Army Corps of Engineers · Virginia
Salthouse Branch
Army Corps of Engineers · Virginia, United States
- Sites
- 111
- Hookups
- 43 electric, 44 with water, 46 no hookups
- Season
- April 1 to October 30
- Max RV length
- 76 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,007 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Philpott Lake
- Nearest town
- Henry
- Address
- 620 Salthouse Branch Road, Henry, VA, 24102
- Phone
- (540) 365-7005
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming Site
111 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43° | 28° | 11° | 64° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 33° | 14° | 76° | 9 of 11 |
| March | 62° | 40° | 20° | 81° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 71° | 50° | 29° | 89° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 77° | 59° | 43° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 66° | 56° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 89° | 71° | 59° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 71° | 61° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 65° | 53° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 50° | 36° | 86° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 58° | 39° | 24° | 73° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 48° | 32° | 12° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Goose Point · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 63 sites
- Horseshoe Point · Army Corps of Engineers · 2 mi · 49 sites
- Jamison Mill Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 3 mi · 11 sites
- Fairy Stone State Park · Virginia State Parks · 4 mi
- Rock Castle Gorge Backcountry Camping · National Park Service · 16 mi · 8 sites
All public campgrounds in Virginia · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.