The Underrated Sandy Beach In West Virginia You Absolutely Need To Visit

Far back in the wilderness of West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest lies a pristine lake offering sandy beach, blue water, scenic forest, and a wealth of opportunities for family adventure: Lake Sherwood.

Lake Sherwood is located off Rt 92, near the town of Neola, about 25 miles north of White Sulphur Springs. This 156-acre reservoir provides many different options for recreation and outdoor adventure.

First on the list, for summer activities at least, would be the beach area, on the right after the gate house.

Here you can enjoy swimming, sand, and natural shade, with full bathhouse facilities nearby.

Cross the footbridge to explore the island; nearby you'll find playground and picnic areas.

But that's only the beginning of what Lake Sherwood - the biggest lake in the Monongahela National Forest - has to offer.

The lake is perfect for boating, and you can rent boats, canoes, and kayaks from the boathouse.

There are also 18 miles of hiking trails around the lake area; you can take the 4-mile trail around the lake, or you can climb to either of the two neighboring mountain ridges.

On the east, you can climb Allegheny Mountain and follow the Allegheny Mountain Trail along the state boundary, taking in beautiful views of the lake in one direction and the Virginia skyline on the other. To the west, you can climb Meadow Creek Mountain for more gorgeous vistas; at the top of the ridge, you join up with the 300-mile Allegheny Trail which runs through the Appalachians from Pennsylvania to southern Virginia.

In addition to all this, Lake Sherwood is prized by fishermen for its plentifully stocked waters.

Lake Sherwood also provides some of the best primitive camping in the region, with spacious, private, well-maintained campsites with good views of the lake.

Finally, wherever you go around Lake Sherwood, be on the lookout for an amazing diversity of wildlife - from deer to bear to turkey to bobcat.

And there you have it; Lake Sherwood really is the perfect West Virginia getaway, with sandy beaches, cool mountain beauty, and tons of adventure for the entire family! To learn more, visit the U.S. Forest Service's website. Of course, Lake Sherwood, beautiful as it is, is far from the only beach worth visiting in West Virginia; find a few more great options here.