Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia’s most popular lake, offers superb recreational activities, 500 miles of shoreline, a wide variety of water sports, and affordable lakefront real estate. Known locally as “SML,” it is the “Jewel of […]

Smith Mountain Lake

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Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia’s most popular lake, offers superb recreational activities, 500 miles of shoreline, a wide variety of water sports, and affordable lakefront real estate. Known locally as “SML,” it is the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Smith Mountain Lake is best known for its Striped Bass fishery. This lake regularly leads the state in producing “citation” sized stripers. There are also good populations of both large and smallmouth bass. Public access is very good with both public boat ramps and private marinas.

Nearby Breweries

  • Twin Creeks Brewpub at Explore Park Expand Collapse

    Twin Creeks Brewpub is a brewery and restaurant located in the historic Brugh Tavern within Explore Park. Amenities include a full-service restaurant with burgers, sides and appetizers, outdoor fire pits, a Virginia wine and cider bar, and outdoor music events. Additionally, the brewpub can host private events, showers, and parties. Spend the day enjoying the wonderful activities found in Explore Park and relaxed afterward in this rustic and quaint brewpub.

Nearby Wineries

  • Brooks Mill Winery Expand Collapse

    Brooks Mill Winery is a small farm fruit winery operated by H.T. and Rhonda Page near SMith Mountain Lake in Franklin County, Virginia. We have been making fruit wine as a hobby for more than 16 years.

    From dry dinner wines to sweet dessert wines, Brooks Mill has a wine for you. The winery also has several award-winning wines, including the popular Blackberry (Fingerlakes Wine Competition bronze medal), Blueberry (Fingerlakes Wine Competition gold medal), and Pear dessert wine (Fingerlakes Wine Competition bronze medal).

    The winery also grows blueberries, pears, apples, peaches, and cherries.

    The tasting room is open Thursday through Monday from March to December; call for hours the rest of the year.

  • Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery Expand Collapse

    Roanoke natives Roger and Judy Furrow started in the early 1980s with an experimental vineyard on Smith Mountain Lake. Later, they purchased a nearby farm and started Hickory Hill Vineyards in 2001.

    Hickory Hill wines are made in a light and fruity style and began earning medals with the very first vintage. The more classic wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Franc, and Merlot have hints of French oak. The Smith Mountain Lake series (Mist, Country Red, Sunset, and Redbud) are 100 percent stainless steel. The Vidal Blanc, a consistent award winner, is fermented out dry and aged in stainless steel.

    Hickory Hill offers complimentary vineyard and winery tours, wine tastings, has a scenic picnic area, and is home to the summer music series Sunset Saturday. The tasting room and gift shops are open Wednesday though Sunday from April through October and on Saturdays and holiday Mondays in the winter.

  • Ramulose Ridge Vineyards Expand Collapse

    Ramulose Ridge Vineyards is located minutes from Smith Mountain Lake with a spanning view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The family vineyard was started in 2004 and is run by the Ramakers.

    The winery offers a selection of white and red wines and offers wine and cigar pairings on site.

    The tasting room is open daily.

Nearby Shopping & Gear

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