Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, USA

Also known as:  Jewel of the Blue Ridge

With emerald green shores, sapphire blue skies, topaz blue waters, and soaring surrounding mountains, it’s clear why Smith Mountain Lake is nicknamed “Jewel of the Blue Ridge.” Nestled in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia’s most popular recreational lake offers 580 miles of coved shoreline and 20,800 acres of beautiful lake to explore. The Appalachian Power Company created Smith Mountain Lake by damming the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers….
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    • All About Smith Mountain Lake, VA

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - Virginia - Blue Ridge Highlands, VA - Central Virginia - Southern Virginia Region -

    With emerald green shores, sapphire blue skies, topaz blue waters, and soaring surrounding mountains, it’s clear why Smith Mountain Lake is nicknamed “Jewel of the Blue Ridge.”

    Nestled in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia’s most popular recreational lake offers 580 miles of coved shoreline and 20,800 acres of beautiful lake to explore.

    Smith Mountain Lake Then and Now

    An aerial view of Smith Mountain, the lake and Mariners Landing Resort

    Mariners Landing Resort – Courtesy of DebBeranProperties.com

    The Appalachian Power Company created Smith Mountain Lake by damming the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers. The 40-mile-long lake first reached its “full pond” level of 795 feet above sea level in 1966. SML is deepest at the dam, about 250 feet, with an average depth of about 55 feet.

    SML was built for flood control and hydroelectric power generation using an unusual pump-back system from the adjacent Leesville Reservoir. The system regulates the water level, allowing it to vary by just two feet year-round (except during times of drought and flood).

    Smith Mountain Lake stretches across three counties (Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania) in stunning Southwest Virginia and is best-known for its exceptional recreational opportunities. Because of its natural beauty, well-developed tourism, and temperate four-season climate, the reservoir welcomes many visitors to its shores every year.

    Find out more at Smith-Mountain-Lake.com.

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    Top Things to Do at Smith Mountain Lake

    From spring through autumn, you’ll find the lake dotted with boaters, anglers, jet skiers, water skiers, wake boarders, wake surfers, tubers, canoeists, paddleboarders and kayakers. There are seven boat ramps open to the public and a large number of marinas, many of which offer Smith Mountain Lake boat rentals by the day, week or longer.

    Smith Mountain Lake is among the USA’s top fishing destinations for both amateurs and professionals and has hosted Bassmaster/ESPN fishing tournaments. Largemouth and striped bass are among anglers’ most-favored catches.

    Compare rental homes and hotels at Smith Mountain Lake

    On a hot Virginia summer day, nothing beats diving into SML’s cool waters. You can do that from your dock, your boat or a rental boat,  but many choose to absorb the sun and play in the lake from the well-equipped Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

    Boasting a large 500-foot long sandy beach, the park is a favorite among residents and visitors, offering a designated swimming area, dive platform and sandy beach. Smith Mountain Lake State Park also offers an informative visitors’ center, picnic areas, well-equipped cabins, primitive campsites and miles of hiking trails.

    Much smaller, but also popular, is 37-acre Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, a family-oriented facility that offers a beach, handicap-accessible fishing pier, hiking trails, picnic shelters and a playground.

    Four golf courses, some lakeside, attract both residents and visitors to Smith Mountain lake.

    SML is an angler’s paradise. Bassmaster ranks it among the USA’s 25 best bass fishing lakes. The lake has hosted several national professional fishing tournaments featured on ESPN, including the Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament. Anglers prize largemouth bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white perch, crappie, yellow perch, and catfish. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has stocked the lake annually with striped bass since its impoundment in 1963.

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    Top Off-Water Activities Near Smith Mountain Lake

    Booker T. Washington National Monument, a tribute to the famous African American educator and statesman, is located in nearby Westlake Corner. Other can’t-miss stops nearby for history buffs include the National D-Day Memorial and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.

    Inquisitive minds will enjoy a trip to the Smith Mountain Dam Visitors’ Center to check out, among other things, an interesting audio-visual presentation showing how the dam was built. Take a peek at a wall mural detailing Smith Mountain Gap before the area was flooded. Learn how the Smith Mountain Lake-Leesville Lake symbiosis creates electricity, and view photos and descriptions of local wildlife.

    The Visitors’ Center at the dam is free to enter; take an hour or two to get to know the inner workings of the reservoir. Please check in advance to make sure the center is open.

    The lake is about 25 miles from “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway, a U.S. National Park System “unit” that hosts millions of visitors each year. Take your camera/smartphone along for the ride as unparalleled views unfold before you. Rolling valleys, mountain peaks, and soaring birds will swoop below you at every parkway lookout point, so come prepared to “ooh and ahh” at every vista.

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    Where to Stay at Smith Mountain Lake

    Vacation rentals at Smith Mountain Lake are popular because of the limited number of hotels in the area. There are also several resorts, B&Bs, houseboats for rent and campgrounds. See our comprehensive Guide to Smith Mountain Lake Lodging for details on which type of accommodations will be best for you and your crew.

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    Smith Mountain Lake Relocation Information

    SML also is home to more than 20,000 permanent residents, including many retirees and remote workers who have relocated from across the country to enjoy reasonable real estate prices and low property taxes.

    For comprehensive information on Smith Mountain Lake real estate, visit the directory on Smith-Mountain-Lake.com or DebBeranProperties.com.

    Smith Mountain Lake’s exceptional offerings make it a perfect vacation destination, permanent residence, or anything in between. Whatever your pleasure – lakefront dining, fireside reading, or a glass of wine accompanied by a stunning sunset – Virginia’s most popular lake will far exceed your expectations.

    FUN NOTE: Smith Mountain Lake is the headquarters of LakeLubbers!

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    Additional Smith Mountain Lake Resources

     

    Long water view of Smith Mountain from Mariners Landing resort

    Things to Do at Smith Mountain Lake

    These are some activities in the Smith Mountain Lake, VA area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Fishing Tournaments
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • National Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Smith Mountain Lake?

    Smith Mountain Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Spotted Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • White Perch
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Smith Mountain Lake

    If you’re considering a Smith Mountain Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Smith Mountain Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Smith Mountain Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Smith Mountain Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Appalachian Power

    Surface Area: 20,800 acres

    Shoreline Length: 580 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 795 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 788 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 800 feet

    Average Depth: 55 feet

    Maximum Depth: 250 feet

    Water Volume: 1,140,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1966

    Water Residence Time: 3.35 years

    Lake Area-Population: 20,000

    Drainage Area: 992 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Smith Mountain Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

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    Philpott Lake, VA

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    Lake Anna, VA

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