Boating on Loch Lomond

Why Loch Lomond Is the Boating Lake in Bella Vista

Bella Vista has seven POA lakes. Only three -- Loch Lomond, Lake Windsor, and Lake Ann -- are designated all-sport lakes where wake sports are permitted. Of those three, Loch Lomond is the largest by a significant margin: 477 acres versus Windsor's 220 acres. It is the only POA lake with enough main-channel water surface for unrestricted wake-boat operation, with depths reaching 80 feet in the main channel that eliminate the prop-strike and depth concerns common on smaller Ozark lakes.

Wake boats, ski boats, pontoons, and fishing boats are all active on Loch Lomond during the April through October season. The lake can get genuinely busy on summer weekends -- a natural consequence of having the best water in the community concentrated in one place. Early weekday mornings are the preferred window for serious wake athletes; weekend afternoons bring the full spectrum of recreational use.

What You Can Bring and What You Cannot

The POA rules on Loch Lomond are specific and enforced:

• Permitted: motorized fishing boats, ski boats, wake boats, pontoons, kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards (motorized versions under 5 mph), inflatables for towing
• Prohibited: personal watercraft of any kind (jet skis, Sea-Doos, motorized surfboards) -- on all seven POA lakes without exception
• Prohibited: boats 26 feet or longer (grandfathered boats registered before December 31, 2020 may continue to register)
• Prohibited: boats with permanent sleeping facilities, enclosed kitchen facilities, or toilet facilities
• Prohibited: seaplanes

Wake boat operation on Loch Lomond is limited to the main body of the lake -- not the cove areas, which are enforced no-wake zones. Wake boats must stay at least 200 feet from any dock, shore, pier, or buoyed recreation area while operating at wake-producing speed. Wedge devices that enlarge the wake must be directed toward the center of the lake, not toward the shore. When retrieving a fallen skier, the boat must turn left. These are not informal suggestions -- Rangers observe and cite violations.

Registration: What You Need Before You Launch

All watercraft on Bella Vista lakes must be registered with the POA annually. Annual registration requires a current state of Arkansas boat registration (or another state's current registration), an Activity Card in good standing, and payment of the POA annual fee: $15 for non-motorized under 10 HP, $75 for boats under 18 feet, $125 for boats 18 feet and over. The POA issues a registration sticker that must be affixed adjacent to the state validation decals on both sides of the watercraft.

Temporary (weekly) registrations are also available at the Lakepoint Marina, both Member Resource offices, or from any Lake Ranger. Temporary permits cost $33 for motorized vessels with an Activity Card, making it straightforward for visitors or seasonal users. Registering late carries a 10% penalty. Do not launch unregistered -- Rangers check at the ramps and on the water.

Boating safety education is required by Arkansas law for anyone born on or after January 1, 1986. The POA periodically offers approved safe boating courses through the Lakes Department. Completing a POA-offered course earns a discount on boat registration fees.

Launch Points and Marina Access

Loch Lomond has three public boat ramps accessible to POA members: at Granton Park, Tiree Park, and Stoneykirk Drive. Each ramp includes courtesy docks, and Granton and Tiree also have picnic facilities, grills, and restrooms. The ramps are usable year-round except during the peak of the winter drawdown when water levels at the ramp approach may be too shallow for some boats.

The Lakepoint Marina, located on the main bay off Marina Drive, is the full-service hub for boating on Loch Lomond. The marina offers covered slip rental ($1,500/year), uncovered slip rental ($500/year), and shoreline mooring ($150/year). Day-use temporary slips are available daily ($14 for members with Activity Card) or weekly ($67 for members). Gas is sold at the dock, as is bait. The marina phone is (479) 855-8182. If you want to bring a boat and don't have a private dock, the marina is the practical answer.

Watercraft rentals for members and guests are available at the marina: pontoons at $65/hour or $170 for up to four hours (Activity Card prices), fishing boats at $45/hour or $115 for four hours. Kayaks and paddleboards rent at $14/hour. For guests who want to get on the water without owning or trailering a boat, the rental fleet is reliable and well-maintained.

Boating Season and the Winter Drawdown

Peak boating season runs April through October. The annual winter drawdown (approximately early November through early March) reduces the lake by 6 feet and meaningfully changes boating conditions -- shallow approaches to ramps and private docks are most affected, while the deep main channel remains navigable. Most serious boaters haul their watercraft for winter storage and resume launching in spring when water levels return to full pool. The POA offers RV storage and may accommodate boat storage arrangements; check with Member Resources at (479) 855-8000.