Summersville Lake, Recreational reservoir in Nicholas County, West Virginia.
Summersville Lake is a reservoir in Nicholas County in central West Virginia that spreads across densely forested hills and covers roughly 1,093 hectares. The water reaches a maximum depth of nearly 100 meters (327 feet) and the winding shoreline runs for about 97 kilometers (60 miles) with numerous coves and rocky sections.
The dam was built in the mid-1960s by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding along the Gauley River. President Lyndon B. Johnson formally dedicated the facility in 1966 and turned the river valley into one of the largest lakes in the state.
Divers and climbers gave this body of water the nickname Little Bahamas of the East because of how clear the water runs compared to other freshwater sites. Rock faces along the shore draw climbers from neighboring states while families swim and boat near the shallower southern end.
The northern section offers access to climbing rocks, trails and campsites that see the most activity during warmer months. Water activities focus on the southern portion where boat launches and swimming areas sit closer to the main dam.
A sunken boat sits deliberately on the lakebed and serves as an artificial reef for divers who train in these inland waters. Visibility underwater can reach 15 meters (50 feet) or more on calm days, which is rare for an Appalachian reservoir.
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