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Salthouse Branch
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Henry · Virginia · Philpott Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | Philpott Lake |
| Location | Henry · Virginia · Philpott Lake · 36.81361, -80.04000 · Map |
| Sites | 110 public sites counted from the federal listing — 43 standard electric; 32 tent only nonelectric; 21 boat in; 14 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 44 of 110 sites (up to 50 amp where reported) Water hookups at 44 of 110 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 110 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 110 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 90 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 54 sites · 30 ft: 54 sites · 35 ft: 42 sites · 40 ft: 32 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 3:00 PM · Out 2:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 90 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 1 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | (540) 365-7005 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
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.
Directions, from the listing
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).
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · BASSETT VirginiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersHorseshoe Point
2 mi straight-line · Henry VirginiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersPhilpott Park
3 mi straight-line · BASSETT VirginiaNPSNational Park ServiceRock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping
16 mi straight-line · Floyd VirginiaFSU.S. Forest ServiceCaldwell Fields Group Campground
39 mi straight-line · Blacksburg Virginia
Trip Card — Salthouse Branch
Henry · Virginia · Philpott Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | Henry · Virginia · Philpott Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 44 |
| Max RV | Up to 90 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 110 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233616 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.