Philpott Lake — Attraction in Martinsville

A great place to spend some time and unwind. Love the area but the visitor center was closed. Jeff Mullins Photography Adventures. Happy Hiking! Philpott Lake is a reservoir in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is impounded by Philpott Dam.

The lake is at an elevation of 974 feet and covers an area of 2,900 acres and has a shoreline length of 100 miles. Philpott Lake extends into Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties, Virginia. It is bordered by 6,424 acres of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed lands.

The lake and Philpott Dam were created to control flooding along the Smith River, to generate hydroelectric power, and to provide recreational activities. Construction on Philpott Dam began in 1948 and was...

Philpott Lake is outstanding. The campground was laid out well and was clean and close to bathrooms with showers. There's a sand beach and swimming area right next to covered picnic tables. Great place for kids, there's even a playground and the beach had child size life vests. We stayed a few nights and it was still nice enough in October that we could swim, and the nighttime temperatures were perfect. Fire wood was available for sale and you could also collect plenty from windfalls. We will definitely be...

Awesome lake. Clear water, covered with green trees throughout the lake. Even has designated swim areas. There are no life guards on site, swim at your own risk. Just be safe and swim only in designated areas. Life jackets are available at beach for use. Picnic tables are available near the swim areas, make sure you come early, they are occupied very early in the morning. Some beach access have accessible restrooms as well. Not too crowded at this time...