Location

Welcome Home

Nestled in foothills of Virginia’s majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Southern Virginia University’s beautiful campus is home to a friendly and engaging community whose collective motto is Love One Another.

Welcome Home

“This Campus Has Serenity Conducive to Learning…”

“…not all campuses have such a sense of peace. I think that’s why the Lord chose mountain tops and sacred groves for his teachings. When the rush, noises, and pressure of everyday life do not distract us, we can more easily connect with the Spirit of the Lord.”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Sept. 16, 2016

Outdoor Activities


Good Views Only

Good Views Only

Experience life in the heart of Virginia’s idyllic Shenandoah Valley, where you are surrounded by vibrant green hills, rolling rivers, and charming red brick towns. Even our town Buena Vista means “good view” in Spanish—but in truth, the views are spectacular.

A National Park in Your Backyard

A National Park in Your Backyard

Explore the wonders of our nearby Shenandoah National Park—home to the world-famous Appalachian Trail with its picturesque hikes, sparkling waterfalls, and quiet caves—one of the most photographed places in America.

With so much to do in our surrounding area, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Use the menu below to find popular locales based on activity, or check out our Top 10 Student-Favorite Outdoor Activities.

Dinky Hill
The trails behind the Lofts wrap around Dinky Hill

The Chessie Trail
Trail begins by Hwy 60 in Buena Vista at the bridge that crosses the Maury

Reservoir Hollow Trail
Trail begins at 12th street

The Flood Wall
Entrance at 21st or 10th street

Bluff Mountain
20-minute drive to trailhead

Appalachian Trail
20-minute drive to access

House Mountain
30-minute drive to trailhead

The Devil’s Marbleyard
30-minute drive to trailhead

Mount Pleasant
40-minute drive to trailhead

Cole Mountain
40-minute drive to trailhead

Spy Rock
40-minute drive to trailhead

Sharp Top
45-minute drive to trailhead

McAfee Knob
1-hour drive to trailhead

Dragon’s Tooth
1-hour drive to trailhead

Tinker Cliffs
1-hour drive to trailhead

Natural Bridge State Park
20-minute drive

The Foot Bridge
30-minute drive

High Bridge Trail State Park
2-hour drive

Statons Creek Falls
20-minute drive

Panther Falls
30-minute drive to trailhead

Crabtree Falls
45-minute drive to trailhead

Falling Spring
1-hour drive

Lake Robertson Recreation
30-minute drive to campsite

Otter Creek
30-minute drive to campsite

Peaks of Otter
45-minute drive to campsite

Blue Ridge Parkway
8-minute drive to access point

Route 39: Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway
10-minute drive to access point

Ben Salem Wayside
5-minute drive

Jordan’s Point Park
12-minute drive

Cave Mountain Lake Recreation
35-minute drive

Douthat State Park
45-minute drive


Our Virginia Home


Fall in Love with Virginia

You can have it all. The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to large metro areas, small quiet towns, and everything between. The state’s breathtaking mountains, ancient forests, and sandy beaches are all accentuated by four distinct seasons. There’s a reason Virginia is for Lovers.

Fall in Love with Virginia

Adventure is Less Than a Day Away

Some of the nation’s largest cities and must-see destinations are less than a day’s drive away. Whether you’re driving to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, attending the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., or spending the weekend at Virginia Beach, you will never run out of places to see and things to do.

Adventure is Less Than a Day Away

Cradle of the Restoration

Study the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in-person at the original gathering places for the Saints: Palmyra, Kirtland, and Nauvoo.

Cradle of the Restoration

Discover History

Connect with our nation’s history in the places where it was made. See some of our nation’s earliest settlements as well as famous sites of the American Revolution and Civil War.

Discover History