Summit Lake is a cold water
reservoir located in
Greenbrier County,
West Virginia in the Gauley Ranger District of the
Monongahela National Forest. The reservoir is formed by the impoundment of the waters of two forks of Coats Run, a small tributary of the North Fork of the
Cherry River. There have been attempts to rename the lake in honor of
Carl E. Gainer, a politician from nearby
Richwood Richwood may refer to:
Places
;United States
* Richwood, Georgia
* Richwood, Kentucky
* Richwood, Louisiana
* Richwood Township, Minnesota
* Richwood, New Jersey
* Richwood, Ohio
* Richwood, Texas
* Richwood, West Virginia
* Richwood, Wisconsin
...
. These efforts, however, have had limited success with local residents and the
United States Forest Service.
In times of drought when the Cherry River becomes too shallow, the lake can be used to supply Richwood's municipal water system.
Recreation
The lake is popular among fisherman, as it has an abundant supply of
panfish and
bass
Bass or Basses may refer to:
Fish
* Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species
Music
* Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range:
** Bass (instrument), including:
** Acoustic bass gui ...
within its waters. The
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources also stocks the lake with
trout several times per year.
The area surrounding the lake includes a primitive 33-site campground and access to the
Cranberry Backcountry
The Cranberry Wilderness is a U.S. wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest of southeast West Virginia, United States. Its name derives from the nearby Cranberry Glades as well as from the Cranberry River and Cranberry Mountain. In ...
. The
Cranberry River, a popular trout stream, can be accessed via a somewhat-steep two-mile (3 km) hike along Fisherman's Trail. There are several other hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty in proximity to Summit Lake, including one that circumnavigates the entire body of water. Some of these trails are used for
cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreation ...
during winter months.
Low-horsepower motor boats and row boats are permitted on the lake. Swimming is prohibited except during the annual Scenic Mountain Triathlon.
See also
*
Cranberry Wilderness
The Cranberry Wilderness is a U.S. wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest of southeast West Virginia, United States. Its name derives from the nearby Cranberry Glades as well as from the Cranberry River and Cranberry Mountain. In a ...
*
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
Cranberry Glades — also known simply as The Glades — are a cluster of five small, boreal-type bogs in southwestern Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. This area, high in the Allegheny Mountains at about , is protected as the ...
External links
Official site
* ttp://www.wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Stocking/DailyStock.shtm Trout stocking schedule for the lake from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
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Protected areas of Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Reservoirs in West Virginia
Monongahela National Forest
Bodies of water of Greenbrier County, West Virginia