Summersville Lake Is The Largest Clearest Lake In West Virginia

The Bahamas: a country in the Caribbean. The Little Bahamas of the East: a lake in West Virginia. Yes, really, you absolutely read that right. Welcome to Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia, the clearest freshwater lake east of the Mississippi River, and the proud wearer of the nickname “Little Bahamas of the East.”

Summersville Lake, located in Nicholas County, West Virginia, boasts an impressive 2,800 acres of water that reaches up to 327 feet deep, plus 60 miles of shoreline, making it West Virginia’s largest lake.

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It’s also incredibly clear: scuba divers in Summersville Lake report being able to see up to 45 feet ahead underwater, an impressive distance for a lake! As a matter of fact, Summersville is the clearest lake in the eastern United States.

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Nearly a million people come to play at Summersville Lake each year: boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, scuba diving, picnicking, hiking, biking, hunting, rock climbing, camping, and more are all popular activities here.

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In the spring, summer, and fall (the best times to enjoy Summersville Lake), the water temperature stays a comfortable 60 to 80 degrees.

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To enjoy some of these activities yourself, check out Mountain Lake Campground, which offers beach access, cabins, camping, and RV hookups. Also note the lakeside Sarge’s Dive Shop, which offers scuba diving and boat tours. There are grocery stores, restaurants, and service stations located nearby in Summersville, and many of the nearby adventure resorts like ACE sponsor trips to this popular lake.

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Who needs the ocean? We’ve got our very own mountain view Little Bahamas right here in our backyard, thank you very much!

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Learn more about Summersville Lake and all that you can do on the water at the Summersville, West Virginia website. Have you ever spent a day on the lake here in Summersville, West Virginia? There’s nothing quite like time on the water here in wild, wonderful West Virginia to soothe the soul!