Because West Virginia’s lakes are reservoirs dammed in deep mountain valleys, several are strikingly deep near their dams – none more so than Summersville Lake, a scuba-diving destination known as the “Little Bahamas of the East.” If you’re asking which lakes in West Virginia are the deepest, this guide ranks them by maximum depth. Each links to our full lake guide. This page is part of our West Virginia Lakes Database.
The deepest lakes in West Virginia, ranked
- Summersville Lake – ~327 ft. The deepest (and largest) lake in West Virginia. Its clear, deep water and rock walls make it the state’s premier scuba-diving lake, alongside excellent bass and walleye fishing.
- Jennings Randolph Lake – very deep. A steep-walled border reservoir on the North Branch Potomac, deep and cold enough to be stocked with trout and to support a two-story fishery.
- Tygart Lake – deep near the dam. Backed up behind one of the tallest dams in the state, Tygart drops off sharply near the dam, holding walleye, bass and catfish.
- Cheat Lake – deep. A long, narrow reservoir near Morgantown with deep water along its old river channel, good for bass, walleye and boating.
- Sutton Lake – deep near the dam. A central-state Corps reservoir that runs deep near its dam, with muskie, bass and crappie.
- Mount Storm Lake – deep, warm. A power-plant cooling lake in the high Alleghenies – deep, warmed year-round, and famous for cold-season bass fishing and winter scuba.
- R.D. Bailey Lake – deep near the dam. A scenic Guyandotte River reservoir that drops off steeply near its dam, with bass, crappie and catfish.
- Bluestone Lake – moderately deep. West Virginia’s third-largest lake, deeper near the dam on the New River, with muskie, bass and catfish.
Why depth matters here
In West Virginia, depth is a function of the dam: these reservoirs are deepest in the old river channel near the dam and shallow up the arms. The deepest, clearest lakes – Summersville, Jennings Randolph and Mount Storm – hold cooler, oxygen-rich water that supports trout, walleye and (at Summersville and Mount Storm) scuba diving. Shallower arms and coves on the same lakes grow the bass, crappie and catfish.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deepest lake in West Virginia?
Summersville Lake, at roughly 327 feet, is the deepest lake in West Virginia – deep and clear enough to be the state’s top scuba-diving destination.
Where can you scuba dive in West Virginia?
Summersville Lake is the premier scuba lake, nicknamed the “Little Bahamas of the East,” and Mount Storm Lake’s warm water allows even winter diving.
Which West Virginia lakes have trout?
Deep, cold reservoirs like Jennings Randolph Lake are stocked with trout, and the state stocks many tailwaters and small lakes as well.
Related: see the largest lakes in West Virginia, the best lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
Quick answers about West Virginia lakes
What is the deepest lake in West Virginia?
Summersville Lake is the deepest lake in West Virginia, well over 300 feet deep at full pool – which is part of why it is so popular for scuba diving.
