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Sherando Lake visitor rules
The following prohibitions apply within the Sherando Lake Recreation Area.
- Organized games on beach and swimming area.
- Swimming outside the hours of 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
- Swimming beyond outer rope and buoy markers.
- Bringing boat into the swimming area.
- Bringing glass bottles and other materials to the beach area which may cause injuries.
- Being on the beach or in day use areas after dark.
- Using gasoline propelled boats on either lake.
- Operating a boat if under 12 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult.
- Failing to remove private boats from lake before dark.
- Possessing any alcoholic beverages in the beach, picnic, swimming areas and in parking lots.
- Being on concrete dams or spillway risers on either lake.
- Possessing a dog, except for service animals, in the beach and swimming areas.
- Swimming in Upper Sherando Lake.
See the forest order below for more details.
Alert Start Date: September 5th, 2023
Alert End Date: September 5th, 2028
Rec Sites Affected:
Order Number: 08-08-05-23-10
Associated Documents
Forest Order
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS
Roanoke, Virginia
ORDER NO. 08-08-05-23-10
OCCUPANCY AND USE
Sherando Lake Recreation Area
Pursuant to Title 16 U.S.C. § 551 and Title 36 C.F.R. § 261.50, the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System land within the Sherando Lake Recreation Area of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, as shown on the attached map. This Forest Order is effective from the date signed by the Forest Supervisor until September 5, 2028, or until terminated by an authorized Forest Service official, whichever occurs first.
- Beach Area- Includes sand and grass from swimming area to bathhouse and the island.
- Swimming Area- Water area enclosed by ropes and buoy markers.
Boating Area - Area of lake outside of swimming area.
Prohibitions. The following acts are prohibited:
- Organized games on beach and swimming area. 36 CFR 261.58(b)
- Swimming outside the hours of 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. 36 CFR 261.58(k)
- Swimming beyond outer rope and buoy markers. 36 CFR 261.53(e)
- Bringing boat into the swimming area. 36 CFR 26158(k)
- Bringing glass bottles and other materials to the beach area which may cause injuries. 36 CFR 261.58(b)
- Being on the beach or in day use areas after dark. 36 CFR 261.58(b)
- Using gasoline propelled boats on either lake. 36 CFR 261.58(n)
- Operating a boat if under 12 years of age, unless accompanied by an adult. 36 CFR 261.58(n)
- Failing to remove private boats from lake before dark. 36 CFR 261.58(p)
- Possessing any alcoholic beverages in the beach, picnic, swimming areas and in parking lots. 36 CFR 261.58(bb)
- Being on concrete dams or spillway risers on either lake. 36 CFR 261.58(b)
- Possessing a dog, except for service animals, in the beach and swimming areas. 36 CFR 261.58(s)
- Swimming in Upper Sherando Lake. 36 CFR 261.58(b).
Exemptions: Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
- Any authorized person engaged in official administrative duties regarding National Forest Administration,
- Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission,
- Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of their official duty,
Executed in Roanoke, Virginia this _5th day of September 2023.
Signed Joby P. Timm, Forest Supervisor, GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FORESTS
Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 16 USC § 551 and 18 USC §§ 3559, 3571 and 3581.