The list of amenities and things to do in theLake Robertson State Recreation Area(LRSRA) are so extensive that it is more likea commercially-run, one-stop, never-need-to-leave-the-premises resort than the usualstate-operated facility. After pitching the tentor leveling the RV in the campground (complete with water, electricity, dump station, sink waste pumps, hot showers, and individual dressing rooms), the whole family could spend an entire vacation here, each member being able to engage in his or her favorite outdoor activities. There is the 31-acre lake (named afterthe late senator A. Willis Robertson) thatanglers can cast a line into, either from theshore or a boat. If you donít own a watercraftbut still want to get out onto the water,you can rent one. Although you are not permitted to take a dip in the lake, there is aswimming pool to cool off in on hot summerdaysóyou might want to make use of it afterplaying tennis, volleyball, badminton, or softball.Even the little ones can have fun, frolickingabout in the two tot-lot play fields. Ifyou are unable to spend your whole vacationhere and just want to get away for a day,there are picnic grounds with fireplaces andtables. There is an extensive system of trails forhikers. Along the paths you can circle thelake, wander into narrow valleys, walk besidesmall mountain streams, and explorethe higher ridgelines of the recreation areaís581 acres. Lightly traveled, they are themeans to escape the liveliness of the mainrecreation area and explore its more naturalside. Deer, bears, snakes, turtles, opossums,skunks, beavers, raccoons, bobcats, rabbits,chipmunks, and squirrels have all been seen,at one time or another, by trail users. The LRSRA can be reached from I-81Exit 188 near Lexington. Drive US 60 westfor 1.9 miles, turn south onto US 11, andcontinue for an additional 0.8 mile to arriveat the US 11/US Business 11/VA 251 intersection.Go straight through the traffic light,drive southward on VA 251 for 4.4miles, and make a left onto VA 770. Be sureto stay on VA 770 for 1.4 miles, throughseveral twists, turns, and intersections.Make a right turn onto VA 652 and follow itfor 0.2 mile as you enter the recreation areaand leave your car in the large parking areato the right. Start the excursion by rising along thesigned Lake Trail into a forest of dogwood,eastern white pine, and red maple. Within afew feet, you must be sure to stay to the lefton the Lake Trail and not go to the rightalong the Nature Trail. Although you havejust begun walking, you might want to takea few momentsí rest on the bench at 0.5mile to enjoy the sunlight on the lake andsurvey the mountainous terrain you willsoon be traversing. Walk across the lakeís earthen dam,which supports chicory, Queen Anneís lace,red clover, and thistle. Rise above the damto a Y intersection at 0.25 mile where youwant to stay to the left (the Turkey RoostTrail rises to the right) and drop back downto the lake. Eastern red cedar, which thrivesin bright sunshine, lines the pathway andthe shoreline. The cedarís blue berries are afavorite food for many birds, including thecedar waxwing, which is named for the tree.At 0.5 mile, you can take any number ofshort fishermenís pathways to bring youdown to the waterís edge as you swingaround a portion of the lake you have not yetseen. Veer left into the woods along the LakeTrail at 0.8 mile and walk by the upper end ofthe lake. Beavers have made a small, separatepond of their own by damming the inlet.Like humans, beavers actually alter the landscapeto suit their needs. By flooding a portionof this narrow valley, these industriousrodents have created an environment thatsuits their needs and permits a number ofother animals and plants, such as the cattailsyou see along the pondís edge, to live in anarea that was previously unsuited to them. Cross the small inlet stream lined by jewelweedat 0.9 mile and bear right to rise along theTurkey Roost Connector Trail. Less than 500feet later, make a left turn onto the Turkey RoostTrail, heading upstream along aminor waterway. Cross this small creek at1.0 mile and rise into a narrow defile. It is interestingto note how the lay of the land onone side of the creek has captured the fallenleaves, giving the hillside a brown countenance,while on the other side there are noleaves, just the lush green of fresh grass andother low-growing vegetation. Cross the creek on a culvert next to asilted-in pond at 1.4 miles and make twoquick switchbacks to rise beside the pinkishblossoms of bergamot, a member of themint family. From mid- to late summer, youcould pause for a few moments to picksome blackberries where you turn left ontothe Squirrel Run Trail at 1.8 miles. Leave that pathway when you come to afour-way intersection at 1.9 miles and turnleft onto the Deer Lick Trail. (To the right isprivate property.) Pass by a small shelter, notdesigned for overnight camping but as aresting point, and descend quickly into a gapat 2.1 miles. Rise for a short distance beforeresuming the descent through redbud anddogwood trees. In the spring, the dogwoodíswhite leaf bracts are accentuatedand set off nicely by the rich purple blossomscovering almost every inch of the redbudísbranches. Stay to the right when the Opossum Trailheads off to the left at 2.4 miles. Be alertafter crossing the creek at 2.9 miles; it maybe unsigned, but you want to turn right andrise along the Hawk Creek Trail. (The pathto the left leads to the main recreation areacomplex.) Cross the creek on an old concrete culvertat 3.1 miles and pass through a wildlifeclearing at 3.2 miles, where dozens of butterfliesgather nourishment from goldenrod,Queen Anneís lace, bergamot, and blackeyedSusans. This small open space allowsyou to look up onto the higher ridges surroundingLake Robertson. Make a left turn onto the Fox Path at 3.5miles, soon make a switchback to the left,and continue to rise. There is another smallshelter close to the next intersection, at 3.8miles. The Grouse Haven Trail goes bothleft and right; you want to make a left turnand descend into a narrow creek defile. Becareful where you step if you are wearingshortsólong stems of stinging nettle archover the pathway. Brushing up against theplant will give its tiny stiff hairs an opportunityto scratch your skin and deposit an irritantthat may itch for the rest of the day. Early in the spring, before the hairs have developed,nettle shoots can be cooked as atasty substitute for kale or other greens. Cross a footbridge at 4.1 miles and riseto follow the undulations of the ridge besidea fence line. The thin tree trunks indicatethat this is a younger forest than most ofwhat you have been hiking through. An oldstone wall runs along the fence line just beforeyou begin to descend at 4.5 miles.Merge onto a woods road less than 500feet later and continue the downward trend. Do not cross the gate into the campgroundnor turn left onto the Hawk Creek Trailat 4.8 miles. Rather, stay more or less straightand continue the descent along a grassyroute. Bypass the steps dropping off to theleft less than 500 feet later, turn right onto thepaved recreation area road at 4.9 miles, andreturn to your waiting automobile at 5.1 miles. Excerpted from 50 Hikes in Southern Virginia (2e) © by Leonard Adkins.Posted with permission of the publisher, The Countryman Press/W. W. Norton &Company, Inc. (http://www.countrymanpress.com)