Army Corps of Engineers · Philpott Lake · Henry, VA

Deer Island

Deer Island is a boat-access only campground with 21 primitive sites available by reservation only. The sites are non-site specific. The closest launch ramp for Deer Island, from April 1st through October 31st, is located in the Salthouse Branch campground. During our non-peak season, from November 1st until March 31st, you may launch from Twin Ridge, Goose Point, or Ramp 1. Potable water and pit toilets are located on the island.

Reservable · Recreation.gov22 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Virginia · tent only in Virginia · pets allowed in Virginia

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Deer Island
Photo courtesy of USACE personel · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Boat-in22
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

22 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1D - 21DPartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 1PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 2PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 3PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 4PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 5PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 6PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 7PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 8PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic
1D - 21D 9PartialLakefront6 / 2YesBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Deer Island30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.71 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.06 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.85 inches of precipitationApril: 3.46 inches of precipitationMay: 4.25 inches of precipitationJune: 4.65 inches of precipitationJuly: 5.00 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.47 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.85 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.86 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.13 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.85 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 36.8°F averageFebruary: 39.8°F averageMarch: 46.8°F averageApril: 56.3°F averageMay: 64.8°F averageJune: 72.9°F averageJuly: 76.6°F averageAugust: 75.3°F averageSeptember: 68.9°F averageOctober: 58.4°F averageNovember: 47.8°F averageDecember: 40.4°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Philpott Dam 2, less than a mile from the recreation area point at 1,123 feet, station USC00446692 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 47 inches a year.

Getting there

The closest launch ramp for Deer Island, from April 1st through October 31st, is located in the Salthouse Branch campground. During our non-peak season, from November 1st until March 31st, you may launch from Twin Ridge, Goose Point, or Ramp 1 near the Philpott Marina.

Nearest townHenry, Virginia
AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 36.78° N, 80.02° W. Call the office before you drive.

Explore

Video

Deer Island Point Campground NB🇨🇦 | Overnight Adventure

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.

Recreation

The lake provides visitors with great boating and swimming opportunities. Anglers enjoy fishing for large and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie and catfish. Many miles of hiking and biking trails surround Philpott Lake, allowing visitors to get out and explore this scenic area.

Nearby

The lake is adjacent to Fairystone State Park and Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area, which includes 5,300 acres of public recreational lands.

Guidebooks for Virginia

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Virginia
    Randy Porter, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Virginia and West Virginia
    Desiree Smith-Daughety, 2013
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best tent camping
    Johnny Molloy, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Deer Island?

Sites at Deer Island are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Deer Island?

Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Deer Island have?

22 sites, including 22 boat-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Deer Island?

Deer Island is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Deer Island?

Yes, pets are allowed at Deer Island. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Deer Island?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Deer Island?

The lake provides visitors with great boating and swimming opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Deer Island?

Henry, Virginia. The lake is adjacent to Fairystone State Park and Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area, which includes 5,300 acres of public recreational lands.

Source: Getting there