Safest Lakes to Swim In in Virginia
50 lakes in Virginia qualify as safest for swimming, all hold grade A or B and report chlorophyll-a (algae) under 10 µg/L. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
Ranked List
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nla Lake | Augusta | A | 9.7 ft | 5.2 µg/L | 1.6 µg/L |
| 2 | Nla Lake | Patrick | A | 11.9 ft | 7.6 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L |
| 3 | Mouth of Witcher Cr. Lake | Bedford | A | 11.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.9 µg/L |
| 4 | Lower Blackwater River Lake | Franklin | A | 12.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.3 µg/L |
| 5 | Dam Lake | Franklin | A | 12.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.7 µg/L |
| 6 | Dam Lake | Pittsylvania | A | 10.5 ft | 10 µg/L | 2 µg/L |
| 7 | Dam Lake | Alleghany | A | 12.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.7 µg/L |
| 8 | Union Bridge Lake | Patrick | A | 8.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L |
| 9 | Hunting Run Reservior Lake | Spotsylvania | A | 8.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.2 µg/L |
| 10 | Goose Point Lake | Franklin | A | 10.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.5 µg/L |
| 11 | Mouth Craddock Cr. Lake | Bedford | A | 10.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.6 µg/L |
| 12 | Above Dam Lake | Albemarle | A | 13.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.7 µg/L |
| 13 | Above Dam Lake | Pulaski | A | 9.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L |
| 14 | Cool Branch Lake | Franklin | A | 10.5 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L |
| 15 | Confl. Blackwater River Lake | Bedford | A | 9.8 ft | 10 µg/L | 2 µg/L |
| 16 | Mouth of Bull Run Lake | Franklin | A | 10.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L |
| 17 | Carvins Cove Reservoir | Botetourt | A | 11.5 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.2 µg/L |
| 18 | Lake Frederick | Frederick | A | 9.8 ft | 10 µg/L | 3 µg/L |
| 19 | Bolar Mtn. Campground Lake | Bath | A | 9.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.8 µg/L |
| 20 | Mouth Big Lick Cr. Lake | Alleghany | A | 12.5 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.7 µg/L |
| 21 | Motts Run Reservoir | Spotsylvania | A | 10.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.3 µg/L |
| 22 | Wise Lake | Wise | A | 10.5 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.2 µg/L |
| 23 | Lake Robertson | Rockbridge | A | 13.9 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.9 µg/L |
| 24 | West Arm Lake | Pulaski | A | 9.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.4 µg/L |
| 25 | Smith Lake | Stafford | A | 8.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.6 µg/L |
| 26 | Hunting Run Reservoir | Spotsylvania | A | 6.6 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.5 µg/L |
| 27 | North Fork Pound Reservoir@Dam | Wise | A | 12.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.6 µg/L |
| 28 | Silver Lake | Rockingham | A | 4.9 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.9 µg/L |
| 29 | John Flannagan Reservoir@ Dam | Dickenson | A | 17.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.5 µg/L |
| 30 | Upper Lake | Stafford | A | 8.7 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.3 µg/L |
| 31 | Near Spillway Lake Mooney | Stafford | A | 9.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.5 µg/L |
| 32 | Lake Witten | Tazewell | A | 11.3 ft | 10 µg/L | 2.1 µg/L |
| 33 | Horseshoe Point Lake | Patrick | A | 9.8 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.7 µg/L |
| 34 | John Flannagan Reservoir | Dickenson | A | 13.1 ft | 10 µg/L | 1.5 µg/L |
| 35 | Hidden Valley Lake | Washington | A | 9.7 ft | 10 µg/L | 3.1 µg/L |
| 36 | Laurel Bed Lake | Russell | A | 9.8 ft | 10 µg/L | 3.8 µg/L |
| 37 | Leesville Lakea-Rmp Bedford | Bedford | A | 4.9 ft | 10 µg/L | 6.4 µg/L |
| 38 | Leesville Lakea-Topb-Middlec-Bot | Pittsylvania | A | 5.2 ft | 10 µg/L | 4 µg/L |
| 39 | Talbott Reservoir | Patrick | A | 9.8 ft | 10 µg/L | 3.2 µg/L |
| 40 | Pedlar River Reservoir | Amherst | A | 7.5 ft | 10 µg/L | 5.5 µg/L |
| 41 | Beaverdam Creek Reservior Lake | Loudoun | A | 4.9 ft | 10 µg/L | 4.8 µg/L |
| 42 | Beaverdam Creek Reservoir | Loudoun | A | 5.4 ft | 10 µg/L | 3.9 µg/L |
| 43 | Mcveigh Ford Lake | Franklin | B | 3.9 ft | 30 µg/L | 0.6 µg/L |
| 44 | Nla Lake | Suffolk city | B | 7.5 ft | 20.8 µg/L | 5.7 µg/L |
| 45 | Nla Lake | Frederick | B | 9.7 ft | 41.9 µg/L | 2.4 µg/L |
| 46 | Nla Lake | Bedford | B | 8 ft | 13.6 µg/L | 8.9 µg/L |
| 47 | Nla Lake | York | B | - | 22 µg/L | 5.3 µg/L |
| 48 | Lake Gaston | Mecklenburg | B | 4.3 ft | 20 µg/L | 4.1 µg/L |
| 49 | Middle Blackwater River Lake | Franklin | B | 5.9 ft | 20 µg/L | 5.6 µg/L |
| 50 | Dam Lake | Pulaski | B | 8.5 ft | 20 µg/L | 6.6 µg/L |