Sutton Lake Beach
Sutton, West Virginia · on Elk River · Sutton Recreation Area
Verified · 5 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $80/day
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Sutton Lake Beach
Sutton Lake Beach is a swimming hole at the Bee Run Day Use Area on Sutton Lake, a 1,440-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Elk River near Sutton, West Virginia. The site is officially designated for swimming on Recreation.gov and sits alongside a playground and the Sutton Lake Marina, making this reservoir a sanctioned lake to swim in.
Sutton Lake was formed by the 210-foot-tall, 1,178-foot-wide Sutton Dam impounding the Elk River, creating a 1,440-acre reservoir with about 40 miles of shoreline surrounded by rolling, wooded hills (oak, hickory, poplar, cherry). The Bee Run Day Use Area, where the beach sits, is one of the lake's developed recreation areas alongside the Downstream Area near the dam.
Swimming at Sutton Lake Beach
An open, unguarded lake beach on the reservoir's Bee Run arm, described officially only as 'a large beach.' The marina's own site states swimmers can go in 'right off the boat from anywhere on the lake,' indicating informal, open-water swimming rather than a roped-off designated swim zone; no depth, water clarity, or bottom-condition details were found in sourced material.
How to get to this swimming hole
From I-79 take Exit 67 toward Flatwoods, turn right on SR-4, go about 1 mile to SR-15, turn left, and continue about a mile to the Bee Run Day-Use Area, turning right into the area (per Recreation.gov directions for the shelters located in this same day-use area).
Parking: Described by Recreation.gov as offering 'ample parking' at the Bee Run Day Use Area.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up access: the beach is directly at the Bee Run Day Use Area parking lot off SR-15, no trail or hike needed.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Open, unguarded reservoir beach with no roped-off swim zone; the adjacent Sutton Lake Marina rents jet skis, pontoons, and houseboats and its own site says swimmers can go in 'right off the boat from anywhere on the lake,' meaning kids share open water with motorized boat/jet-ski traffic. No lifeguard is documented. A playground is on-site for non-swimming play.
Parking
Free
Recreation.gov describes 'ample parking' at the Bee Run Day Use Area where the beach sits; no fee for the beach/parking itself is documented (separate $80/day fee applies only to reserving picnic shelters 3 and 4 in the same area).
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets at the Bee Run Day Use Area, per Recreation.gov; the same source notes there is no direct ADA access to the restroom facilities.
On the water
Sutton Lake Marina, based at the same Bee Run Day Use Area, rents houseboats, pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards, and its site states swimmers can swim 'right off the boat from anywhere on the lake', indicating open (not carry-in-only or no-wake-restricted) motorized and human-powered boating is permitted lakewide. No specific no-wake zone or electric-only restriction was found documented for the swim beach itself.
Rentals nearby
Houseboats, pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks (solo and tandem), and paddleboards
Prices: Kayaks/paddleboards: 2 hr $35-40, 4 hr $50-60, 8 hr $70-80 (midweek/weekend); tandem kayak: 2 hr $50-60, 4 hr $70-80, 8 hr $90-100; jet skis: 2 hr $285-305, 4 hr $335-450, 8 hr $435-575 (weekday/weekend), $300 refundable damage deposit, optional $29.95 damage waiver; pontoon and houseboat pricing available on request/booking site
1734 Bee Run Road, Sutton, WV 26601 - located at the Bee Run Day Use Area, the same location as the beach · Kayak/paddleboard/pontoon rentals: 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., seven days a week
Sutton Lake Beach: FAQ
Does Sutton Lake Beach charge a fee?
No entry/day-use fee for the beach itself is specified. Picnic shelters (3 and 4) in the same Bee Run area cost $80/day to reserve and are first-come-first-served otherwise.
Is Sutton Lake Beach kid friendly?
Open, unguarded reservoir beach with no roped-off swim zone; the adjacent Sutton Lake Marina rents jet skis, pontoons, and houseboats and its own site says swimmers can go in 'right off the boat from anywhere on the lake,' meaning kids share open water with motorized boat/jet-ski traffic. No lifeguard is documented. A playground is on-site for non-swimming play.
Do I need to hike to reach Sutton Lake Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sutton Lake Beach?
Recreation.gov describes 'ample parking' at the Bee Run Day Use Area where the beach sits; no fee for the beach/parking itself is documented (separate $80/day fee applies only to reserving picnic shelters 3 and 4 in the same area).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sutton Lake Beach?
Sutton Lake Marina, based at the same Bee Run Day Use Area, rents houseboats, pontoon boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards, and its site states swimmers can swim 'right off the boat from anywhere on the lake', indicating open (not carry-in-only or no-wake-restricted) motorized and human-powered boating is permitted lakewide. No specific no-wake zone or electric-only restriction was found documented for the swim beach itself.
What are the rules at Sutton Lake Beach?
Alcohol is prohibited at Sutton Lake, per an official Recreation.gov notice for the facility.
What water body is Sutton Lake Beach on?
Sutton Lake Beach is on Elk River, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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