Coles Point Boat Ramp
Hot Springs, Virginia · on Lake Moomaw · George Washington National Forest
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $3 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Coles Point Boat Ramp
Coles Point is a U.S. Forest Service day-use recreation area on the south end of Lake Moomaw, a 2,530-acre manmade reservoir on the Jackson River within George Washington & Jefferson National Forest in Alleghany County, Virginia. The site combines a designated swimming beach with two boat ramps, fishing docks, and picnic shelters on a wooded peninsula.
Coles Point sits on a wooded peninsula of hardwood forest along the south end of Lake Moomaw, a 2,530-acre reservoir with 43 miles of shoreline formed on the Jackson River, within George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.
Swimming at Coles Point Boat Ramp
Official Forest Service recreation-area listing describes a designated swimming beach with an adjacent bathhouse at Coles Point, alongside two boat ramps and two fishing docks; this is a developed lake-beach swim area rather than a river or creek swimming hole.
How to get to this swimming hole
Approximately 30 minutes from Covington, Virginia via US Highway 220 and State Roads 687 and 641.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Coles Point is a drive-up USFS day-use recreation area, parking, bathhouse, and swim beach are all at the same site, so no hike is required to reach the water. Two separate recreational trails begin nearby (1-mile Morris Hill Bike Trail, 3-mile Fortney Loop Trail) but are unrelated hiking/biking routes, not access trails to the swimming beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Recreation.gov describes a designated swimming beach with an adjacent bathhouse, which is generally kid-friendly (calm reservoir water, no current). However, the same peninsula has two active boat ramps and fishing docks, and no lifeguard or roped-off swim zone is mentioned in the official listing, so young kids should be watched near the boat-launch traffic areas.
Parking
Paid, $3 per vehicle day-use fee
Coles Point is a developed USFS day-use area (bathhouse, shelters, boat ramps) with on-site parking; a $3/vehicle fee is collected in addition to any shelter reservation fee. Exact lot-to-beach walking distance was not found in sources checked.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets at the picnic shelters and a bathhouse directly at the swimming beach (Recreation.gov official listing).
Water clarity
Clear
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources' Lake Moomaw fishing page describes the reservoir as having 'clear, deep waters' supporting coldwater fish species (trout) and alewife. No first-hand visitor reports on clarity were found.
On the water
Virginia DWR states there is no horsepower/motor restriction on Lake Moomaw ('unlimited horsepower... no boat motor restrictions'). Coles Point itself has two boat ramps for trailered motorboats, and the lake is generally described (Wikipedia, Recreation.gov) as offering multiple boating launches around its 43 miles of shoreline. No explicit no-wake zone or non-motorized-only restriction was found in sources checked; paddlecraft use is inferred from the public multi-use boat-ramp access rather than an explicit rule statement.
Coles Point Boat Ramp: FAQ
Does Coles Point Boat Ramp charge a fee?
$3 per vehicle, charged on-site in addition to any shelter reservation fee.
Is Coles Point Boat Ramp kid friendly?
Recreation.gov describes a designated swimming beach with an adjacent bathhouse, which is generally kid-friendly (calm reservoir water, no current). However, the same peninsula has two active boat ramps and fishing docks, and no lifeguard or roped-off swim zone is mentioned in the official listing, so young kids should be watched near the boat-launch traffic areas.
Do I need to hike to reach Coles Point Boat Ramp?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Coles Point Boat Ramp?
Coles Point is a developed USFS day-use area (bathhouse, shelters, boat ramps) with on-site parking; a $3/vehicle fee is collected in addition to any shelter reservation fee. Exact lot-to-beach walking distance was not found in sources checked.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Coles Point Boat Ramp?
Virginia DWR states there is no horsepower/motor restriction on Lake Moomaw ('unlimited horsepower... no boat motor restrictions'). Coles Point itself has two boat ramps for trailered motorboats, and the lake is generally described (Wikipedia, Recreation.gov) as offering multiple boating launches around its 43 miles of shoreline. No explicit no-wake zone or non-motorized-only restriction was found in sources checked; paddlecraft use is inferred from the public multi-use boat-ramp access rather than an explicit rule statement.
What are the rules at Coles Point Boat Ramp?
No livestock allowed; visitors are asked to obtain firewood locally rather than bring it in, per the Forest Service's Don't Move Firewood guidance.
What water body is Coles Point Boat Ramp on?
Coles Point Boat Ramp is on Lake Moomaw, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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