Sutton Lake Picnic Shelters

Sutton Lake Picnic Shelters overlook Sutton Lake and the Elk River in central West Virginia, 70 miles north of Charleston and 60 miles south of Clarksburg. The area provides a wide variety of recreation, including boating, swimming, fishing and hiking. The day use areas offer five picnic shelters, each with six to eight picnic tables and a large charcoal grill. Shelters 1 and 2 are in the Downstream Area, overlooking the Elk River; both have water and electric hook-ups and Shelter 1 is accessible. That area has a playground, fishing pier, small boat access, horseshoe pits and corn hole, plus a large parking area and accessible flush toilets. Shelters 3 and 4 overlook Sutton Lake from the Bee Run Day Use Area, with water and electric hookups at each. Amenities include a playground, a large beach and the Sutton Lake Marina, along with flush toilets and ample parking. Shelter 4 is ADA accessible, although there is not direct ADA access to the restroom facilities. Boats may be launched in all of the lakeside recreation areas, and below Sutton Dam there is a small boat ramp accessing the Elk River. All three day use areas have fishing platforms. Anglers find plentiful bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish in the lake; below the dam, the Elk River is well-known for its muskie and walleye fishing, and trout are stocked in the tailwaters. Fire roads and hunting trails in the surrounding lands provide great hiking and biking around Sutton Lake and at the nearby Elk River Wildlife Management Area, nearly 18,000 acres of public hunting lands. Sutton Dam is an impressive 210 feet tall and 1,178 feet wide, backing up Sutton Lake, which covers 1,440 acres as it winds 14 miles up the Elk River. Many quiet coves can be found along its 40 miles of shoreline. The lake is surrounded by rolling hills wooded with mixed stands of oak, hickory, poplar and cherry trees, and deer, bears, turkeys, squirrels, ruffed grouse, Canada geese and other waterfowl are abundant. The Sutton Lake Marina in the Bee Run Area is a private concession with a snack bar, boat and slip rentals and more, and camping is available at the Gerald Freeman, Bakers Run and Bee Run Campgrounds.