Here Are 11 Of The Most Beautiful Lakes In West Virginia, According To Our Readers
By Chris Muras|Published January 20, 2023
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Chris Muras
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Every adventure starts with a single step. And then another, and another, until you find yourself somewhere new and undiscovered. That’s the journey of a writer. You never know where the next word will take you. Hopefully, together, we can experience some amazing new adventures at OnlyInYourState.
West Virginia has some of the most magical lake landscapes in the country. Summery sandy beaches, brilliant fall foliage, snow-covered trees reflecting in icy pools of blue, and spring flowers bursting around its edges. Each season brings a new experience to our wonderful lakes. With so many incredible lakes in West Virginia, how in the world can we choose a favorite? With a little help, of course. We polled our readers on our Only In West Virginia Facebook page to find out which WV lakes deserve to be celebrated.
Spruce Knob Lake is a tiny but mighty 23-acre reservoir that simply pops when those big puffy clouds drift across the sky. It's also a wonderful area for camping and family picnics surrounded by the Monongahela National Forest. Interesting to note is that this small lake takes the trophy for the highest lake in West Virginia at 3,840 feet in elevation.
What would we do without the beautiful Summerville Lake? With 2,700 acres of pristine beauty, it is West Virginia's largest lake. With those iconic death-defying cliffs that plunge below the surface, cliff jumping is awfully tempting but has been banned since 2007. It is still a rock-climbing paradise. There is also an intentionally submerged boat for scuba divers to explore.
Another natural area that is popular for an adventurous primitive camping trip surrounded by beautiful woodland is Summit Lake. This peaceful 43-acre reservoir only averages a depth of 10 feet, with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Despite, or maybe because of, its shallowness it is a fishing hotspot for largemouth bass and bluegill.
Lake Sherwood is another lovely lake in the Monongahela National Forest. Its peaceful waters make for an excellent spot for kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. It is also one of the most beautiful swimming lakes in West Virginia; there are two sand beaches connected by a footbridge.
Stonewall Jackson Lake was indeed named for Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, a Confederate general during the Civil War. Mr. Jackson was from Lewis County, West Virginia where Stonewall Jackson Lake is located. This lovely lake is a popular fishing spot for panfish, catfish, and walleye.
A hydroelectric dam on Cheat River was built to provide power to the community. The incredibly scenic Cheat Lake was originally called Lake Lynn after the president of West Penn Power, Albert M. Lynn. However, locals refused to call it that. Instead, they gave it the nickname, Cheat Lake. It stuck. The name of the lake was officially changed to Cheat Lake by the Board of Geographic Governors in 1976.
Moncove Lake is located in Moncove Lake State Park, which is a wonderful area for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, and everything lake-related we all love in West Virginia.
A teeny tiny 11-acre lake surrounded by 10,100 acres of West Virginia's largest state park. This little gem is a picture-perfect lake for fishing and kayaking surrounded by the mountains of Pocahontas County.
Bluestone Lake was created by the impressive Bluestone Dam which began construction in 1941 but was suspended in 1944 because of World War II. Work resumed in 1946 and was finally completed in 1949. Bluestone Lake is now a popular lake for fishing, boating, and all of the outdoor adventures you can imagine in the surrounding Bluestone State Park.
Lake Buffalo is another small but wonderful lake in the Monongahela National Forest. This charming 22-acre lake is stocked with trout to the delight of fishing enthusiasts around the state. It is a serene landscape surrounded by lush forests and towering trees.
Seneca State Forest is West Virginia's oldest and largest state forest with 12,884 acres of pristine beauty. Seneca Lake is a lovely jewel nestled in its comforting depths. This area is well known for the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower, which stands tall at 65 feet and looks out over the Seneca State Forest with panoramic views that will take your breath away.
When it comes to beautiful lakes, we have it pretty good here in West Virginia. This handful of the best lakes in West Virginia is only the beginning of a long love affair we have with our incredible natural areas. The memories we create and the adventures we have are passed down to each generation like the seeds of a dandelion spreading in the wind.
If you have memories of your time at these lakes, please share them with a comment. We’d love to hear what adventures you’ve had and what memories you’ve made.
Be sure to join our West Virginia Nature Lovers Facebook group to discover more epic photographs like this and share your own.
