We’ve been here for 20 minutes and have moved at most 20 meters. At 390 feet (120 m) tall, 2,280 feet (690 m) long, and containing 12,000,000 cubic yards (9,200,000 m3) of dirt and rock, the dam itself is the second-largest rock-fill dam in the Eastern United States. I bounce to the closet to find climbing shoes then bounce to the kitchen to pack snacks. Jay Young is a family man, media maker, and aging climber. The lake was constructed between 1960 and 1966 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in order to control flooding in an 803-square-mile (2,080 km2) watershed along the Gauley River and the Kanawha River. The kids stop every few steps to throw a stone or examine octopus-like stumps of trees. I think she’s about to say something like, “You won’t get a chance to put them on.” But instead I hear, “Yeah, go for it. There are climbers everywhere. Superb water quality and sheer sandstone cliffs make Summersville Lake a unique place to visit. It’s rad. ANNAPOLIS, Md., August 24, 2020 – Have you ever wondered how old, discarded fishing line is recycled and reused? Located on the cliffs of Summersville Lake is the only working Lighthouse in the state of West Virginia, the Summersville Lake Lighthouse. 2020 End Of Season Boat Removal Schedule. Next time you’re sitting around the house, wondering how to get the kiddos outside before the winter comes to an end, round up the gang and go find the mother of all fossils for yourself. SPRINGFIELD, Va., September 2, 2020 – A new video from Wildlife Forever, funded in part by a BoatUS Foundation Grassroots Grant shows watersport boat owners how to easily follow “Clean, Drain, Dry” at the boat ramp to help prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). He’s a board member of the New River Alliance of Climbers and vows to send a boulder problem worthy of his seat. Pirates Cove (38.24313, -80.8486) Drive 21 miles north of Fayetteville on US 19. The stony slopes and ancient boulders, long since scoured of topsoil, will be exposed and perfect for fossil hunting. Unless you have a boat, you will probably want to wait till fall, when they drain the lake, to hike to these falls. Because the process is long, most of the lakebed will be dry and walkable for days. WV State Record Yellow Perch caught here. It is the largest lake in West Virginia, with 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) of water and over 60 miles (97 km) of shoreline at the summer pool water level. Suddenly it feels like we have the whole lake to ourselves. Everyone is exploring. The Mother of Rocket with the Mother of all Fossils. We round a proud sandstone buttress and leave the climbers behind. Summersville Lake (drained) - Summersville, WV. Copyright 2020. Wendy pauses a moment and glances at me. Next comes the tricky part: “And, I was thinking maybe I’d bring my climbing shoes and boulder a little?”, My inflection rises. Just after you go over the bridge, on your right is a parking area for the lake. Date: 9/2/2020. Occasionally, somebody plucks a fossil from the Mars-like earth and yells, “Here’s one!” Then Rocket hurls a stone. I start off our adventure with a simple request: “Honey, let’s take the kids to the lake to go fossil hunting.”. BoatUS News. [Video] See How Easily You Can ‘Clean, Drain, Dry” Your Wakeboat. However, they are visible from above as well. Our kids love days out on the lake, and so do I. Summersville Lake is a reservoir located in the US state of West Virginia. The lake is drained 55 feet at this point, and when this occurs, some remnants of the old town may be glimpsed, including one of the old roads. Beyond the bridge that Route 19 crosses over the lake is a no-wake zone for casual boating. I follow and occasionally spot him. Summersville Lake is a reservoir located in the US state of West Virginia.The lake is formed by a rock-fill dam (Summersville Dam) on the Gauley River, south of Summersville in Nicholas County.It is the largest lake in West Virginia, with 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) of water and over 60 miles (97 km) of shoreline at the summer pool water level.