Devil's Bathtub in Virginia 2024-2025

The Devil’s Bathtub is a beautiful and deep natural pool of crystal clear water, located near Fort Blackmore, in Southwest Virginia. It can be reached by a 5.1 km (3.2 mi) roundtrip trail that runs through a scenic forest. Even though the trail features just 76 m (250 ft) elevation gain, it is considered to be difficult since it involves lots of boulder climbing. There are also over a dozen stream crossings on this trail, so visitors should be careful in spring when the water is high and the rapids are fast. Even if you come during the dry weather, there is a chance you will get wet and muddy on this trail.

The Devil's Bathtub trail (Devil's Fork Trail) is well-marked, and since it goes along the Devil's Fork Creek, it's almost impossible to get lost. At the end of the trail, visitors are rewarded with a view of a few small waterfalls and at least two large pools filled with turquoise water that can serve as perfect swimming holes during the warm time of the year. Make sure you keep walking to the second pool—the Devil's Bathtub. After that, you'll have an option of going back or climbing a small mountain and taking a different route back to the trailhead.

In summer, the Devil's Bathtub trail can be rather crowded, so the best time to visit the area is during weekdays or early in the morning.