RELAX AT BONCLARKEN

Relax at Bonclarken! Our beautiful natural setting and recreational areas make it easy to enjoy Christian inspiration and renewal during your stay. Set in the scenic majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and blessed with a mild year-round climate, Bonclarken offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities. Come enjoy swimming, paddle boats, walking, photography, softball, volleyball, soccer, basketball, tennis, disc golf, fishing, nature observation and more!

ROCKING CHAIR RELAXATION

A favorite activity for many guests young and old is relaxing in one of the rocking chairs on the front porch of the historic Heidelberg Hotel while gazing at the beautiful lake. 

GIFT SHOP

A visit to the Bonclarken Gift Shop is a special trip indeed! Souvenirs and Bonclarken apparel items are available, as well as unique handmade items and gifts donated to Bonclarken by Women Ministries groups from Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches. Hours are posted in the office and vary from season to season.

WALKING

Bonclarken offers many areas for a walks and contemplation. Guests can enjoy a gentle ramble through the recreational fields and the area around the Amphitheater or a brisk walk around the 1/2 mile track at the lake.

OUTDOOR POOL

Available to Bonclarken guests and residents only at times posted on-site. Closed to the public.
The pool is a central hub of activity during the summer. Guests of all ages enjoy the opportunity to swim and relax.

BONCLARKEN LAKE

Available to Bonclarken guests and residents only at times posted on-site. Closed to the public.
Personal watercraft and outside boats are not permitted on the Bonclarken lake.
Bonclarken lifeguards must be on duty during boating sessions.
Enjoy boating, fishing, workout stations, and the 1/2 mile walking track around the lake. 

ATHLETIC FIELDS/COURTS

Available to Bonclarken guests and residents only year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Closed to the public.
The athletic fields provide ample space for all kinds of outdoor activities and field games including sand volleyball, gagaball, and soccer. The Upper Gym provides an enclosed space for basketball and indoor volleyball. Near the Upper Gym, guests may also enjoy playing tennis or pickleball.

DISC GOLF COURSE

The disc golf course is open to Bonclarken guests and residents only. Closed to the public.
Bonclarken’s 18-hole disc golf course travels through wooded areas, open fields, and across streams. As a great, low-impact activity, the course is very popular with all ages.

BIRDING

Bonclarken offers a variety of habitats including meadows, marshland, and wooded areas to observe birds and other wildlife. Commonly-seen Bonclarken birds include bluebirds, goldfinches, robins, hawks, kingfishers, and woodpeckers – downy, hairy, and pileated. In 2024, guests frequently observed a bald eagle at Bonclarken for the first time in recent memory.
Click here for area birding information