Beech Fork
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. Located in
the hills of western West Virginia this lake features many coves and forks,
not to mention excellent fishing. This 4 mile long narrow lake is located
7 miles south of Huntington off West Virginia State Route 152. (304) 529-5607.
Bluestone
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply),
Marina, Fuel. Home of the Scenic Blue Stone State Park and also the nearby
Pipe Stem State Park. If you enjoy the back drop of the Appalachian Mountains
then you will enjoy this scenic area in southern West Virginia. This 17 long
river like lake lies on Bluestone creek and is accessible from I 77 at the
U.S. 19 exit east to West Virginia State Route 3 to just outside of Hinton.
(304) 529-5607.
Burnsville
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. Accessible
from I 79 at the Burnsville exit. (304) 529-5607.
Cheat Lake.
Fishing, Marina, Fuel, Ramps. This lake is right at the end of Cheat River
which leads into the Monongabela River. Known as "The Narrows" it features
high canyon walls and a nearby scenic overlook make this one of the more scenic
lakes in all of West Virginia. Located about 8 miles north east of Morgantown
in Point Mission.
East Lynn
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. This 6 mile
long lake contains many forks and several coves among the 600 feet high hills.
Located 12 miles southeast of Wayne on West Virginia State Route 37. (304)
529-5607.
Gallipolis
Lock & Dam (Ohio River). Restrooms, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply). First built in 1937 has recently undergone renovation. Located
near Gallipolis on the Ohio. (304) 529-5607.
Hildebrand
Lock & Dam (Monongabela River south of Morgantown). This area of the
river provides an excellent scenic boat trip that is not accessible by car
(great for Spring and Fall boating!). Launch Ramps are available upstream
in Morgantown. (412) 644-6924.
Jennings
Randolph Lake (Bloomington Lake). Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and
without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump
Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Visitor Information
Center. Located right on the West Virginia / Maryland border (as a 4 mile
long pool of the North Branch Potomac River) off West Virginia State Route
46 north of Elk Gardens. (301) 962-3693.
London Lock
& Dam (Kanawha River). Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use.
This lock mostly serves the coal mines in this region and is the head of the
Navigational channel of the Kanawha River. Located off West Virginia State
Route 60 (also called the "Midland Trail") southeast of Charleston. (304)
529-5607.
Marmet Lock
& Dam (Kanawha River). Restrooms, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramps (small
fee may apply). This provides a 9 feet wide navigable channel on the Kanawha
River extending 15 miles to London Dam (at the head). Located off West Virginia
State Route 60 in Belle. (304) 529-5607.
Morgantown
Lock & Dam (Monongabela River). Restrooms, Launch Ramps (small fee
may apply), Marina, Fuel. This dam was built in 1950 and provides a 9 feet
navigable channel between Morgantown and Hildebrand. Located in Morgantown
off I 79. (412) 644-6924.
Mount Storm
Lake. Fishing. This 4 mile long lake is located just 11 miles east of
Thomas / Davis, West Virginia (which has an excellent pizza restaurant, just
ask the locals) on West Virginia State Route 93. Stony River Reservoir lies
just to the south and also has fishing available.
Opekiska
Lock & Dam (Monongabela River). Restrooms, Drinking Water, Launch
Ramps (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. This dam provides a scenic pool
that wraps through the West Virginia mountains to Fairmont where the West
Fork and Tygart Rivers join to form the Monogahela River which flows to Pittsburgh
where it meets the Allegheny River to form the Ohio. (412) 644-6924.
Pike Island
Lock & Dam (Ohio River). Restrooms, Launch Ramps, Marina, Fuel. Provides
about a 30 mile long pool on the Ohio for recreation and industry. Located
just north of Wheeling on the Ohio. (412) 644-6924.
R.D. Bailey
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. This 4 mile
long river like lake is located in the scenic rugged hills in southwestern
West Virginia off U.S. 52 in Gilbert. (304) 529-5607.
Racine Lock
& Dam. Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramps (small
fee may apply). Provides 34 miles of navigable pool from Racine, Ohio to Belleville
Locks & Dam near Reedsville (southwest of Parkersburg). (304) 529-5607.
Stonewall
Jackson Lake (Stonecoal Reservoir). Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with
and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary
Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Visitor Information
Center. Located just 4 miles from the junction of I 79 and U.S. 33 in eastern
West Virginia. (412) 644-6924.
Summersville
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. This lake
features spectacular cliffs and white water is nearby on the Gauley River.
Historical Civil War battlefields are also nearby. Located in Mt. Nebo on
U.S. 19. (304) 529-5607.
Sutton Lake.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small
fee may apply), Marina, Fuel, Visitor Information Center. This lake is part
of the Elk River on the eastern edge of Sutton. It measures about 7 miles
in length. Located in Sutton off I 79. This lake has 45 miles of shoreline
and attracts all types of boating and has excellent fishing. Located in the
wooded hills of Central West Virginia 1 mile east of Sutton off I 79. (304)
529-5607.
Tygart Lake.
Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms,
Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina,
Fuel, Visitor Information Center. Home of Tygart Lake State Park (on its southeastern
shoreline. Located 3 miles south of Grafton off U.S. 50. (412) 644-6924.
Winfield
Lock & Dam (Kanawha River). Recreational facilities area available
along the river. Located off U.S. 35 between Gallipolis, Ohio and Charleston,
West Virginia. (304) 529-5607.
Information based
on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, brochures and boaters information.
If you know of any other great spots in West Virginia for boating (of all types),
or have more information, feel free to E-Mail us at Boating
America