This pretty pond is in George Washington National Forest between Orkney Springs and Broadway, Virginia. It's on Runions Creek Road and easy to miss since it's not well marked and is kind of in the
middle of nowhere.
This looks like the sort of
vacation spot that our mountains are famous for. People still come here to fish, but the recreation area here isn't maintained anymore, so if you want to spend more than an hour exploring a lake, you might want to check out nearby Bryce Resort or go across the mountain to Trout Pond in West Virginia.
I was disappointed to see the area in disrepair. The restrooms are closed, the bridge is damaged, and even the signs are neglected. The forest service
website does not mention that they have cut back on services here but there is a sign on the now-locked restroom building.
The biggest disadvantage to hanging out at Tomahawk Pond is the ants! I believe they are
Allegheny mound ants and they will bite!
I almost hate to tell you those negative things about this
scenic pond. If I'd left off the narrative and the last two pictures, you'd be left with a nice impression of the pretty
reflections. But that wouldn't be fair to the folks who find this post by searching for information about Tomahawk Pond.