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2016 Map of Summersville Dam

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Summersville Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Gauley River National Recreation Area dominates this landscape, where the river carves a winding path through the border of Nicholas and Fayette counties. The massive Summersville Dam and its resulting Summersville Lake manage the waters of the Gauley River, while further downstream, the river becomes a sequence of challenging whitewater, including Sweet Falls Rapids and Pillow Rock Rapids. These natural features have long shaped the settlement patterns of the region, from the upland plateau at Mount Lookout to the creek-side communities of Clifty and Hico.

Genealogists and local historians can find several established burial sites, such as the Dotson-Simpson Cem and White Cem. Transportation infrastructure like the Kevin Ritchie Memorial Bridge over the Meadow River and the Carnifex Tunnel illustrate the technical efforts required to navigate this deeply incised terrain. Small hamlets like Keslers Cross Lanes and Jenky persist along the winding ridge roads, maintaining their identity within the protected recreation corridors.