AT A GLANCE
Why go?
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.↗↗↗
A Reservoir With a Dual Life
Most Norfolk lakes exist for one reason—drinking water—and Lake Whitehurst is no exception. It is counted among the city's eight freshwater reservoirs that supply water to Norfolk and surrounding communities, and the land around it forms a defined watershed that drains about 4.5 square miles before feeding the lake. The same quiet, protected setting that makes it a useful water source also makes it pleasant to wander along: low, green shoreline opening onto broad, still water.
