Summersville Lake is the largest lake in West Virginia and, by common agreement, the most beautiful – a 2,800-acre reservoir of startlingly clear, emerald-green water ringed by sandstone cliffs in the mountains of Nicholas County. Its clarity has earned it the nickname the “Little Bahamas of the East,” and it draws scuba divers, cliff jumpers, rock climbers and smallmouth anglers from across the region. Below its dam, the Gauley River unleashes some of the best whitewater on the planet.
This guide covers Summersville Lake top to bottom: the famously clear water and scuba diving, the cliffs and climbing, the smallmouth fishing, the Gauley whitewater season, and how to plan a visit. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
- Summersville Lake at a glance
- The clearest water in West Virginia
- Scuba diving, cliffs and climbing
- Fishing Summersville Lake
- Gauley River whitewater
- Boating, swimming and the state park
- Water level and the draw-down
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- Why is Summersville Lake so clear?
- Can you scuba dive at Summersville Lake?
- What fish are in Summersville Lake?
- What is Gauley Season?
- Can you cliff jump at Summersville Lake?
- How big and deep is Summersville Lake?
- Where is Summersville Lake?
Summersville Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~2,800 acres – the largest lake in West Virginia
- Shoreline: ~60 miles of cliff-lined, mostly undeveloped shore
- Maximum depth: around 327 feet near the dam; exceptionally clear water
- Location: Nicholas County, south-central West Virginia (near Summersville)
- Built: Summersville Dam on the Gauley River, completed 1966 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) – the state’s largest dam
- Top fish: smallmouth & largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, crappie, trout (below the dam)
The clearest water in West Virginia
What sets Summersville apart is the water clarity. The lake sits in clean sandstone country with little development on its steep shoreline, and the result is water so clear and green that visibility can reach 30 feet or more – rare anywhere east of the Mississippi. That clarity is the foundation of everything the lake is famous for: the scuba diving, the cliff jumping, the deep-water rock climbing, and a smallmouth fishery that thrives in clean, rocky water.
Scuba diving, cliffs and climbing
Summersville is the scuba-diving capital of West Virginia. Divers explore submerged rock formations, walls and the clear depths near Pirates Cove and Long Point, served by a lakeside dive shop. The same sandstone cliffs draw cliff jumpers and a growing community of deep-water soloists – climbers who scale the rock faces above the water with the lake as their crash pad. Long Point and the Pirates Cove area are the hubs for all of it. It’s at-your-own-risk adventure country, so know your limits, check water depth, and never dive or jump alone.
Fishing Summersville Lake
The clear, deep, rocky water makes Summersville a genuine smallmouth bass destination, with largemouth, walleye and more rounding out the catch:
- Smallmouth bass – the signature fish, strong and healthy on the rocky points, ledges and bluffs.
- Largemouth bass in the coves and around cover.
- Walleye, channel catfish and crappie fill out the lake fishery.
- Trout – the cold Gauley River tailwater below the dam is stocked and fishes well for trout.
A West Virginia fishing license is required. The clarity means fish can be line-shy – lighter line and natural presentations help, especially in summer.
Gauley River whitewater
Summersville Dam is the key to one of the world’s great whitewater rivers. Each fall, the Corps draws the lake down through scheduled releases, and the water roaring out of the dam transforms the Gauley River into a furious run of Class IV-V rapids. “Gauley Season” – roughly the weekends after Labor Day – draws rafters and kayakers from around the globe to one of the most celebrated commercially-rafted rivers anywhere. Outfitters in the area run trips on both the wild Upper Gauley and the slightly tamer Lower Gauley.
Boating, swimming and the state park
The lake is excellent for boating, with a full-service marina, public ramps and the new Summersville Lake State Park (one of West Virginia’s newest), plus the Corps’ Battle Run Campground and beach. Swimming, paddling and pontoon cruising are all popular in the clear, warm summer water, and a replica lighthouse on the shore has become a local landmark. The undeveloped cliffs and coves give paddlers and anglers quiet places to explore.
Water level and the draw-down
Because Summersville is managed for flood control and the Gauley releases, its level changes seasonally – high and full in summer for recreation, then drawn down through the fall for the whitewater season and winter flood storage. If you’re planning a boating or diving trip, check the current Corps lake level, since the fall draw-down significantly lowers the lake.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Summersville Lake is just off US-19 near Summersville, about 1 hour northeast of Beckley and 1 hour southeast of Charleston. It sits in the heart of West Virginia’s adventure country – the New River Gorge National Park and its famous bridge are about 30-40 minutes south, making the area one of the best outdoor-recreation hubs in the East.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a West Virginia license is required; note trout rules on the Gauley tailwater.
- Adventure at your own risk: cliff jumping, diving and deep-water soloing are unguided – know your limits, check depths, never go alone.
- Gauley Season: the fall dam releases create world-class whitewater – book an outfitter ahead.
- Water level: the lake is drawn down in fall – check the current Corps level before a boating or diving trip.
- Best seasons: summer for clear-water swimming, diving and bass; fall for Gauley whitewater; the tailwater trout fish year-round.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Summersville Lake so clear?
It sits in clean sandstone country with little shoreline development, so its water is exceptionally clear and green – earning the nickname the “Little Bahamas of the East,” with visibility that can reach 30 feet.
Can you scuba dive at Summersville Lake?
Yes – it’s the scuba-diving capital of West Virginia, with clear water, submerged rock formations and a lakeside dive shop near Long Point and Pirates Cove.
What fish are in Summersville Lake?
Smallmouth bass (the signature fish), largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish and crappie, plus stocked trout in the Gauley River tailwater below the dam.
What is Gauley Season?
The fall whitewater season created by Summersville Dam’s scheduled releases, when the Gauley River becomes a world-class Class IV-V run – drawing rafters and kayakers from around the world, roughly the weekends after Labor Day.
Can you cliff jump at Summersville Lake?
Yes – the sandstone cliffs around Long Point and Pirates Cove are famous for cliff jumping and deep-water rock climbing, all at your own risk; know the water depth and never go alone.
How big and deep is Summersville Lake?
About 2,800 acres – the largest lake in West Virginia – and roughly 327 feet deep near the dam.
Where is Summersville Lake?
In Nicholas County, south-central West Virginia, off US-19 near Summersville, about an hour from both Charleston and Beckley.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
