Elkhorn Lake

Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 3
Species: 6

Elkhorn Lake is a 54-acre reservoir located in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests within Augusta County, Virginia, owned by the City of Staunton and serving as a municipal watershed. Situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet on the North River, this impoundment offers a unique dual fishery managed for both warmwater and coldwater species. The lake reaches depths exceeding 30 feet, cold enough to support trout year-round while maintaining productive warmwater habitat. As part of the North River Recreation Area, Elkhorn Lake provides anglers with diverse fishing opportunities in a serene mountain setting, accessible via Forest Development Road 95 from FDR 96 and Route 250 west of Churchville.

Virginia licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Elkhorn Lake and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Pumpkinseed

Lepomis gibbosus

Fish stocking schedule

Latest 5 stockings

Rainbow TroutOct 13, 2026
Tiger TroutMay 4, 2026
Rainbow TroutMay 4, 2026
Rainbow TroutApr 20, 2026
Brook TroutMar 26, 2026

Source

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

Open stocking page

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Elkhorn Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Elkhorn Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Virginia licenses and regulations

Virginia Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Virginia Stream Access Laws

Virginia uses a strict navigable in fact test, where waterways must be capable of commercial trade and travel in their natural condition and public access is limited where navigable waters border private land. The state law isn’t fully developed and is arguably stricter than the federal title test. While state law is confusing and hasn’t been friendly to public access in the past, a 2015 court case opened up 14 rivers to public use that were previously off limits.

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Virginia Fishing License

A Virginia fishing license is required for residents and non-residents, age 16 and over.

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Virginia Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Take Elkhorn Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Elkhorn Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Elkhorn Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.