Summersville Lake

Summersville Lake in Nicholas County, West Virginia, is the largest lake in West Virginia, formed by the 390-foot Summersville Dam on the Gauley River and covering approximately 2,800 acres at full pool. The lake is renowned among divers for its exceptional water clarity — underwater visibility of 20 to 40 feet is common, and the flooded valley terrain includes submerged roads and structures that create an unusual underwater landscape. Scuba divers from across the Appalachian region consider Summersville one of the premier freshwater diving sites east of the Mississippi. Above the waterline, the lake's dramatic sandstone cliffs — some rising 80 feet above the surface along the eastern shore — attract rock climbers and define the visual character of the landscape. The lake is also popular for swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and powerboat recreation throughout the summer season. The main public boat launch is at Salmon Run Recreation Area; marinas at several points around the lake provide fuel, rentals, and supplies. The town of Summersville, 3 miles from the dam, has lodging, restaurants, and outfitter shops catering to lake visitors. The dam crest road is open to pedestrians and provides a view of the gorge downstream — the same canyon that becomes Gauley River National Recreation Area below the dam. Water levels at the lake drop significantly in fall when the Army Corps of Engineers lowers the pool for Gauley Season whitewater releases, exposing extended rock ledges and reducing boating access but dramatically increasing the length of climbable sandstone along the eastern shore. The surrounding forest shows strong fall color in late September and October.