Kerr Lake

Kerr Lake is a reservoir straddling the Virginia and North Carolina border, covering roughly 50,000 acres of water with over 800 miles of wooded shoreline. The lake connects shallow coves to deeper channels along the Roanoke River, offering numerous boat launch sites.

Construction of the John H. Kerr Dam began in 1947 and was completed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1952. The project aimed primarily at flood control and power generation for the surrounding regions.

The submerged lands were once inhabited by the Occoneechee Native Americans, who established settlements near the current Occoneechee State Park.

Anglers can fish the waters with licenses from either Virginia or North Carolina, even across state lines. Access is possible through multiple public boat ramps scattered along the shoreline.

The public marina in Clarksville offers twenty free day-use slips for boats. Visitors can walk directly into town from the dock and return to their vessels afterward.