Mountain Lake, Natural lake in Giles County, Virginia, United States
Mountain Lake is a lake in Giles County, Virginia, sitting at an elevation of 3875 feet (1181 meters) and covering roughly 50 acres (20 hectares) fed by underground springs. The water remains cool year-round, and the surroundings consist of forested slopes and walking trails that loop around the shore.
Settlers discovered the body of water in 1751 and named it Salt Pond because they provided salt to livestock there. Over the course of the twentieth century, the area developed into a recreation spot with a hotel and leisure facilities.
The mountain area holds a vacation lodge that draws visitors each year because it once served as the backdrop for a well-known dance film from the late nineteen-eighties. Many guests come here to explore the filming spots and relive moments from American cinema history.
Visiting is typically possible from May through November when mountain roads stay accessible and warmer weather arrives. Hikers can use trails in the area, while others fish or paddle the water depending on current water levels.
The body of water undergoes natural fluctuations in water level linked to a cycle of roughly four hundred years controlled by underground fissures. Sometimes the level drops so far that the bottom is partly exposed before the basin refills.
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