Alan Kim | The Roanoke Times

The underappreciated Pandapas Pond draws visitors on a Sunday afternoon in March.

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Pandapas Pond, which is off U.S. 460 about 3.5 miles west of Blacksburg, came in third in three categories — Best Place to Hike, Best Place to Bike and Best Place to Walk the Dog.

Pandapas Pond is an 8-acre lake at the headwaters of Poverty Creek. The lake is surrounded by a gravel hiking path that, survey says, is not the most highly traveled in the New River Valley.

But several Pandapas fans say that’s just what they like about it.

“It’s one of the few, nice, peaceful parks in the area,” said Kenan Tiemeyer.

He and his wife and daughter, Tree and Sequoia, were sitting happily on a picnic table by the water on a sunny Thursday afternoon in March.

The tiny Sequoia was marveling at some geese that had sailed across to them on the water and climbed ashore.

Tree, who is expecting another child soon, said the park is always populated enough to take a quiet stroll and feel safe.

“The hiking trail is great for expecting mothers and children. It is flat and perfect for strollers,” she said.

Farther down, around a bend in the lake, J.C. Mullins was kneeling next to the water. The gnarly trees beside him moved quietly in the breeze.

Mullins comes to Pandapas to fish three or four times a month.

“The lake is stocked with trout, chain pickerel and bass,” said Mullins, who also enjoys fishing in Craig Creek and Stony Creek. “It’s a good, quiet and relaxing place to come.”

On the other side of the lake, there was a bit more excitement.

A group of Virginia Tech honors biology students had decided to venture out for a biology lab.

“We are testing ph, conductivity and the relationship between lichens and mosses,” said freshman Tyler Bray.

Erik Sokol, the teaching assistant in charge of the lab, said he tries to bring his students out to Pandapas about four times a semester to do experiments.

The lake is only a short wooded walk away from the parking lot, and there are picnic tables and grills available for use.

Like to mountain bike? Read how Pandapas can make for a thrilling ride.

About Pandapas Pond

How to get there: Take U.S. 460 West, 3.5 miles past Blacksburg and turn left onto FR 808.

Things to do: fishing, hiking, flat-water canoeing and picnicking.

Trails: One-mile loop trail around lake. Also, the first parking lot to the left off of FR 808 provides access to the Poverty Creek and Gap Mountain trails. Equestrian and cycling access is permitted here.

Wildlife: A wide variety of fowls. Look for scarlet tanager, blue-headed vireo, blue-gray gnatcatcher and hooded warbler, as well as typical eastern hardwood forest nesters such as wood thrush, ovenbird and eastern wood-pewee. Residents of this area include great horned and barred owls, pileated and red-bellied woodpeckers and green heron.

Admission: Free