Cliff Jumping at Summersville Dam Access, Summersville Lake in Summersville, West Virginia

About this spot

This access point sits at the Summersville Dam recreation area on Summersville Lake, West Virginia's largest lake (327 feet deep, 60+ miles of shoreline). From US-19, exit before Summersville, cross the dam, and turn right into the small park; a short walk through the wooded area leads toward informal rock ledges near the tailwaters, roughly 7 to 35 feet depending on water level. Important: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages this lake, bans jumping, diving, or swinging into the water from any height greater than a person's own height at all its recreation areas here; rangers can issue citations up to $5,000. Water is clear and cold, and landing wrong from height risks injury even where jumping persists informally.

Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.

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Summersville Lake

Summersville, West Virginia