Looking for a lake to swim in this summer? Here are 6 in and near Cumberland County
Summer weather is here, and so is the blistering heat. So what natural bodies of water in the area can Cumberland County residents swim in to cool off?
As a reminder, swimming is prohibited in any body of water used as a drinking water source for PWC, according to Nicole Stiff, spokesperson for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. This includes Bonnie Doone Lake, Kornbow Lake, Mintz Pond, Glenville Lake, and surrounding ponds that flow into these lakes, she said.
But, Stiff said, these areas are typically gated and have signage that notes swimming and other activities are prohibited.
Fortunately, there are several areas within driving distance where it is legal and safe to swim.
Hope Mills Lake
Swimmers can take advantage of the closest lake on our list, Hope Mills Lake, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lake hours are sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset Monday through Saturday and 12:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Address: Boatman Drive, off North Main Street, Hope Mills
More places to swim: Here are the hours, locations and times for Cumberland County pools and splash pads
White Lake
Dubbed by some as the "Nation's Safest Beach," White Lake, some 55 miles southeast of Fayetteville, is a 1,200-acre body of water in Bladen County with an average temperature of 63 degrees. According to its website, 200,000 tourists visit the clear waters each summer and it attracts boaters, water skiers, wakeboarders, wake surfers, paddle-boarders, and kayakers.Address: 1879 White Lake Drive, White Lake.
Jones Lake/Salters Lake
Jones Lake State Park and Salters Lake are tea-colored, shallow-depth lakes about 40 miles southeast of Fayetteville. The lakes are mostly known for their "mysterious geological formations known as Carolina bays," and being the first state park in North Carolina to welcome Black Americans, according to its website. Visitors can picnic, swim, hike and paddle while observing "a series of elliptical depressions along the Atlantic coast."Address: 4117 N.C. 24, Elizabethtown
Singletary Lake
Singletary Lake, located about 55 miles southeast of Fayetteville, provides hiking, fishing, and paddling for visitors of all ages. Those who choose to get away can find cabins and "a unique experience for organized groups," its website states. The lake also has a 500-foot pier for swimming and is a commutable distance from White Lake and Bay Tree Lake.Address: 6707 N.C. 53 East, Kelly
Bay Tree Lake
Bay Tree Lake is also 55 miles southeast of Fayetteville in Bladen County. Unlike its neighbors, this lake is known for its "canals reminiscent of Venice," which weave through the community. The lake is 1,418 acres and good for boating, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, jet skiing, tubing and fishing, according to LakeLubbers.com. Address: 502 Baytree Drive, Harrells
Cliffs of the Neuse
The Cliffs of the Neuse, located 60 miles northeast of Fayetteville, overlooks the Neuse River in Wayne County. The area offers quiet fishing spots and the 11-acre lake tied to the river provides for swimming, paddling and other water recreation.Address: 240 Park Entrance Road, Seven Springs
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What lakes can you swim in near Fayetteville?