Franklin County: Trails, Music and Lakes

Franklin County offers several distinct points of interest to consider when planning a trip: lakes with unique features, different kinds of trails, and historical and musical themes. When choosing excursions, you can compare lakes by size and activities, and trails by length, route and landscape.

Lakes and Water Activities

Smith Mountain Lake is Virginia’s second-largest freshwater lake, covering nearly 20,600 acres. Birdwatching is available at the lake. Philpott Lake is a man-made lake in southwestern Franklin County, covering 2,880 acres, making it considerably smaller. It also has hiking trails and numerous boat launch sites. The lakes offer different types of outings: birdwatching at Smith Mountain Lake, and hiking trails and boat launch sites at Philpott Lake.

Trails and Routes

The Jamison Mill Trail System comprises 6.25 miles of interconnected loops for hikers and cyclists; sections run along the shore of Philpott Lake. Its loop layout and lakeside sections give the system a different character from a single trail. The Dogwood Glen Trail connects the Philpott Park Tailrace at Philpott Dam with Salthouse Branch Park on the Franklin County side of Philpott Lake. The Plantation Trail is a ¼-mile loop through the historic area. The Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail runs for 1½ miles through fields and woods. The Pigg River Blueway also begins at Waid Park.

When choosing a route, you can compare different features: a short loop, a trail through fields and woods, interconnected loops with lakeside sections, and a trail connecting two parks. There is a choice of different lengths, trail types and landscapes; hikers and cyclists are also explicitly among the user groups of the Jamison Mill Trail System.

History, Folklore and Crafts

The Booker T. Washington National Monument is located on the site of the former Burroughs Plantation. The Blue Ridge Farm Museum is a reconstructed Virginia German farm. The Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum is the state center for Blue Ridge folklore. Visits to the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum are currently by appointment only. Check before your visit to see whether this policy is still in effect.

The Artisan Center Along the Crooked Road showcases works by local and regional artists. Its offerings range from pottery, glass and leather to photography and jewelry, as well as gourds and books by local authors. In addition to historic sites and folklore, crafts, visual art and regional books are presented as distinct cultural themes.

Music in Rocky Mount

Franklin County is the eastern gateway to The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. The route begins in downtown Rocky Mount. The Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount offers a variety of performances; dates vary. The Rocky Mount Dairy Queen Jam takes place every Thursday at 9 a.m. from September through May. This gives visitors a choice between performances with changing dates and a recurring weekly jam. Check current dates before traveling.

Discover more destinations: Westlake Corner, Greene County, Northampton County, Bath, Patrick County, Clarke County, Dinwiddie County, Rockingham County.

For the broader travel overview: Virginia.