Summersville Lake a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts

NICHOLAS COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — As the largest lake in the state, Summersville Lake is known as a premier water recreation site in southern West Virginia.

The lake, which is located south of Summersville in Nicholas County, is a hub for fishing, boating and rock climbing. It was constructed in the mid-1960s.

The Eyewitness News SkyTeam drone caught views of the reservoir on Oct. 7, 2020, when water levels were lowered from their normal level to the typical level for the winter.

Every fall, water is released from the Summersville Dam leading to top-tier rapids on the Gauley River that draw thousands to the area for tourism. The popular whitewater rafting period is referred to as Gauley season.