A kayak can be a great way to access Smith Mountain Lake. There are numerous points of access throughout the lake. However; Smith Mountain Lake is a very popular place for other boaters as well. We advise anyone to use caution when using a kayak in the busy parts of the lake.

One excellent way to access the lake would be to identify the areas with less boat traffic. It is our opinion that you may want to visit the upper region of the Roanoke River section of the lake.

Below Niagara Dam is the Roanoke River Gorge, a short 3 mile stretch of great smallmouth water accessible from Explore Park. Largemouth bass and a variety of other species can be caught here as fish can run out of Smith Mountain Lake into this section of river. As the river becomes more lake-like, catfish, striped bass, and others also become more common. (See interactive map below)