lost in the woods" feel.  We simply "hiked" a very short, kid-friendly trail to the dam overlook and drove across the dam to show Elijah.  You can also boat, camp, and play--there's a beach on the lake.  A small visitors' center is placed near the dam, but they are serious about closing it at 3 PM.  The best part of our trip?  We learned Elijah enjoys going for a walk in the forest.

If you go, know you won't find many directions on the web, so don't be overly reliant on your GPS or smart phone for navigation and other information.  While that fact was initially frustrating, it's kind of novel these days to go somewhere without a strong digital presence.  Be ready to drive on roads that are paved but unlined and mountainous.  The closest place for a meal out is Covington, VA, where Kim recommends Cucci's for Italian and James Burke House Eatery for "upscale" sandwiches.