The Van Clief Nature Area is a 63-acre park owned by the Town of Scottsville and located just east of Valley Street downtown. The centerpiece of the nature area is Scottsville Lake, where fishing is open to the public. The nature area is a long-term investment of the Town’s, with development guided by the VCNA Master Plan.
Hiking trails, a dock and other amenities are being developed now with the help of townspeople and volunteers — Please join the effort or share any comments or suggestions by contacting the Parks and Recreation Committee or the town office with any questions at 286-9267 orinfo [at] scottsville.org ( )
While you’re downtown, visit our shops, restaurants, museum, or visitor center.
ACCESS and PARKING
The closest GPS address for the driveway to the nature area and lake is 253 Hardware Street. (On older maps, you may see that Scottsville Lake was called Mink Creek Reservoir.)
There is a parking area next to the gate. Do not block the road or the gate and do not park in the gravel area near the cell towers.
The nature area includes the area surrounding the lake, many acres beyond the lake, an area below the dam, and a narrow strip of the land opposite the town businesses along Mink Creek. If you are in the area below the dam, please do not walk up the face of the dam.
HOURS
The nature area is open during daylight hours only and currently not open to vehicle traffic inside the gate. In case of emergency dial 911.
TRASH
Please do not leave any trash behind. Either deposit it in a trash can or bring trash out of the nature area with you. NO FIRES are permitted.
NOTE: Please do not walk up the face of the dam located between the lake and downtown. The dam is an engineered structure that is part of the town’s flood control plan. Walk around the outlet structure and walk up the hillside immediately past the outlet structure.
Scottsville Lake Fishing and Trout Fishing
Scottsville Lake is stocked with trout by Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources. Anyone over age 16 must have a Virginia fishing license. If you fish the lake between October 1 and June 15, you must also have a Virginia trout license. (You do not need the additional trout license if you are fishing between June 15th and September 30th.)
Fishing license information and online purchasing are available on the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website. Locally, licenses can be purchased at the Town Office (434.286.9267).
You can keep 6 trout per day. No one can keep trout smaller than 7 inches. Catch limits for all species other than trout are according to State regulation. There are no lure restrictions.
Trout stocking will take place several times between October 1 and June 15. You can look for updates on the DGIF trout stocking website after 4pm the day of stocking.