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
Galinda Kay Johnson via Only In West Virginia 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. Spruce Knob Lake, West Virginia 26296, USA
- Summerville Lake
Claire Wright via Only In West Virginia 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. Summersville Lake, West Virginia, USA
- Summit Lake
Tess McMillion via Only In West Virginia 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. Summit Lake, West Virginia 26261, USA
- Lake Sherwood
Tess McMillion via Only In West Virginia 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. Lake Sherwood, West Virginia 24986, USA
- Stonewall Jackson Lake
Stephanie Angel Young via Only In West Virginia 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. Stonewall Jackson Lake, West Virginia 26452, USA
- Cheat Lake
Sheila Jenkins via Only In West Virginia In 1910, 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. And the lake’s name was officially changed in 1927. Cheat Lake, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
- Moncove Lake
Tess McMillion via Only In West Virginia 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. Moncove Lake, West Virginia 24941, USA
- Watoga Lake
Tess McMillion via Only 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. Watoga Lake, West Virginia 24954, USA
- Bluestone Lake
Rick Ailstock via Only In West Virginia 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. Bluestone Lake, West Virginia, USA
- Lake Buffalo
Angel Andino via Only In West Virginia 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. Lake Buffalo, West Virginia 24920, USA
- Seneca Lake
Glenna Graley via Only In West Virginia 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. Seneca Lake, West Virginia 24934, USA
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.
Galinda Kay Johnson via Only In West Virginia
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.
Spruce Knob Lake, West Virginia 26296, USA
Claire Wright via Only In West Virginia
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.
Summersville Lake, West Virginia, USA
Tess McMillion via Only In West Virginia
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.
Summit Lake, West Virginia 26261, USA
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.
Lake Sherwood, West Virginia 24986, USA
Stephanie Angel Young via Only In West Virginia
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.
Stonewall Jackson Lake, West Virginia 26452, USA
Sheila Jenkins via Only In West Virginia
In 1910, 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. And the lake’s name was officially changed in 1927.
Cheat Lake, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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.
Moncove Lake, West Virginia 24941, USA
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.
Watoga Lake, West Virginia 24954, USA
Rick Ailstock via Only In West Virginia
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.
Bluestone Lake, West Virginia, USA
Angel Andino via Only In West Virginia
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.
Lake Buffalo, West Virginia 24920, USA
Glenna Graley via Only In West Virginia
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.
Seneca Lake, West Virginia 24934, USA
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.
If you fancy yourself a master fisherman, perhaps you’d like to check out these 12 secret fishing spots in West Virginia.
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