Big Cherry Lake

A TOWN PERMIT IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO ACCESS BIG CHERRY

OPEN TO ALL VISITORS!

VOTED BEST OF THE BEST 2025 IN ALL OF WISE COUNTY:

#1 Fishing Spot

VOTED BEST OF THE BEST 2024 IN ALL OF WISE COUNTY:

#1 Fishing Spot

Enjoy the best outdoor experience SW Virginia has to offer at this beautiful mountain lake amidst the forest on Powell Mountain. You will never experience a more picturesque nature walk within the forest and streams surrounding Big Cherry.

Big Cherry Reservoir rests amid a magnificent mountain basin, with elevations ( above sea level ) varying from 3000 feet, downstream of Big Cherry Dam, to 4223 feet at its head on High Knob.
Big Cherry is one of 5 managed lakes on this mountain top:

Big Cherry Lake is 3120 feet above sea level.

Currently Big Cherry is open for fishing, kayaking, and hiking with more recreational events coming soon!

While a town permit is no longer required to access and fish on Big Cherry, a valid Virginia Fishing License with appropriate Trout Stamp is required. The lake is stocked, and patrolled by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Fishing License Information

https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/licenses/

Kayak Rentals and Outdoor Gear:

Big Bore Outfitters

Please do your part to help us keep our waterways and trails beautiful. Pick up any litter and use provided bins for disposal.

Amazing facts about Big Cherry Lake presented by The Clinch Coalition:

1. Beneath The Surface of Big Cherry Lake is the deepest cave system in the entire range of the Appalachian Mountains. With 1263 vertical feet of depth, it is also the deepest cave east of The Black Hills in North America and the longest cave system in all of Virginia!
2. Big Cherry Lake is the main regional water supply for the Town of Big Stone Gap and surrounding communities. It is the back-up water supply for The City of Norton and The Town of Appalachia.
3. Due to climate wetness and high elevation, this is the most productive water supply basin in all of Virginia.
4. On average, Big Cherry Lake will see over 73 inches of rain a year with the highest recorded rainfall at 102.34 inches in 2019/2020.
5. The area around Big Cherry lake has an abundance of wildlife especially birds. There are some species of birds found here that are only found in The Great Lakes, New England, and Canada.
6. Big Cherry Lake basin generates some of the coldest night-time temperatures in the southern Appalachians with temperatures recorded colder than Mount Mitchell and Mount LeConte ( the two highest weather stations in the Appalachians)
7. A large population of the firefly, Photinus Carolinus was found in Big Cherry Lake area back in 2018. This is the same species of famous synchronous firefly used to attract tourist to The Great Smoky Mountains National Forest.
8. Blue Ghost Fireflies (Phausis Reticulata) were also found along with the northern species of Black Flies normaly found in the area surrounding the Great Lakes.

Location: