Purchase Online

When visiting Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, you must display your printed payment receipt on your vehicle dashboard.  Guests who purchase a yearly pass online will receive a rearview mirror hangtag in the mail that must be displayed while visiting Carvins Cove Natural Reserve.  Yearly passes are good for one year from date of purchase.  Each yearly pass is limited to two vehicles per household.  

Personal boat with trailer entrance passes, which also include land use activities, must be purchased in-person so that your boat can be inspected for invasive aquatic species.

Daily and yearly entrance passes include land use activities and non-trailered/non-motorized personal boat/kayak/stand up paddleboard launching.  

• Daily entrance fee: $7.00 per vehicle per day
• Yearly pass: $50.00 per vehicle yearly
• Equestrian Trailer:  $10 per day / $75 yearly pass
• Please click to see fees for other Carvins Cove activities

Purchase In-person

You can still purchase a daily or annual pass at one of the Carvins Cove Natural Reserve parking areas.  Please note that cash and check are the only types of payment accepted if purchasing a pass at one of our parking areas.  The Bennett Springs, Hollins and Timberview parking areas have payment drop boxes while the Boat Landing has staff who can assist you. 

Please note that annual permits purchased at the payment drop boxes must be purchased with a check and will be mailed to the purchaser at the address provided.

• Carvins Cove Boat Landing:  9644 Reservoir Road , Roanoke, VA 24019  |  540-362-1757
• Bennett Springs Parking Lot:  4300 Carvins Cove Road, Salem, VA 24153
• Hollins Trailhead Parking Lot:  Plantation Road, Roanoke, VA 
• Timberview Parking Lot:  3399 Timberview Road, Roanoke, VA 24019

Shelter Rentals for Weddings and Events

Make reservations for small weddings/events at Carvins Cove that include up to 50 guests. The $100 reservation fee includes the use of the newer picnic shelter and its amphitheater space, shown above, for one day as well as land-use entrance fees for up to 50 guests.  Six picnic tables are included under the ADA accessible shelter. 

Please note that other park areas, such as the fishing piers and docks, will remain open for general public use and cannot be reserved. Parking is limited so carpooling is strongly encouraged. 

In compliance with the Virginia Department of Forestry's 4pm burn ban, charcoal grills are not available until April 15 due to increased fire risk.

Reservations of the shelter for weddings/events must be made and paid for in advance.

• Fees are not refundable; however, the Authority does have a raincheck policy for some fees.
• Guests are responsible for placing all trash and/or decoration items in the trash receptacles before leaving.
• We encourage you to take any items that can be recycled with you when you leave.
• Reservations are for open park hours only. All set-up and clean-up must be conducted during park open hours.
• Balloons are not allowed as decorations because of the risk to wildlife at the Cove. 
• Alcohol use is prohibited.
• 

The Roanoke Regional Water Pollution Control Plant (WPC) has enjoyed a long history as one of the best birding locations in the Roanoke Valley and is one of the primary stopover locations for migrating birds. Visit the Bird Watching Page for more information.

Birding Permits

To ensure safety of all our visitors, permits are required for those wishing to access the plant for bird watching. One-day temporary passes can be obtained from the WPC Plant Administration office. Those interested in obtaining a permanent pass can complete a Birding Permit Application. Please note that it will take five business days to complete the registration process for a permanent pass. Temporary access can be granted in the interim period.

Passes are available at:

WPC Plant Administration Office
1502 Brownlee Avenue SE
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540-283-8269)  Please call for details before your visit.

Access to the plant is granted Monday-Friday from 8am - 4pm.

Those wishing to obtain a bird watching pass much attend a brief safety orientation conducted by plant staff.