Lake Wahoo Beach
Bonne Terre, Missouri
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $15
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lake Wahoo Beach
Lake Wahoo Beach is a sand swimming beach on Lake Wahoo, one of roughly 13 private lakes inside Lake Timberline, a gated residential community about 6 miles north of Bonne Terre, Missouri. It functions as a members' and property-owners' swimming hole rather than a public place to swim.
The beach sits within Lake Timberline, a gated community of wooded and waterfront properties in St. Francois County built on land tied to Missouri's historic Old Lead Belt mining region. The development contains more than a dozen lakes used for fishing, kayaking, boating, and swimming, of which Lake Wahoo is one.
Swimming at Lake Wahoo Beach
Lake Wahoo has a maintained sand beach used by property owners for swimming and cooling off in summer; the community also describes stocking its lakes with bluegill, crappie, catfish, and bass, and maintains swim ropes at at least one of its other beaches (Timberline beach), suggesting similar swim-area demarcation is part of upkeep across the beaches.
How to get to this swimming hole
Lake Wahoo Beach is located at 9334 Skyline Dr. within the gated Lake Timberline community, roughly 6 miles north of Bonne Terre, Missouri; entry is through the community's secure gated access.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No trail or hike is described in any source. Lake Wahoo Beach has a street address (9334 Skyline Dr.) inside the gated community and is reached by road, consistent with a drive-up beach rather than a hike-in swimming hole.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The community's own site calls Wahoo one of its '4 family friendly beaches with sand,' but no depth chart, lifeguard, or roped swim-area info is published specifically for this beach (a sister beach, Timberline, has a swim rope per community maintenance notes, suggesting similar demarcation is possible here but unconfirmed). Because motorized boats ($30 vessel fee) share the same lake as swimmers, adult supervision near open water/boat-traffic areas is prudent.
On the water
Restrictions: Community-wide vessel fees apply rather than beach-specific rules: $15 for non-motorized or trolling-motor craft, $30 for motorized boats. It is not documented whether Lake Wahoo specifically is no-wake/electric-only or allows full-power motors, and access overall is restricted to property owners and their guests, not the general public.
The community maintains a 'Lake Timberline Paddle Club,' confirming organized kayak/canoe paddling is a regular resident activity somewhere in the 10+ lake system, though not confirmed as specific to Lake Wahoo.
Backstory
The Lake Timberline community describes itself as rooted in Missouri's mining heritage, referencing the historic Old Lead Belt region of St. Francois County.
Lake Wahoo Beach: FAQ
Does Lake Wahoo Beach charge a fee?
The community charges vessel fees to use the lakes: $15 for non-motorized craft and $30 for motorized boats. No separate swimming/beach entry fee is documented; general access is tied to property ownership (or an owner's guest) within the gated community.
Is Lake Wahoo Beach kid friendly?
The community's own site calls Wahoo one of its '4 family friendly beaches with sand,' but no depth chart, lifeguard, or roped swim-area info is published specifically for this beach (a sister beach, Timberline, has a swim rope per community maintenance notes, suggesting similar demarcation is possible here but unconfirmed). Because motorized boats ($30 vessel fee) share the same lake as swimmers, adult supervision near open water/boat-traffic areas is prudent.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Wahoo Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Wahoo Beach?
No parking details (lot size, surface, cost) are published for this beach. Access is only through the community's secure gated entrance at Lake Timberline; the beach address is 9334 Skyline Dr.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Wahoo Beach?
The community maintains a 'Lake Timberline Paddle Club,' confirming organized kayak/canoe paddling is a regular resident activity somewhere in the 10+ lake system, though not confirmed as specific to Lake Wahoo.
When is the best time to visit Lake Wahoo Beach?
Summer, per the community's own description of the beach as a place to cool off during summer months.
What are the rules at Lake Wahoo Beach?
Access is restricted to property owners (and presumably their guests) within the gated Lake Timberline community; the community publishes Rules & Regulations, Covenants, and Board of Trustee bylaws, but the specific beach/swimming rules text could not be retrieved from the site.
