Summit Lake is a small, scenic mountain trout lake tucked into the Monongahela National Forest near Richwood, in the heart of West Virginia’s high country. At about 43 acres, it’s a quiet, forest-rimmed gem – stocked with trout, circled by a campground and trail, and surrounded by the wild Cranberry backcountry. For anglers and campers who love cold mountain water and solitude, it’s a perfect basecamp.
This guide covers Summit Lake: the trout fishing, the camping and setting, and access. It’s part of our growing West Virginia Lakes Database.
Summit Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~43 acres, in the Monongahela National Forest
- Location: Greenbrier County, eastern West Virginia (near Richwood)
- Type: a stocked mountain trout lake (electric motors / quiet water)
- Top fish: stocked rainbow, golden & brook trout; some bass and panfish
Trout fishing Summit Lake
Summit Lake is managed as a trout lake, regularly stocked with rainbow, golden and brook trout through the season. A West Virginia fishing license and trout stamp are required. Anglers fish from the bank or small boats (electric motors), and the cold, clear mountain water and quiet setting make it one of the more pleasant put-and-take trout fisheries in the region. A few bass and panfish round out the catch.
Camping and the mountain setting
A Forest Service campground and a lakeside trail sit right on Summit Lake, making it an easy, scenic place to camp, fish and relax. The lake is deep in the Monongahela National Forest, close to the wild Cranberry Wilderness, the Highland Scenic Highway and the Cranberry Glades – some of the most remote and beautiful country in West Virginia. It’s a base for trout fishing, hiking and quiet escape rather than busy boating.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Summit Lake is east of Richwood in Greenbrier County, reached via forest roads off WV-39/55, deep in the Monongahela National Forest. The Cranberry backcountry, the Highland Scenic Highway and the Falls of Hills Creek are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license & trout stamp: both are required for trout.
- Remote forest lake: reached by forest roads – come prepared, with limited services nearby.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for stocked trout; summer for camping and the high country.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Summit Lake?
Stocked rainbow, golden and brook trout, plus some bass and panfish – it’s managed primarily as a mountain trout lake.
Can you camp at Summit Lake?
Yes – there’s a Forest Service campground and a lakeside trail right on the lake in the Monongahela National Forest.
Where is Summit Lake?
East of Richwood in Greenbrier County, deep in the Monongahela National Forest off WV-39/55.
Related: explore the small lakes of West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
