Bath County Virginia Travel Guide
Bath County Travel Guide: Bath County Overview | Garth Newel | Lake Moomaw & George Washington National Forest | Hidden Valley | The Homestead | Jefferson Pools | Warm Springs Gallery | Warm Springs Mountain Preserve | Bath County History | Douthat State Park
During your stay at the Inn at Gristmill Square bed and breakfast in Warm Springs, you'll find much to do in Bath County, Virginia and the rugged Allegheny Mountains. Bath County is a place of scenic byways (including the Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway), curling back roads, and quiet country lanes. There are no interstate highways, no traffic jams - not even a stoplight! Here the journey is more than half the fun. With roads cresting Allegheny mountaintops, melting into rich forest, and winding along crisp mountain streams, Bath’s back roads will take you on a tour of Virginia unlike any you’ve ever seen - without using a lot of gas.
The stately courthouse in Warm Springs is just up the street from The Inn at Gristmill Square, nestled in the Allegheny Mountains.	Bath County is a place virtually untouched by time. Life goes on here much as it did 200 years ago with unspoiled views of nature's splendor.
A unique music venue situated among the rolling hills south of Warm Springs, Garth Newel Music Center has featured the finest in chamber music concerts (plus a variety of music by touring artists) for more than 30 years.  Read more about Garth Newel.	Explore dozens of art, antique and craft galleries in Bath County. Read more about Warm Springs Gallery, walking distance from the Inn. .
The Nature Conservancy’s Warm Springs Mountain Preserve protects 13 miles of fragile mountain ridgeline, some of which you can explore along the Ingalls Overlook Trail. Read more.	See the historic and famous Homestead Resort. Browse many fine shops inside the hotel and adjacent to the hotels in downtown Hot Springs. Have lunch in one of several restaurants. In the winter, enjoy skiing. Read more.
The George Washington National Forest covers more than 170,000 acres in Bath County, offering outdoor recreation galore, from boating on Lake Moomaw (photo above) to fishing in the premier trout waters of the Jackson River. More than 120 miles of secluded hiking and biking trails offer beautiful Allegheny Mountain vistas. Read more. Find hiking, scenic driving and great fishing in the picturesque Hidden Valley, only six miles from The Inn at Gristmill Square. Read more. Hike a variety of trails or paddle a canoe across the lake at Douthat State Park. Also find great swimming and mountain biking. Read more Visit the Escatwba Farms www.escatawba.com .	Travelers on US Highway 220 between Covington and Hot Springs, Virginia enjoy a wonderful view of Falling Springs waterfall and the western Allegheny Mountains. At 205 feet, Falling Springs is about 30 feet taller than Niagara Falls, although without the spectacular volume of water. Thomas Jefferson ranked Falling Springs high on his list of impressive and sublime works of nature in Virginia. There is a small parking area with a short walkway to the fabulous view.
The Bath County Historical Society's museum and research library is just up the street, next to the historic courthouse. Read more.	Soak in the famous Jefferson Pools, just a mile from the Inn at Gristmill Square. Restore your spirit in the natural mineral spring waters of the legendary, rustic Jefferson Pools. Read more.
Bath County Driving Tours Take one of these driving tours, or find a pathway all your own! Jackson River/Fort Dinwiddie Tour: Begin your journey in Warm Springs and head west on Route 39 four miles to its crossing of the trout-laden Jackson River. The site of Fort Dinwiddie, a colonial era fortification designed to protect early white settlers from Indian raids, is upriver from the bridge on the west bank. Continue your tour as 39 winds up Back Creek Mountain, past the unusual phenomenon of Blowing Springs, and into the crossroads of Mountain Grove. Here, you can take a right onto Route 600 and explore a pastoral valley and have a picnic lunch and afternoon fishing excursion at one of the lovely ponds at Dominion Back Creek Recreation Area.   Bacova/Richardson Gorge Tour: From Route 39, west of Warm Springs, turn left onto Route 687, and head toward the old mill town of Bacova. Established in 1920, this Tidewater Hardwood Company town still carries the remnants of yesteryear when it was once home to a lumber mill, railroad, and commissary. The company houses remain, as does the shell of the Tidewater Hardwood Company’s brick electric plant. About one mile south of Bacova, take the Richardson Gorge Road, Route 603, along the lovely Jackson River to its mergence with beautiful Lake Moomaw. Kayak, Canoe, Bike, Fish, Rock Climbing & More Riders Up! Outfitters is a full service outdoor specialty shop that provides recreational opportunities including river shuttle service to paddling enthusiasts and fishermen along the Jackson, James and Cowpasture Rivers. They also offer kayak and canoe rentals by the half day, day or week. If you want to fish, they will outfit a kayak with rod holders and paddle leashes to make your fishing trip more enjoyable. Services include guide service for the rivers, guided fishing trips, guided hiking and backpacking, mountain bike rentals and guide service and rock climbing guide services. Douthat State Park is a mountain biking destination worth exploring. Riders Up! Outfitters provides kayak and canoe rentals, regularly scheduled trips and private guided trips on the three local rivers. Please call the store at 540-862-7999 or e-mail any questions to ridersupinc@yahoo.com     For more on visiting Bath County, visit the county's online travel guide.