Day Four Two more of Virginia’s natural wonders await as you leave the area today. Named after two brothers who settled here in 1740, Smith Mountain Lake was filled to capacity when the American Electric Power Dam Powerhouse began producing electricity in 1966. Not only did the Dam have tremendous positive economic impact on the region, it created 22,000 acres of water, 500 miles of shoreline, countless outdoor recreation opportunities, world-class fishing and boating and a new regional tourism economy. You can bring your boat to launch, rent one (with or without a guide), enjoy a cruise and/or lunch on a passenger cruise boat, swim and water ski, or just enjoy the water from one of the many lodges, hotels and accommodations that surround the lake. Exhibits at the Smith Mountain Lake Dam Visitor Center illustrate the lake as it appeared prior to 1966. From there you can catch a road that many consider America’s most scenic. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, the 459-mile Parkway is one of the premier National Scenic Byways in the United States. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression, the highway has been meticulously maintained to allow travelers to have an awesome and serene drive through unspoiled forest, punctuated every so often with a scenic overlook where “on a clear day, you can see forever.” Much of the Parkway in this area is surrounded by the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Administratively combined into one entity in 1995, these two massive green areas now contain nearly 1.8 million acres of public land. Virginia has 1.6 million of the 1.8 million acres. Even though 689,600 acres of the forest are actively managed for timber and wood products, that still leaves 1.02 million acres or roughly 57% available for recreational activities. About 5% of the forest is classified as wilderness, where limited human activity may occur. Hundreds of recreational opportunities are available in the forest all the way from fishing and hiking to four active ATV trails, totaling nearly 60 miles. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests also surround the Appalachian National Recreation Trail which traverses the area. Opened as a continuous trail in 1937, the 2,174 mile footpath stretches from Maine to Georgia. It parallels the Parkway for some distance. You can enjoy a short walk, a long hike or a comfortable stroll. From there, we wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.