A couple of reminders for your and others' enjoyment of the islands.  There are no facilities on the islands, so please leave no litter or refuse.  Marinas are listed in the Island Cruise descriptions and most have rest room facilities available to the public.  Many of islands have natural access shores, but many also have shoal waters around them.  Caution and attention to navigation markers at all times is essential to boating safety.  Please respect the rights of private owners.  Only a few islands are posted, and in some cases it is apparent that others are inhabited.

Begin your Island Cruise from Bridgewater Plaza on Route 122 or Crazy Horse Marina in Franklin County or Parkway Marina In Bedford.  If you only have time to visit a few of the islands, you can start anywhere on one of the cruises or make up your own itinerary.  Locations of the islands are given in two forms:  the numbers of navigation aids (lights and signs) and locations on the Map of Smith Mountain Lake that is sold by the Smith Mountain Lake Association.

 

Bridgewater Plaza Cruise

Crazy Horse Marina Cruise

Parkway Marina Cruise

 

NAV AID	MAP LOC
R28	L23	Proceed south, downstream toward the dam for 2.3 miles, to an unnamed island on the right side of the main channel at the entry to Beckys and Bettys Creeks.  This is a beautiful island of just under one acre with a relatively large and protected landing area on its west side.
	O25	Island at Betty's Creek
R20		Continue downstream 4.5 miles past the Smith Mountain Lake State Park on your left, through the S-Curve (heavily congested!) to 3 small islands just offshore of Park Place Subdivision.  Be careful of shoal waters in this area.
R15	T28	Island at Park Place
		1.0 miles farther downstream is Carters Island near the eastern shore.  This is a private, developed island with an attractive home and dock.  It is just across the lake from The Boardwalk subdivision, one of the better designed subdivisions on the lake.
R12	U31	Carter's Island
		Cross the channel and travel downstream 0.9 miles to Rabbit and Goat Islands.  Goat Island is private and developed, while Rabbit Island is maintained by the Smith Mountain Lake Boating Association in memory of Tom Maynard.  Just inshore from these two islands are the Virginia Inland Sailing Association and the Landing Restaurant.
R11	W31	Rabbit Island
R11	W31	Goat Island
		Downstream another 1.3 miles is Johnston Island.  It actually is a former island, now developed and connected to the mainland by a causeway.
R8	X32	Johnston's Island
	X33	Swinging east toward the dam you will pass Parkway Marina in a cove on your left and Smith Mountain Dock Marina on your right.
R6	Y34	About 1.1 miles from Johnston's Island is a string of three islands named Beach, Middle and Brides.  Beach is a private, posted island, Middle is unposted and Brides is posted for public use by AEP.  Pay close attention to shoal markers in this area.
R4	Y36	Bride's, Middle and Beach Islands
	Y34	Directly across the lake is Birds Island with some cleared spaces for activities, andjust a little farther east is an unnamed island that was recently a peninsula.  In fact, you can easily wade from the island to shore.  There is a landing area on the east side of the island.
	Y36	Unnamed Island
R1	X39	Traveling once again toward the dam for about 1.9 miles you will come to Dam and Bar Islands that seem to guard the dam gorge.  These are pretty little islands that can be used for picnicking, swimming or fishing.  From these islands you can see Smith Mountain Dam.  Notice the protective floating safety boom.
	Y39	Dam and Bar Islands
	Y39	Smith Mountain Lake Dam with Dam and Bar Islands
B1	Y32	Should you wish to continue your island cruise, you may now backtrack to the entrance to the Blackwater River channel.  Traveling upstream in the Blackwater channel about 1.5 miles brings you to Christmas Tree Island.  At 19 acres this is the largest island on the lake.  It has recently changed hands and is expected to be developed in the near future.
B9	Y29	Christmas Tree Island
		Another 1.7 miles up the Blackwater River channel brings you to Chimney Island on your right.  There is a nice landing and wading area on the north side of the island, but much of the island is a briar patch.  At this point you are close to Crazy Horse Marina in the cove to your north.
	W26	Chimney Island
		1.1 miles up the Blackwater in another congested area are three more islands.  The northernmost and largest is Lucky Island with landing areas on both the north and south ends of the island.  The other two islands are unnamed, but the largest has a landing area on its north end.
B13	X24	Lucky Island in the Fall
		You have now completed your island cruise and have about a 13 mile run back to Bridgewater Plaza.  Back to Cruise Selections

From Parkway Marina

Nav Aid	Map Loc
	X33	On your left, 0.7 miles from the marina, is a string of three islands named Beach, Middle and Brides.
R6	Y34	Beach is a private, posted island, Middle is unposted and Brides is posted for public use by AEP.  Pay close attention to shoal markers in this area.
R4	Y36	Brides, Middle and Beach Islands
R1	X39	Another 1.9 miles east brings you to Dam and Bar Islands that seem to guard the dam gorge.  These are pretty little islands that can be used for picnicking, swimming or fishing.  From these islands you can see Smith Mountain Dam.  Notice the protective floating safety boom.
	Y39	Dam and Bar Islands
	Y39	SML Dam with Dam and Bar Islands
		Returning back upstream 1.9 miles, but on the south shore of the lake at the base of Smith Mountain is an unnamed island that was recently a peninsula, and you can still easily wade from the island to shore.  There is a landing area on the east side of the island.
	Y36	Unnamed Island
	Y34	Just west is Birds Island with some cleared spaces for island activities.
		Continue west to the entrance to the Blackwater River channel, passing Smith Mountain Dock Marina on your left and go upstream about 1.5 miles to Christmas Tree Island.  At 19 acres this is the largest island on the lake.  It has recently changed hands and is expected to be developed in the near future.
B1	Y32	Christmas Tree Island
		Another 1.7 miles up the Blackwater River channel brings you to Chimney Island on your right.  There is a nice landing and wading area on the north side of the island, but much of the island is a briar patch.  At this point you are close to Crazy Horse Marina in the cove to your north.
	W26	Chimney Island
		1.1 miles up the Blackwater in a fairly congested area are three more islands.  The northernmost and largest is Lucky Island with landing areas on both the north and south ends of the island.  The other two islands are unnamed, but the largest has a landing area on its north end.
B13	X24	Lucky Island in the Fall
B1	Y32	It's now time to return to the main channel and turn north at B1.
		Travel 1.2 miles toRabbit and Goat Islands.  Goat Island is private and developed, while Rabbit Island is maintained by the Smith Mountain Lake Boating Association in memory of Tom Maynard.  Just inshore from these two islands are the Virginia Inland Sailing Association and the Landing Restaurant
R11	W31	Goat Island
R11	W31	Rabbit Island
		0.8 miles north near the eastern shore is Carters Island.  This is a private, developed island with an attractive home and dock.  Be alert for shoal markers along this route.  Directly across the lake from Carters Island is The Boardwalk subdivision, on of the better designed subdivisions on the lake.
R12	U31	Carter's Island
		Return to your starting point at Parkway Marina, on the way passing Johnston Island on your left.  It is now developed and connected to the mainland by a causeway.
R8	X32	Johnston's Island
		Return to Cruise Selections

From Crazy Horse Marina

NAV AID	MAP LOC
	V26	Bear right when leaving the marina and travel 1.9 miles to a fairly congested area and a group of three islands.  The northernmost and largest is Lucky Island with landing areas on both the north and south ends of the island.  The other two islands are unnamed, but the largest has a landing area on its north end.
B13	X24	Lucky Island in the Fall
		Now travel 2.6 miles east toward the dam to Christmas Tree Island.  At 19 acres this is the largest island on the lake.  It has recently changed hands and is expected to be developed in the near future.
B9	Y29	Christmas Tree Island
	Y34	Bear right for 1.2 miles past Smith Mountain Dock Marina to Birds Island.
		Follow in another 0.6 miles by an unnamed island at the base of Smith Mountain.  This is a new island that recently was a peninsula, and your are still able to wade from it to the mainland.  There is a landing area on the east side of the island.
	Y36	Unnamed Island
		Another 1.9 miles east brings you to Dam and Bar Islands that seem to guard the dam gorge.  These are pretty little islands that can be used for picnicking, swimming or fishing.  From these islands you can see Smith Mountain Dam.  Notice the protective floating safety boom.
R1	X39	Bar and Dam Islands
	Y39	SML Dam from Bar and Dam Islands
R6	Y34	Heading west, back upstream for 1.5 miles gets you to a string of three islands named Beach, Middle and Brides.  Beach is a private, posted island, Middle is unposted and Brides is posted for public use by AEP.  Pay close attention to shoal markers in this area.
R4	Y36	Brides, Middle and Beach Islands
		Heading west 1.1 miles, you will pass Parkway Marina on your right and come to the former Johnston Island.  It is now connected to the mainland by a causeway and has been developed.
R8	X32	Johnston's  Island
		Swing north around marker R8 and travel 1.9 miles to Carters Island near the eastern shore.  This is a private, developed island with an attractive home and dock.  Be alert for shoal markers along this route.  Directly across the lake from Carters Island is The Boardwalk subdivision, one of the better designed subdivisions on the lake.
R12	U31	Carter's Island
		Returning back south 0.9 miles and crossing to the west side of the lake brings you to  Rabbit and Goat Islands.  Goat Island is private and developed, while Rabbit Island is maintained by  the Smith Mountain Lake Boating Association in memory of Tom Maynard.  Just inshore from these two islands are the Virginia Inland Sailing Association and the Landing Restaurant
R11	W31	Goat Island
R11	W31	Rabbit Island
		You are now on the return leg of your cruise, traveling 4.3 miles back up the Blackwater River channel to Chimney Island.  Be sure to bear right around Christmas Tree Island and watch for shoals near Chimney Island.  There is a nice landing and wading area on the north side of the island, but much of the island is a briar patch.
B9	W29	Christmas Tree Island
	W26	Chimney Island
	V26	0.9 miles to your north is your starting point at Crazy Horse Marina.
		Return to Cruise Selections