Skip to main content

The Smith Mountain Lake area is approximately 5,000 acre public hunting and fishing area located on one of the region’s most beautiful and most prominent geologic features at the southeast end of Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford and Pittsylvania counties near Roanoke, Virginia. The mountain area is covered with trees with lake access for fishing. This multi-use area is a partnership between AEP and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Primitive camping is available near the lake. A permit is not required for this area.

Activities

Permit required.

  • Hunting
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Hiking

Website: http://smithmtn.com

Smith Mountain Dam

Annual maximum and minimum reservoir elevations and dates as measured at the Smith Mountain Dam. Spill occurs during periods when the reservoir elevation is above 795.0 feet

Year Maximum Elevation Maximum Date Other Spill Elevation Other Spill Date Minimum Elevation Minimum Date
2023 795.0 JAN. 29     792.0 NOV. 17
2022 794.9 DEC. 23     792.6 DEC. 25
2021 795 JUN. 14     792.5 SEP. 17
2020 798.6 NOV. 13     792.3 AUG. 2
2019 795.01 FEB. 24     792.69 OCT. 3
2018 795.93 OCT. 12 795.56 SEP. 23 790.19 DEC. 31
2017 795.81 APR. 26     791.00 DEC. 29
2016 795.11 SEP. 30     792.72 NOV. 28
2015 794.99 APR. 4     791.47 SEP. 19
2014 794.99 DEC. 3     793.13 JAN. 9
2013 795.12 MAY 9     790.75 JAN. 8
2012 794.99 JAN. 2     789.03 NOV. 29
2011 795.16 DEC. 11
NOV. 29
    791.22 SEP. 3
2010 795.70 JAN. 20     791.64 SEP. 25
2009 796.91 NOV. 13     791.61 OCT. 24
2008 795.01 MAR. 15     789.54 DEC. 10
2007 795.06 JAN. 1     789.57 OCT. 23
2006 795.09 SEP. 12     791.47 JUN. 22
2005 795.09 FEB. 16     791.85 OCT.5
2004 797.42 SEP. 29 796.01
797.10
796.97
795.11
OCT.01
SEP.30
SEP.28
APR.19
793.10 FEB.20
2003 796.15 FEB. 23     793.13 MAY. 9
2002 795.08 DEC. 16     788.83 JAN. 11
2001 795.09 MAR. 18     788.52 NOV. 28
2000 795.17 APR. 19 795.09 APR. 20 *791.59

Updated 01/28/2015: Revision to previously published data

NOV. 27
1999 795.07 DEC. 20 795.03 APR. 12 789.72 JAN. 05
1998 795.83 JAN. 28 795.45 FEB. 5 789.11 DEC.9
1997 795.00       791.55 OCT. 24
1996 796.56 SEPT. 7 795.63 JAN. 20 792.88 FEB. 7
1995 796.31 JUN. 29 795.14 JUN. 24 791.11 OCT. 3
1994 795.41 MAR. 29     791.92 NOV. 1
1993 796.56 MAR. 5     791.48 NOV. 18
1992 797.46 APR. 22     791.44 FEB. 2
1991 795.00       790.34 NOV. 6
1990 796.09 OCT. 23     793.33 JUL. 6
1989 795.30 MAY 6     790.84 FEB. 17
1988 795.00       790.75 DEC. 13
1987 799.53 APR. 17 799.26
796.25
798.35
SEP. 8
MAR. 2
APR. 26
792.90 AUG. 27
1986 795.00       790.80 AUG. 15
1985 799.50 NOV. 5 795.80 AUG. 18
AUG. 19
792.60 MAY 14
1984 795.10 FEB. 14
FEB. 16
    792.50 OCT. 20
OCT. 21
OCT. 22
1983 795.80 APR. 10     789.80 OCT. 7
OCT.20
1982 795.00       791.80 NOV. 5
1981 794.70 JUL. 13     789.30 JAN. 17
1980 795.30 APR. 14     789.40 DEC. 5
1979 796.90 FEB. 26 796.30 SEP. 22
SEP. 23
792.30 JAN. 1
1978 799.79 APR. 27 796.40 JAN. 27 790.30 NOV. 11
1977 795.20 APR. 5     788.30 OCT. 21
OCT. 22
1976 795.00       789.90 SEP. 30
1975 796.80 MAR. 20     791.60 JAN. 3
JAN. 4
1974 795.00       790.50 DEC. 5
DEC. 6
DEC. 7
1973 795.00       791.80 NOV. 13
NOV. 30
DEC. 1
1972 797.60 JUN. 22     791.70 MAR. 10
MAR. 11
1971 795.20 MAY 16     789.60 FEB. 3
1970 795.00       787.60 JAN. 23
1969 795.00       790.40 JAN. 8
1968 795.00       788.70 OCT. 18
1967 795.00       791.00 NOV. 17
NOV. 18
1966 795.00       FIRST FULL MAR. 7

Recreational Responsibility

It is the recreational users' as well as the hunters' and fishermen, etc. responsibility to know and respect the boundaries of this area and have all the licenses and permits needed while hunting, fishing, etc. in this area. All recreational users will be expected to respect the rights of private property owners in the area.

All recreational users are reminded that the rules and regulations for AEP's Recreation areas apply, as well as all of the state fishing and wildlife regulations. Driving off road in this area is not permitted. No ATV's are permitted.

For more information, call American Electric Power at 540-985-2579.