This fall has been one of the most beautiful fall seasons in recent years. From hiking to picnicking, to RV and Tent Camping, to staying overnight in one of our houses, Alta Mons has been a place for individuals to find rest, renewal, and reflection during this difficult year. As winter looms, please know that we are still open for day use recreation. Bring your own basketball and shoot some hoops at the courts, have a family picnic on a sunny day, or come for a classic hike to Stiles Falls. Alta Mons is open each day from dawn to dusk for public use. Our Camp Post bathrooms are open each day from 9 AM to 5 PM for your convenience. If you're looking to plan a visit, here are some tips to help you make the most of your day at Alta Mons:
-Plan on no cell phone service. While service has expanded in recent years and coverage is getting better, it's still not great. Plan to be away from your phone. We have 2 emergency landline phones located on the property for your use. One at the front of camp (The Camp Post porch) and the other near the back of camp (The Pearman House porch).
-Dress in layers! Alta Mons can be up to 10 degrees cooler than areas in Roanoke and the New River Valley. Bring several layers including a rain jacket/wind shell, warm insulating layer, and hat/gloves.
-Pack the snacks! There's nothing worse than being hungry. While there are a couple local restaurants (some with limited hours) it never hurts to have food on hand. After a hike to the falls, there's nothing like sitting down at one of our public use picnic tables and having a bite to eat.
-Prepare a Picnic! If you're looking to have more than just some snacks, that's great! Feel free to bring a full picnic spread-- tablecloth, plates, utensils, etc. We have 6 picnic tables available for free to our day use guests. We also provide bleach spray and paper towels at the hiker sign-in board to sanitize the tables between uses.
-Do something different! Remember, hiking to the falls is not the only thing to do at Alta Mons! Fly a kite, go on a leaf hunt, walk around the Wetlands, visit the Intersection, bring a canvas and paint the scenery, and much more! Winter is also a great time to hike the Christmas Tree Mountain Trail because you can see much more of camp with no leaves on the trees. Just make sure to stick to the trail and follow the orange blazes closely-- it can be confusing at some points. The hike also features 3 geocaches that you can visit along the way!
-Plan on no cell phone service. While service has expanded in recent years and coverage is getting better, it's still not great. Plan to be away from your phone. We have 2 emergency landline phones located on the property for your use. One at the front of camp (The Camp Post porch) and the other near the back of camp (The Pearman House porch).
-Dress in layers! Alta Mons can be up to 10 degrees cooler than areas in Roanoke and the New River Valley. Bring several layers including a rain jacket/wind shell, warm insulating layer, and hat/gloves.
-Pack the snacks! There's nothing worse than being hungry. While there are a couple local restaurants (some with limited hours) it never hurts to have food on hand. After a hike to the falls, there's nothing like sitting down at one of our public use picnic tables and having a bite to eat.
-Prepare a Picnic! If you're looking to have more than just some snacks, that's great! Feel free to bring a full picnic spread-- tablecloth, plates, utensils, etc. We have 6 picnic tables available for free to our day use guests. We also provide bleach spray and paper towels at the hiker sign-in board to sanitize the tables between uses.
-Do something different! Remember, hiking to the falls is not the only thing to do at Alta Mons! Fly a kite, go on a leaf hunt, walk around the Wetlands, visit the Intersection, bring a canvas and paint the scenery, and much more! Winter is also a great time to hike the Christmas Tree Mountain Trail because you can see much more of camp with no leaves on the trees. Just make sure to stick to the trail and follow the orange blazes closely-- it can be confusing at some points. The hike also features 3 geocaches that you can visit along the way!
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