***Notice: Cache difficulty reduced for mobile app cachers to view. Overall Difficulty: 2/2.5***
Buffalo Springs is located just north of US Highway 58 on Route 732 (Buffalo Springs Road), seven miles west of Clarksville, Virginia. The history of the site dates back to 1728, when a survey team lead by William Byrd II recorded their visit. Byrd wrote that the water found at Buffalo Springs was, “What Adam drank in Paradise.” Over the next 221 years, this historic site attracted many visitors seeking a taste of its renowned “Buffalo Lithia Water.” The historic value of this site was first recognized when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a picnic area at the site, and water from the springs can still be enjoyed from a tap near the historic gazebo.
Buffalo Springs is one of many parks located on John H. Kerr Reservoir, also known as Buggs Island Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages four campgrounds, twelve day-use areas, and leases land to the states of Virginia and North Carolina for eight additional parks. Camping, picnicking, swimming, and fishing are all available to the public. The Corps also manages 26 wildlife areas that provide opportunities for hunting, hiking, fishing, and bird watching. In its entirety, Kerr consists of roughly 50,000 acres of water, 55,000 acres of land, and 800 miles of shoreline.
The Visitor Assistance Center at John H. Kerr Reservoir is located adjacent to the Dam, next to North Bend Park. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us using the form provided on this site or call (434) 738-6143.
For additional information about the John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir please visit our website at: https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes-and-Dams/John-H-Kerr/
For more information about recreation opportunities with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please visit our “Corps Lakes Gateway” website at: https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/status.cfm/