Bluestone Lake, West Virginia, USA

Amidst the beautiful scenery of southern West Virginia lies the long, narrow Bluestone Lake. This reservoir, the third largest lake in West Virginia, is popular for its fishing and other recreational activities. Bluestone Lake was formed by a concrete dam built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across the New River to reduce flooding. Although the dam was started in 1941, its construction was delayed because…
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    • All About Bluestone Lake, WV

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - West Virginia - New River-Greenbrier Valley Region, WV -

    Amidst the beautiful scenery of southern West Virginia lies the long, narrow Bluestone Lake. This reservoir, the third largest lake in West Virginia, is popular for its fishing and other recreational activities. Bluestone Lake was formed by a concrete dam built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across the New River to reduce flooding. Although the dam was started in 1941, its construction was delayed because of World War II, and it was not fully completed until 1952. The lake is nearly eleven miles long, with an area of 2,040 acres during summer pool, though the water level does change frequently. Water levels are drawn down four feet in winter to make room for melting snow and spring rain.

    Bluestone Lake and New River are both great places for fishing, and it is said that New River is the best warm-water fishery in the state. Some of the species of fish available in the lake and river are bluegill, catfish, crappie, muskellunge, and various types of bass. New River bass have set some West Virginia state records.

    In addition to fishing, Bluestone Lake is fantastic for enjoying all sorts of water activities, including boating, canoeing, water skiing, and wake boarding. The lake has several boat ramps and a commercial marina for the boater’s convenience, and there are no limits to the size of boats or motors that can be on the lake.

    Bluestone Lake is part of the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, which covers an area of 18,019 acres. The Wildlife Management Area is known for having some of the best hunting in the area, and hunters and trappers will be able to catch a variety of game including white-tail deer, turkey, fox, and other animals.

    One great place to enjoy the lake is at Bluestone State Park. The park has ample accommodations for those who want to stay overnight. There are a variety of camp sites – or, if you prefer a more comfortable stay, there are 26 cabins with TV’s, showers, and other modern conveniences. Park visitors can take a walk on the hiking trails, play in the swimming pool, or rent game equipment to play croquet or horseshoes. The park also has weekly events with lots of fun activities.

    In addition to all the fun activities on the lake, there’s plenty more to do in the surrounding area. There are several other parks nearby, where you can enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities. If you get a thrill out of whitewater rafting, you can experience some great whitewater on the New River. And the New River Gorge is well-known as a great place for rock climbing, with its many hard sandstone cliffs. If you want a break from outdoor activities, the nearby town of Hinton has many attractions. There are a variety of restaurants, shops and antique stores to browse, and museums to visit.

    From fishing to canoeing, hiking to water skiing, there’s plenty of activity to satisfy the outdoor lover at Bluestone Lake.

    Things to Do at Bluestone Lake

    These are some activities in the Bluestone Lake, WV area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Swimming Pool
    • Canoeing
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Camping
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Rock Climbing
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • Museum
    • Antiquing

    What Kind of Fish Are in Bluestone Lake?

    Bluestone Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Muskellunge
    • Pike
    • Sunfish
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    Find Places to Stay at Bluestone Lake

    If you’re considering a Bluestone 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.

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    More Sites to Book a Bluestone Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Bluestone 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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    Bluestone Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Surface Area: 2,040 acres

    Shoreline Length: 28 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,410 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 1,406 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,520 feet

    Maximum Depth: 90 feet

    Water Volume: 38,350 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1952

    Drainage Area: 4,565 sq. miles

    Bluestone Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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