Claytor Lake Swimming Area
Dublin, Virginia · on Claytor Lake · Claytor Lake State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Free
- SEASON
- June
About Claytor Lake Swimming Area
Claytor Lake Swimming Area is the designated guarded beach at Claytor Lake State Park near Dublin, Virginia, on the 4,500-acre Claytor Lake reservoir formed by damming the New River. The park operates a lifeguarded freshwater swimming beach seasonally, with a bathhouse, snack bar, and gift shop at the day-use area, making this the obvious swimming hole for anyone after a lake to swim in nearby.
The 472-acre state park sits along roughly four miles of shoreline on Claytor Lake, a 21-mile-long, 4,500-acre reservoir on the New River created by Claytor Dam for hydroelectric power. The park is set in mature oak-hickory-poplar forest undergoing reforestation, with terrain ranging from flat, sparsely wooded campground areas to hilly wooded coves along the lake.
Swimming at Claytor Lake Swimming Area
Swimming takes place at a designated, roped-off beach area on the reservoir rather than a river or creek current. During the guarded season (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10am-6pm) lifeguards are on duty; outside those hours or before mid-June/after mid-August, swimming may be unguarded due to weather or lifeguard shortages. The park explicitly advises against swimming elsewhere in the park, i.e., only this designated beach area is sanctioned for swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: Parking fee is always required at the park; self-payment envelopes and credit-card QR code payment are available when no attendant is present, with a $25 ticket for non-payment.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swimming beach -- it's a drive-up state park facility with a paved/accessible sidewalk running directly from the parking area and bathhouse to the water's edge. The park does have six separate hiking trails totaling about 7 miles (e.g., Shady Ridge Trail, 0.66 mi, part of the TRACK Trail Adventures program, and Lakeview and Poplar Leaf Trails), but these are separate recreational trails elsewhere in the park, not routes to the swim beach.
Short, level, accessible walk from the beach parking lot/bathhouse to the water; no scrambling, elevation gain, or river crossing involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Official state park swimming beach with lifeguards on duty 10am-6pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Access is via a sidewalk from the bathhouse to a concrete platform at the water; the park's own materials note there is no ramp or water-entry transfer equipment for wheelchairs. Reservoir setting (no current) and roped-off designated swim area make it low-risk; playground and snack bar on site suit families.
Parking
Paid
Parking/entrance fee is required park-wide at Claytor Lake State Park; self-pay envelopes and a credit-card QR code option are provided when no attendant is on duty, with a $25 ticket for non-payment. Exact dollar fee amount not published on the pages checked. Guarded beach swimming (Memorial Day-Labor Day) carries an additional swim fee on top of parking.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are inside the beach bathhouse, which also has a concession/snack bar and breezeways; described by the park as accessible.
Hours
Park day-use hours 6am-10pm daily; beach is lifeguarded 10am-6pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (fee applies during guarded hours); swimming outside guarded hours/season is unguarded and free but not officially encouraged.
On the water
Restrictions: Motorboats are permitted on the lake; general park docking rules note boats longer than 24 feet cannot be accommodated at park facilities. No swimming-beach-specific watercraft ban was found beyond the standard rule that swimming is restricted to the designated beach (i.e., boats are kept out of the swim area, though this wasn't explicitly spelled out in the sources reviewed).
Boats must be cleaned of plant debris/invasive species before launching, per park regulations. The park has a full-service marina with docks and boat ramps.
Rentals nearby
Paddleboards (SUP, with lessons available), kayaks (recreational, tandem, and fishing models), pontoon boats (half-day to weekly), Duffy and Craig Cat electric boats, and fishing boats; also offers a 'Boats 2 You' delivery service to lake homes (except above Light House Bridge)
Operates from Rockhouse Marina (Pulaski, VA) as its primary hub, with service at Claytor Lake State Park (Dublin, VA) and Gatewood Park (Pulaski, VA); phone 540-980-1488
Pontoons, motorboats, canoes, and kayaks, per the official Claytor Lake State Park marina/boating page
Based at the Claytor Lake State Park marina, Dublin, VA; phone 540-731-8683 · Operates daily through Labor Day, per the state park page
Backstory
The park was established in 1951. The Haven B. Howe House, now the park's Nature Exhibit Center, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The lake and dam are named for William Graham Claytor, a former Appalachian Power Company vice president who oversaw the dam's construction.
Claytor Lake Swimming Area: FAQ
Does Claytor Lake Swimming Area charge a fee?
Parking/entrance fee required park-wide. Guarded beach swimming during peak season (Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day) carries an additional fee; swimming outside guarded hours/season is free.
Is Claytor Lake Swimming Area kid friendly?
Official state park swimming beach with lifeguards on duty 10am-6pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Access is via a sidewalk from the bathhouse to a concrete platform at the water; the park's own materials note there is no ramp or water-entry transfer equipment for wheelchairs. Reservoir setting (no current) and roped-off designated swim area make it low-risk; playground and snack bar on site suit families.
Do I need to hike to reach Claytor Lake Swimming Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Claytor Lake Swimming Area?
Parking/entrance fee is required park-wide at Claytor Lake State Park; self-pay envelopes and a credit-card QR code option are provided when no attendant is on duty, with a $25 ticket for non-payment. Exact dollar fee amount not published on the pages checked. Guarded beach swimming (Memorial Day-Labor Day) carries an additional swim fee on top of parking.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Claytor Lake Swimming Area?
Boats must be cleaned of plant debris/invasive species before launching, per park regulations. The park has a full-service marina with docks and boat ramps.
When is the best time to visit Claytor Lake Swimming Area?
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, when the beach is lifeguarded and the snack bar/gift shop are open; conditions before mid-June and after mid-August may lack lifeguards.
What are the rules at Claytor Lake Swimming Area?
Swimming is restricted to the designated beach area; the park states swimming elsewhere in the park is not advised. Pets are not allowed on the beach. Park hours are 6am-10pm daily for day visitors; only overnight guests may stay later. No open fires Feb 15-Apr 30 between midnight and 4pm. Boats must be cleaned of plant debris/invasive species before launching.
What water body is Claytor Lake Swimming Area on?
Claytor Lake Swimming Area is on Claytor Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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