Right outside our doors, you’ll find gardens bursting with color, miles of winding river, and sweeping views. Yet beyond Fort Lewis’ distinct beauty lies a world of adventure, flush with things to do—from diverse hiking trails to kayaking, tubing, and fishing opportunities. No two days on the farm are quite the same; when you’re here, you may as well make the most of it.
Onsite Activities
Swimming
One of Virginia’s most beautiful rivers is The Cowpasture. The Lodge’s five-foot-deep swimming hole is a family favorite and there’s a steady supply of skipping stones to bounce across the calm surface. Not ready to dive in? Simply dangle your feet from our deck and breathe in the clean mountain air.
On-Property Hikes
There are miles of hiking trails through these wooded mountains, some gentle, others more vigorous. Some trails climb up to 3000 feet for views of mountain tops that roll on forever, while others wander through mature stands of timber with carpets of ferns and wildflowers.
Kayaking/Canoeing/Tubing
Float downstream in an innertube, go paddling in our canoe, or take on the rapids in one of our kayaks.
Fee applies if taking boats downstream. Please discuss with staff before embarking.
Wood-Fired Sauna
Our wood-fired, barrel sauna is perched among the foliage on a tree house deck beside the swimming hole. Its glass door allows tranquil views of running water and swaying trees as the dry heat relaxes your sore muscles and cleanses your system. After your sweat, you’re just steps away from a refreshing dive into the cool mountain water. Sauna is reserved by the hour. $75 fee applies.
Fly Fishing
The Lodge offers miles of crystal clear river teeming with fishing opportunities. There’s a large population of smallmouth bass, and also rock bass just right for the kids to catch. Rainbow trout are stocked in the early spring.
If interested in booking a private fly fishing guide, we recommend contacting Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing or Matt Miles Fly Fishing in advance of your stay.
Farm and Garden
A short walk from our main lodging area, guests can visit Fort Lewis’ Farmstead. Here you can meet our pigs and chickens, peruse our vegetable garden, pay a visit to our cows, walk amongst our newly planted fruit trees, and get a taste for the farming traditions that make Fort Lewis (and its food) so unique.
Fitness
Fort Lewis offers weekly fitness classes to our guests as well as opportunities for personal training and health coaching. Visit our Wellness Page to learn more.
Stargazing
Without the light pollution common in cities, the night sky from our stargazing platform offers clear, unobstructed views of the stars above. Whether you bring out your telescope for a closer look at the constellations or simply want to gaze out and contemplate the vastness, there’s no better place to do it than right here.
Mountain Biking
Send your spirits flying on a mountain biking adventure that traverses winding trails, steep descents, and more on any of the surrounding mountain trails.
Birding
Birders will find a wide variety of habitat right outside the front door and wildlife watchers, who show some patience and stealth, will be more than rewarded.
Road Biking
Cyclists will enjoy taking the winding roads through the rural countryside.
Disc Golf
Ask your innkeeper for a set of discs and enjoy a day of light competition. Our 9-hole disc golf course winds alongside the river and through our lower fields.
Pool
On the second floor of the Lewis Mill building, you’ll find our pool table. It’s a perfect pre or post dinner game to be enjoyed with a cold beverage from Buck’s Bar.
Cornhole
Precision and strategy meet plain ol’ good fun over a game of cornhole. Grab your friends and family and enjoy a game or two in the lawn.
Ping Pong
Serve the ball and challenge your travel companion to a table tennis tournament in our outdoor Pavilion.
S’more Making
After dinner each evening, you’ll find a fire roaring in our outdoor pavilion. Should you find you still have room after a filling meal at The Lewis Mill Restaurant, we’re happy to provide you with a S’more Kit to end your evening. $18 fee applies.
Relaxation
Though a day at Fort Lewis can be filled with adventure, we need not dismiss one of our favorite activities – relaxation! Fort Lewis, at its core, is a place meant for escape and quiet. For carving out time to reconnect with the earth and oneself. Set up an art easel, curl up with a good book, sit fireside, nap in a hammock, or simply enjoy the view.
“Fort Lewis Lodge is one of those rare and wonderful places that celebrates life’s simple pleasures.” -Cassandra VanHooser | Southern Living
“Hiking boots, biking shoes, paddleing sandals, chest-waders – if you visit Virginia’s Fort Lewis Lodge, your biggest problems might be packing all the footgear you’ll need.” -Eddie Nickens | Washingtonian
“This western-size spread has fly-fishing, mountain biking, and hiking–less than four hours from Washington, D.C.” -Eddie Nickens | Men’s Journal
“When was the last time you had 3,000 acres of Virginia’s finest in our own backyard?” -Eddie Nickens | Washingtonian
“…the Fort Lewis Lodge is a true escape, an idyllic hideaway where all there is to do is relax and enjoy the natural beauty of this pristine 3,200 acres of meadows, forest and rivers amid the Allegheny Mountains.” -Andie Gibson | SmithMountainLaker.com
“Furnished with country-style antiques and quilts, the Lodge’s 19 rooms look bright and cheery. On my visits I spend a lot of time bobbing around in the old fashioned swimming hole, carved at the base of a towering rock wall.” -Jim Yenckel | Budget Travel
“A country inn for guests seeking the outdoors and an opportunity for some ‘natural’ relaxation, hiking, fishing , mountain biking and swimming.” -Matt Sampson | Virginia Wildlife
“It’s my Shangri-la, a unique place that I recommend enthusiastically. My dictionary defines Shangri-la as a remote, idyllic hideaway where life approaches perfection. For me, that’s Fort Lewis Lodge.” -Jim Yenckel | Travel editor Washington Post
“We didn’t bring much – old bathing suits, sensible shoes, tons to read and expand-waist pants to accommodate fresh-from-the-garden cooking. Eating is a recreational activity here. Believe me.” – Krys Stefansky | Travel Editor, Virginian Pilot