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Douthat Lake, Virginia, USA

50-acre Douthat Lake (that’s “DOW-thut”) is surrounded by the beautiful Allegheny Mountains in Virginia’s 4,545-acre Douthat State Park. It’s accessible through year-round cabins (rented by the state park system) and through well-equipped campgrounds that are tent and RV friendly. Popular activities include fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, boat rentals, and water biking. Mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted on designated multi-use trails in the park. A large…
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Welcome to the ultimate guide to Douthat Lake! Article topics include:

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    • All About Douthat Lake, VA

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - Virginia - Shenandoah Valley Region, VA -

    50-acre Douthat Lake (that’s “DOW-thut”) is surrounded by the beautiful Allegheny Mountains in Virginia’s 4,545-acre Douthat State Park. It’s accessible through year-round cabins (rented by the state park system) and through well-equipped campgrounds that are tent and RV friendly.

    Popular activities include fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, boat rentals, and water biking. Mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted on designated multi-use trails in the park.

    A large swimming beach marks the spot for boat rentals. Your own non-motorized boat can be launched at a gravel ramp.

    There’s a daily fee-fishing permit required for trout. Two fishing piers are available. Douthat Lake is stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout – which bite most frequently during spring and fall. You can also catch largemouth bass, sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish and prized chain pickerel. Anglers occasionally catch yellow bullhead catfish, redbreast sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, and white suckers.

    The dam and lake were completed in 1936, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The dam, lodge, and some surrounding structures are faced with unusual stonework.

    Douthat State Park and its 40+ mile system of 24 trails is a National Historic Landmark. It is one of Virginia’s first state parks, and became a model for many other state parks in the USA. Its elevation peaks at 3,000 feet; nights can be cool.

    There’s a restaurant and camp store lakeside. The nearest towns are Clifton Forge and Iron Gate, where you can find groceries, supplies, and gasoline.

    If you’re looking for a quiet spot with great trout fishing, surrounded by all the resources of one of Virginia’s finest state parks, Douthat Lake is well worth your visit.

    Things to Do at Douthat Lake

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

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Horseback Riding
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Douthat Lake?

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

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Brook Trout
    • Brown Trout
    • Bullhead Catfish
    • Catfish
    • Chain Pickerel
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Pickerel
    • Pike
    • Pumpkinseed
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Redbreast Sunfish
    • Sucker
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Yellow Bullhead
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    Find Places to Stay at Douthat Lake

    If you’re considering a Douthat 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 Douthat Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Douthat 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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    Douthat Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

    Surface Area: 50 acres

    Shoreline Length: 1 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,433 feet

    Average Depth: 20 feet

    Water Volume: 1,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1936

    Water Residence Time: 17 days

    Drainage Area: 17 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Oligo-mesotrophic

    Douthat Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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