Tygart Lake is one of West Virginia’s classic state-park lakes – a deep, 1,750-acre reservoir on the Tygart Valley River near Grafton, held behind one of the oldest and tallest dams in the eastern United States. With a lakeside lodge, a marina, clear deep water that draws scuba divers, and good bass, walleye and trout fishing, it’s a scenic, well-rounded getaway in north-central West Virginia.
This guide covers Tygart Lake: the state park, the fishing, and the recreation. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
Tygart Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~1,750 acres on the Tygart Valley River; deep and clear
- Location: Taylor County, north-central West Virginia (near Grafton)
- Built: Tygart Dam, completed 1938 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) – one of the oldest, tallest dams in the East
- State park: Tygart Lake State Park – lodge, cabins, marina & beach
- Top fish: largemouth & smallmouth bass, walleye, muskie, trout, channel catfish, crappie
Tygart Lake State Park
Tygart Lake State Park offers a lakeside lodge, cabins, a campground, a swimming beach and a marina with boat rentals, all set on the steep, wooded shore. The deep, relatively clear water makes Tygart a popular scuba-diving lake as well, and the historic 1938 dam – a massive concrete structure that was an engineering landmark of its day – towers at the lower end. It’s a comfortable, scenic base for a fishing or boating weekend.
Fishing Tygart Lake
The deep reservoir holds a diverse fishery: largemouth and smallmouth bass along the rocky shores, walleye and muskie, plus channel catfish and crappie. The cold tailwater below the dam is stocked with trout. A West Virginia fishing license is required. The clear, deep water rewards anglers who fish structure and adjust to the conditions.
Boating and recreation
Tygart is a fine boating lake, with the marina, ramps and rentals supporting powerboating, fishing, paddling and pontooning, plus swimming at the park beach and scuba diving in the clear depths. The surrounding hills and the dam overlook make for great scenery, and the lodge keeps it comfortable year-round.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Tygart Lake is just south of Grafton in north-central West Virginia, about 30 minutes from Clarksburg and an hour from Morgantown. Grafton is the birthplace of Mother’s Day (the International Mother’s Day Shrine), and the Tygart Valley and Audra State Park are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a West Virginia license is required; trout rules apply on the tailwater.
- Deep, clear water: popular for scuba diving – dive safely and within your training.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for bass and walleye; summer for the lodge, beach and boating.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do at Tygart Lake State Park?
A lakeside lodge and cabins, camping, a swimming beach, a marina with boat rentals, fishing and scuba diving in the deep, clear water.
What fish are in Tygart Lake?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskie, channel catfish and crappie, plus stocked trout in the tailwater below the dam.
Where is Tygart Lake?
Just south of Grafton in Taylor County, north-central West Virginia, about 30 minutes from Clarksburg.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
