Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 14, 1994                   TAG: 9408190001
SECTION: DISCOVER                    PAGE: 12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AN HOUR AWAY SEEMS LIKE A WORLD AWAY

It's quiet, cool in the summer, and seems so remote.

Best of all, staying in the Jefferson National Forest is cheap; camping fees run from free to $8 a night.

Typically, an area for a tent or camper is available at each site, as well as a picnic table and fireplace. Some type of bathroom facilities, garbage containers and, at some places, drinking water are available, but the rest is up to you.

Fishing, horse trails, swimming and hiking are available in different spots throughout the national forest.

One site within an easy drive from Roanoke is the North Creek Campground in Botetourt County. It's fairly secluded, but is a short drive to numerous hiking trails and to Apple Orchard Falls National Recreation Trail, a steep climb that takes you to a 200-foot waterfall.

Sites in North Creek Campground are a good distance apart, although campers can still see each other. The campground is under a canopy of tall trees, keeping it cool in the summer and free of the oppressive mugginess of the Roanoke Valley.

A treat is that several sites are along the creek, whose trickling water soothes campers to sleep. Trout also make for good fishing.

Other Jefferson Forest National campgrounds in the Roanoke region:

Cave Mountain Lake, Rockbridge County: Forty-two campsites, with swimming beach, bathhouse with showers, nature trails and picnic shelter.

Craig Creek, Botetourt County: Large open field for camping as well as primitive camping along the creek. Creek offers wading and fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

Walnut Flats, Giles County: Seven campsites, with a wildlife pond, hiking trails including the Appalachian Trail, fishing. Near Dismal Falls and Dismal Creek.

White Pine Horse Camp, Giles County: Five primitive campsites with hitching racks for horses., numerous horse trails and loops, unloading ramp for horse trailers. Near Dismal Falls and Dismal Creek for fishing, wading, watering horses.

White Rocks, Giles County: Forty-nine campsites, with trout fishing, the Virginias Nature Walk into West Virginia and back.

The Pines, Craig County: Seventeen campsites and four others with horse corral and trailer unloading ramps. Stocked creek for fishing and hiking and riding trails.

For directions, check the Virginia Atlas and Gazetteer or call one of the Jefferson National Forest's district ranger offices, listed under Agriculture Department in the U.S. Government listings of the phone book.