Summer Fun at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Smith Mountain Lake is nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia. Located in Bedford and Franklin Counties, the Lake is only about forty miles from either Roanoke or Lynchburg. Smith Mountain Lake is the second largest body of freshwater in the state of Virginia. It is a man-made lake that was created when the Appalachian Power Company built a dam on the Roanoke River at Smith Mountain Gap in 1966. Smith Mountain Lake State Park first opened to the public in 1983. The Park is not just for those who love the water, it offers a full range of water related activities, as well as recreational amenities located on the shore.
Smith Mountain Lake offers a wide variety of water related sports and activities. In Smith Mountain Lake State Park, there is a man-made beach, swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, picnicking, camping and much more. Fishermen must have a valid Virginia fishing license. The park offers a handicapped accessible fishing pier, a public boat launching ramp and public restroom facilities that are open year-round.

The Smith Mountain Lake covers about 20,000 acres and five hundred miles of shoreline in Bedford and Franklin counties. The resevoir offers excellent fishing. There are black bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish. Striped bass are stocked annually. The other fish such as large and small mouthed bass, crappie, white perch, yellow perch, channel catfish, white catfish, and flathead catfish all reproduce naturally in the lakes waters. Smith Mountain Lake has numerous has numerous boat ramps and marinas (public and private) scattered throughout the area.Camping is available from March 1 through the first Monday in December each year. Both cabins and primitive camping sites are available within the state park. There are also many area lodges, motels, and bed and breakfasts if you don't want to rough it. There are also motor home hookup facilities in the area.