Lakes in or around Roanoke, VA?

[MJB]

My father in-law is relocating from Houston to Roanoke, VA. Can anyone provide insight on lakes in or around Roanoke on which you could live and boat.

thanks,
Mike

you can email me direct at mjbark@comcast.net

[nautique210]

Lucky break for you father-in-law. Smith Mountain Lake is close to Roanoke. We live in Pennsylvania and vacation on SML. I've been on many lakes from Canada to Florida. Smith Mountain Lake is by far our favorite. God willing, we will retire to a lake house there some day. Just google "Smith Mountain Lake" and you'll find plenty of information.

[robertsmcfarland]

MJB check out web site endropegang.com they have a special section for a lot of lakes in Va and NC, just for wake boarding,including Smith MT lake.

[SkiTower]

+2 SML. Beautiful area and very close to Roanoke.

Also, if he wants to be on the lake that area is starting to take off. Buy now and the price will just go up.

[83ski2001]

never heard of SML, but i just checked it out and booked a week in august. that place looks amazing. got a few guys and our ladies for a week up there on the lake. its about 7 hours drive for me, but oh well it looks to be quite worth it

[SkiTower]

never heard of SML, but i just checked it out and booked a week in august. that place looks amazing. got a few guys and our ladies for a week up there on the lake. its about 7 hours drive for me, but oh well it looks to be quite worth it

My wife and I took the Gekko up there in 2007 but had immediate boat problems so I really didn't get to go out. I'm dying to go back with my more reliable boat!

Would you mind me asking where you're staying? I've looked at Westlake Waterfront Inn but it's a little upriver from the action. We rented a cabin just north of the bridge. Very convenient by water but a little out of the way by road.

[83ski2001]

well i will be honest with you i just sent about 10 info requests out for different places on the lake. i am trying to ask someone on here where the best place to stay is? i want nice deep water and maybe even some areas where its protected from wind a little. is anyone on here very familiar with the area? i will be coming from MD, the one i am really looking into is mountain view shores, says its near marker r-1. is there things to do on the lake like bars or anything thats accessible by boat? restraunts thats accessible by boat? where is the best place to be all around on the lake? any info would be great. thanks

[SkiTower]

well i will be honest with you i just sent about 10 info requests out for different places on the lake. i am trying to ask someone on here where the best place to stay is? i want nice deep water and maybe even some areas where its protected from wind a little. is anyone on here very familiar with the area? i will be coming from MD, the one i am really looking into is mountain view shores, says its near marker r-1. is there things to do on the lake like bars or anything thats accessible by boat? restraunts thats accessible by boat? where is the best place to be all around on the lake? any info would be great. thanks

If you want deep water, this is it. The short channel I managed to get in was at the launch and 120' deep probably 50 yds off shore. There are restaurants at the bridge accessible by boat, and a Nautique dealer on the other side. My understanding the hot spots to be are south.

There was a PN get together planned I think 2 years ago and there was a lot of info in that thread. The get together didn't happen but check out the thread for info.

here's the first thread: http://planetnautique.com/vb3/showth...+Mountain+Lake

and the follow up thread: http://planetnautique.com/vb3/showth...+Mountain+Lake

[83ski2001]

so i think the r-1 bouy is really south in the lake, it says its the deepest cleanest part of the lake on the rental ad. can anyone confirm the location of marker r-1? and is that a good place to ride and stay?

[Latonkaboarder]

We went on vacation there about 4 years ago and loved it. We stayed around bouy R22-R26. I can't remember exactly. There is plenty of action at Halesford bridge area. There is a large marina with gas, shopping, a bar with a outside patio and live entertainment, a board shop (wake N Skate), pretty much everything you would need. The entire lake is plenty deep and is some of the prettiest, cleanest, and clear water you will ever ride. Where we stayed it was 80+ feet deep in our cove. The only down fall about SML is the drive there. It is some very windy, mountainous roads....but worth it. I will definately be vacationing there again sometime and will stay in that same area, it was only about a 10 min boat ride to the marina and all the action. Here is a link to a map of the lake and some rental properties.

http://www.smith-mountain-lake-visit...ntain_lake.htm
http://www.smith-mountain-lake-visitor-center.com/
http://www.cbrentals.com/

[Tomfooter]

How about a smaller option?

Also on a smaller scale, is Claytor Lake near Dublin, VA. It's about 45 Min. south on I-81 out of Roanoke at exit 101. It's about 21 miles long and part of the New River. We do a lot of Skiing and Wakeboarding up here, and the road isn't curvey! Here is some info at this site:

http://www.claytor-lake.net/

All in all, Virginia is a great place to live!