Ivy Creek Park (the nature park) is located in the Lynchpin Industrial Park, which houses nine major businesses with over 1,400 employees. Ivy Creek Park is a green oasis that includes the six-acre Clemmons Lake, multi-use trails, picnic and play areas, as well as an auxiliary site for the naturalists of the Nature Zone and some of their aquatically-inclined reptiles and amphibians.
Enjoy the serenity of Ivy Creek Park’s Clemmons Lake. Whether you venture out on the water in a canoe or kayak, fish from the pier, or enjoy a picnic lunch on the shore, you’re sure to enjoy the day! Bring a group for the fun of it.
The grounds of Ivy Creek incorporate green design principles such as aggregate paving in the parking lot to help reduce stormwater runoff along with landscaping that includes native plants and trees selected to attract wildlife and provide food and shelter.
Trails at Ivy Creek Park
The primary lake trail winds downhill from the parking area, towards the lake, and families can stop and enjoy the picnic areas and play area along the way. This portion of the trail is ADA compliant, as are picnic areas, and play area. Once at the lake, a circuit trail continues along the eastern edge, providing those with limited mobility access to a brand-new discovery pier and fishing stations tucked into the shore. The paved trail ends at a boardwalk which crosses a small wetland area, populated by ducks, geese, turtles, and other aquatic animals. From there, the remainder of the trail is a simple earthen surface, cut into the steep hillside above the lake, and traveling gently through the wooded forest of the park before re-joining the paved section just past the naturalist cabin.
Fishing at Ivy Creek Park
There’s a new fish in town- in fact, in late November about 400 lbs. of trout and catfish from the Montebello Fish Hatchery were brought to Clemmons Lake as part of the Urban Waters Fishing program managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. If you haven’t noticed them, new Virginia Trout Water signs have been placed around the lake identifying the species and catch limits.
There are a few simple rules to remember before heading out to match wits with a trout. First, anyone 16 or older must have a Virginia State freshwater fishing license year round. In addition, anyone 16 or older is required to have a trout license from November 1 to April 30. At Clemmons Lake trout and catfish are catch and keep, and have a limit of 4 fish per day, per species, for each person. There are no lure restrictions. All other fish are recommended for catch and release. Fishing at Clemmons Lake is from sunrise to sunset every day.
Remember to practice responsible fishing and don’t leave line or hooks behind. Clemmons Lake will continue to be stocked throughout the winter months, so be sure to get out there and enjoy the winter weather at beautiful Ivy Creek Park.
Canoe and Kayak Rentals
Spend a weekend in May- September floating on Clemmons Lake or teaching your little one how to canoe or kayak! Canoe and Kayak rentals are open from 10:30am – 4:30pm Saturdays and1:30pm-4:30pm Sundays. Canoes can be rented for $8.00/hour and kayaks for $6.00/hour. Cash, check or visa/mastercard payments are accepted and PFDs will be provided. In addition, you can also rent a waterproof storage box for an additional charge.
