John W. Flannagan Day Use

The John W. Flannagan Day Use Area boasts an expansive lake nestled in the rolling green Cumberland Mountains of southwest Virginia, an oasis of recreation in the summer months. The nearby dam, built primarily for flood control for the Cranesnest and Pound Rivers, creates a breathtaking lake maintained at nearly 1,400 feet above sea level. Picnic shelters with grills, electrical hookups, a playground and horseshoe pits provide an ideal location for parties and other get-togethers, and the facility suits picnicking, water activities and hiking. Flannagan's reputation as a fisherman's paradise is well-known, with secluded coves of deep, clean water well-stocked with bass, bream, walleye and trout. Boating, canoeing, whitewater rafting and biking top the long list of activities available nearby. The dam, completed in 1964, carves out a 1,145-acre lake with nearly 40 miles of beautiful shoreline. The Lower Twin, Cranes Nest and Pound River Campgrounds offer overnight camping near the day-use area, and Breaks Interstate Park is nearby with lodging, dining, a museum, gift shop, rafting and canoeing.