{"id":20976,"date":"2024-02-06T15:08:11","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T15:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yxs.ffa.mytemp.website\/?page_id=20976"},"modified":"2025-10-20T11:14:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T15:14:35","slug":"south-holston-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/blog\/south-holston-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"South Holston Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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South Holston Lake<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lakes are scarce in the Old Dominion state, making watery expanses like Southwest Virginia\u2019s South Holston Lake particularly precious. Spreading along the western edge of the Appalachian Mountains, the 7,850-acre lake is shared by Virginia and Tennessee, and is easily accessible from towns throughout Southwest Virginia, including\u00a0Abingdon <\/a>and Bristol. Besides being among Virginia\u2019s more sizeable reservoirs, South Holston Lake is also one of the most picturesque. Almost two-thirds of the lake is fringed by the\u00a0Cherokee National Forest<\/a>, providing boaters and paddlers a serene natural backdrop. South Holston Lake is also a hotspot for wildlife, from rare songbirds to largemouth bass. There are plenty of ways to enjoy stunning South Holston Lake, so here\u2019s the complete guide to recreational opportunities on the water.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Paddling<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Peppered with intriguing islands, secluded coves, and expansive stretches of forest-fringed shoreline, South Holston Lake gives kayakers, canoeists, and stand-up paddleboarders plenty to explore. Besides the scenic backdrop, the lake is also a hotspot for wildlife. Paddlers have the chance to spot wood ducks floating on the surface of water, cautious green heron wading in the shallows, and bald eagles soaring overhead. Beyond the birds, the lake also supports plenty of other wildlife to keep perceptive paddlers entertained, including northern water snakes, turtles, and muskrats.<\/p>

Recreational paddlers headed for South Holston Lake have plenty of options for hitting the water, including the\u00a0Washington County Park<\/a>\u00a0in Abingdon.\u00a0Two public boat launches<\/a>\u00a0are operated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), and visiting paddlers can rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards at the\u00a0Sportsmans Marina<\/a>\u00a0in Abingdon. Kayakers still itching for a little moving water can also explore the nearby North Fork of the Holston River, a hotspot for smallmouth bass.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Swimming<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There\u2019s something especially restorative about swimming in a pristine mountain lake. For sun-worshippers in search of a perfect spot for a swim, there\u2019s the\u00a0Jacob\u2019s Creek Recreation Area<\/a>. Spread over a secluded peninsula on the eastern side of the lake in the Cherokee National Forest, the recreation area features a family-friendly swimming area, and a waterside trail perfect for a brief leg-stretcher before hitting the beach. Or turn a day trip to the lake into an overnight excursion and grab one of the recreation area\u2019s 27 campsites.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Recreational Boating<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Recreational boaters have plenty to explore, including 23.2 river miles of water and 182 miles of shoreline. There are a handful of marinas scattered over the lakeshore in both Virginia and Tennessee offering launch and storage facilities, in addition to daily pontoon rentals. The regional options on the South Holston Lake for boaters in Southwest Virginia include the\u00a0Sportsmans Marina<\/a>\u00a0in Abingdon, Virginia and the\u00a0Laurel Marina & Yacht Club<\/a>, the\u00a0Painter Creek Marina<\/a>, and the\u00a0Friendship Resort and Marina<\/a>\u00a0in Bristol, Tennessee.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fishing<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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South Holston Lake is a big draw for area anglers. The reservoir is loaded with sought after sportfish, including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, and walleye, in addition to foraging fish, like gizzard shad and alewives. Other alluring species include monstrous channel catfish, common carp, and quillback. Plus, the lake is also stocked with brown, rainbow, and lake trout. Visiting anglers heading to the South Holston Lake can stock up on gear\u2014and get the scoop from locals in the know\u2014at the\u00a0Virginia Creeper Fly Shop\u00a0or\u00a0Mahoney’s Outfitter’s\u00a0in Abingdon. Anyone hoping to fish the dual-state lake must pick up an annual\u00a0South Holston Fishing License<\/a>\u00a0($21 per year).<\/p>

For those fishermen who have their own gear the\u00a0Washington County Park<\/a>\u00a0is a great place to spend the day catching fish and relaxing by the lake. With many different places to stop and fish as well as other activities for the family this is a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.<\/p>

Learn more at the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Underwater Adventures<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While South Holston Lake has ample acreage for paddlers to explore, there\u2019s also plenty to see beneath the surface. The lake is also a hotspot for local scuba divers, a mountain-framed alternative to the Caribbean.\u00a0Adventure Diving<\/a>, based in Bristol, Tennessee, just 20 minutes from South Holston Lake, offers private open-water classes for beginning scuba divers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Lake for Landlubbers<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You don\u2019t have to hit the water to enjoy the South Holston Lake region. The\u00a0Virginia Creeper Trail<\/a>\u2014a nationally-recognized rail-trail running for 34.3 miles from Abingdon to Whitetop Station\u2014crosses the northernmost fringes of the lake just west of the Alvarado Station. For birders and wildlife enthusiasts, the VDGIF\u00a0South Holston Birding & Wildlife Trail<\/a>\u00a0is a drivable loop with several fauna-loaded stops scattered along the lake.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Practical Information<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Just 20 minutes north of South Holston Lake, the historic town of Abingdon is loaded with cultural attractions and lodging options, including the\u00a0Martha Washington Inn and Spa<\/a>, which dates back to the early 19th Century. For those who like to sleep under the stars, Abingdon offers the seasonal campground at the\u00a0Washington County Park<\/a>. Plus, the town is loaded with post-adventure hangouts, like the\u00a0Wolf Hills Brewing Company<\/a>. It\u2019s the perfect basecamp for enjoying any of the outdoor activities in the region as well as spending time on the lake.<\/p>

Written by Malee Baker Oot for RootsRated Media in partnership with Abingdon.<\/p>

Featured image provided by\u00a0Dan Grogan<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South Holston Lake Lakes are scarce in the Old Dominion state, making watery expanses like Southwest Virginia\u2019s South Holston Lake particularly precious. Spreading along the western edge of the Appalachian Mountains, the 7,850-acre lake is shared by Virginia and Tennessee, and is easily accessible from towns throughout Southwest Virginia, including\u00a0Abingdon and Bristol. Besides being among […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":21640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[255,265],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","category-blog-and-itineraries"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20976"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20976\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visitabingdonvirginia.com\/stagingprop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}