Goose Point Park
Bassett, Virginia · on Philpott Lake
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $7/day
- SEASON
- Campground/bathhouse facilities operate roughly April through October based on the documented November-March closure; swim beach use is implied to follow the same warm-season window.
About Goose Point Park
Goose Point Park is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground and day-use area on Philpott Lake near Bassett, Virginia, featuring a designated sandy swim beach alongside boating and camping facilities. It sits within the Corps-managed lands surrounding the 2,900-acre Philpott Lake reservoir in the Blue Ridge foothills.
The site sits on the shore of Philpott Lake, a 2,900-acre reservoir with about 100 miles of shoreline created by the 1948-1952 Philpott Dam on the Smith River, in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills of Franklin/Henry/Patrick counties, Virginia. Recreation.gov describes 'spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains' from the campground.
Swimming at Goose Point Park
A sandy beach with a designated swim area is part of the campground's day-use area, described by a visitor as a 'day use swim beach and pavilion' near the entrance loop; this is a reservoir swim beach rather than a river or creek swimming hole, suited to casual lake swimming and family day use rather than adventure swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 4780 Goose Point Road, Bassett, VA 24055, near the towns of Dodson, Philpott, and North/West Bassett; the campground access road is described by visitors as hilly, winding, and narrow with at least one hairpin turn.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up/walk-up reservoir beach inside the Goose Point campground day-use loop; visitor reviews describe a 'quick walk to the boat dock' and direct beach access from the parking/campsite area, with no hiking trail required to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Visitor reviews describe a clean sandy beach with a shallow, gradually sloping swim area, lifeguards on duty, and life jackets available for children; reviewers call the campground 'very family-friendly' with playgrounds and organized amphitheater programs nearby.
Parking
Lot
Beach/day-use parking is within the Goose Point campground's day-use loop near the entrance; campsite fees of $14-$30/night (or $10-$14 with a senior/America the Beautiful pass) apply for camping, and a $7/day fee applies for a second vehicle per campsite, but no separate posted day-use-only parking fee was found. The access road is described by multiple visitors as hilly, narrow, and winding with at least one hairpin turn requiring caution.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets, showers, and drinking water at bathhouses near the beach/campground loops in season (roughly Apr-Oct); reviewers describe them as very clean. During the Nov-Mar off-season the bathhouses close and only a vault toilet remains available (no drinking water).
Water clarity
Clear
A visitor review (via The Dyrt) states 'you can see the bottom everywhere,' and a Visit Roanoke VA tourism listing describes Philpott Lake as offering 'clear waters.' Attributed as visitor/tourism-source reports rather than direct measurement.
Hours
Park/campground gates closed 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Campground and bathhouse facilities generally operate in season (roughly April-October); during the November-March off-season the bathhouses close (vault toilet only) though the boat ramp remains accessible.
On the water
Restrictions: USACE requires visitors to clean, drain, and dry boats and other water-contact equipment between water bodies to prevent invasive species spread. No horsepower or no-wake restriction specific to the Goose Point swim area was found in sources reviewed.
A Visit Roanoke VA tourism listing confirms boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, powerboats, sailboats, pontoons, and water-skiing/wakeboarding are all permitted uses of Philpott Lake generally (nine boat launches, six beach areas lakewide). A Goose Point visitor review specifically notes 'easy access for kayak (& motor boats)' via the on-site boat ramp/dock, right next to the designated swim beach.
What regulars say
Visitors describe the Goose Point beach as clean and sandy with water clear enough to see the bottom, lifeguards on duty, and life jackets provided for kids, making it popular with families; the beach/entrance-loop area is also noted as louder and busier than the rest of the campground, so visitors wanting quiet prefer sites farther from it. Several regulars flag the campground access road itself as narrow, steep in spots, and winding with a hairpin turn, recommending cautious driving (especially towing). No dedicated kayak/paddleboard/boat rental outfitter serving Philpott Lake was found; the only lake marina identified (Philpott Marina, Henry County-operated) rents only annual boat slips, not day-use watercraft, so visitors appear to bring their own gear and launch via the campground's boat ramp/dock.
Backstory
Philpott Dam and Lake were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1948 and 1952 on the Smith River for flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation.
Goose Point Park: FAQ
Does Goose Point Park charge a fee?
Camping fees apply (site-based); a $7/day charge applies for a second vehicle per campsite. Recreation.gov does not list a separate posted fee specifically for day-use swim beach access in the source reviewed.
Is Goose Point Park kid friendly?
Visitor reviews describe a clean sandy beach with a shallow, gradually sloping swim area, lifeguards on duty, and life jackets available for children; reviewers call the campground 'very family-friendly' with playgrounds and organized amphitheater programs nearby.
Do I need to hike to reach Goose Point Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Goose Point Park?
Beach/day-use parking is within the Goose Point campground's day-use loop near the entrance; campsite fees of $14-$30/night (or $10-$14 with a senior/America the Beautiful pass) apply for camping, and a $7/day fee applies for a second vehicle per campsite, but no separate posted day-use-only parking fee was found. The access road is described by multiple visitors as hilly, narrow, and winding with at least one hairpin turn requiring caution.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Goose Point Park?
A Visit Roanoke VA tourism listing confirms boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, powerboats, sailboats, pontoons, and water-skiing/wakeboarding are all permitted uses of Philpott Lake generally (nine boat launches, six beach areas lakewide). A Goose Point visitor review specifically notes 'easy access for kayak (& motor boats)' via the on-site boat ramp/dock, right next to the designated swim beach.
When is the best time to visit Goose Point Park?
Campground/bathhouse facilities operate roughly April through October based on the documented November-March closure; swim beach use is implied to follow the same warm-season window.
What are the rules at Goose Point Park?
Gate hours 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; alcohol is prohibited; two vehicles allowed per campsite with extra vehicles charged $7/day; campground and bathhouses close November-March, though the boat ramp remains accessible in the off-season (vault toilets only, no drinking water).
What water body is Goose Point Park on?
Goose Point Park is on Philpott Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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