Boating at Lake Moomaw Virginia

Bolar Flats: The Only Way In

Every boat on Lake Moomaw arrives from Bolar Flats on the north end of the lake, accessed via Route 39 west from Warm Springs then north on Route 687 (Bolar Road). The USACE-managed facility has a launch ramp, boat slips for seasonal rental, a small marina with boat rentals, and restroom facilities. Bolar Flats is the only developed public access point on 43 miles of National Forest shoreline -- there is no other ramp, no other marina, no other way to get a boat on Lake Moomaw. Confirm current Bolar Flats operating hours, slip availability, and seasonal services through USACE Norfolk District before planning a trip, as operations vary by season and can change.

43 Miles of Unbroken Wilderness Shoreline

Lake Moomaw's defining boating characteristic is what is not there: no private docks, no boat houses, no waterfront homes, no private marina, no residential development of any kind on all 43 miles of shoreline. George Washington and Jefferson National Forests own every acre of land to the water's edge around the entire lake. For boaters who have grown weary of the residential density and boat traffic of Virginia's popular AEP lakes, Lake Moomaw offers an on-water experience that feels more like a wilderness impoundment than a managed reservoir. The forested ridgelines rise directly from the waterline on all sides. Coves that at Smith Mountain Lake would hold private docks hold only trees and wildlife at Lake Moomaw.

Deep Water, Cold Temperatures

Lake Moomaw's 152-foot maximum depth is the deepest of any Virginia reservoir discussed in this guide series. The deep clear mountain water stays dramatically cooler than Virginia's Piedmont reservoirs through summer -- water temperatures in the deeper sections may remain cold enough for trout-range temperatures well into summer, supporting the two-story fishery that DWR manages. Boaters who swim at Lake Moomaw in June or July will experience noticeably colder water than at comparable elevation lakes with less depth. This depth also creates significant waves in weather events on the main body of the lake -- the mountain topography around the lake channels wind, and afternoon summer storms can produce unexpected wave height on the open lake. Monitor weather before any Lake Moomaw boating trip and plan for earlier return to Bolar Flats if afternoon storms are in the forecast.