Norfolk · US

Lake Whitehurst

Lake Whitehurst is one of Norfolk, Virginia's eight freshwater reservoirs—a scenic inland lake that supplies drinking water to the city and its neighbors while quietly doubling as a recreation spot. Bordered by I-64, Little Creek Road and the Virginia Beach city line, its roughly 4.5-square-mile watershed laps against some of the region's best-known addresses, including Norfolk International Airport and the Norfolk Botanical Garden. For visitors, the draw is low-key time on the water: a public boat ramp, an accessible fishing pier and gated shoreline access that the City of Norfolk has recently reopened to the public. It suits anglers, paddlers and anyone who wants a calm stretch of open water on the edge of town rather than a busy tourist attraction.