Watauga Lake

Watauga Lake, TN

★★★★★

4.9(5 reviews)

Amenities Overview

🏊Swimming

🎣Fishing

🚤Boating

⛺Camping

🅿️Parking

About Watauga Lake

Escape to Watauga Lake, nestled in the heart of the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. Created in 1948, this reservoir is a true gem, consistently earning a near-perfect 4.9-star rating from visitors. Imagine yourself spending a day on the water, enjoying the tranquil beauty of this stunning location. Boating is a popular activity, particularly kayaking, with convenient dock access. You'll find clean swimming areas, also with a dock and restrooms nearby for your comfort. Fishing is frequently successful, and a dock makes launching your line easy. While camping opportunities may be available (check for current availability), you can be certain of finding parking nearby. Recent visitors rave about the lake's pristine waters and peaceful atmosphere. One five-star review highlighted the incredible views and the feeling of being completely away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Another visitor loved the calm, relaxing experience, perfect for unwinding and enjoying nature. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day of swimming, an adventurous kayaking trip, or a peaceful afternoon of fishing, Watauga Lake offers a fantastic escape. Come experience its charm firsthand – you won't be disappointed. Just remember to check on camping availability before your trip.

Detailed Information

Fishing

Facilities: dock

Swimming

Water Conditions: clean
Facilities: restroom
Facilities: dock

Boating

Boat Types: kayak
Facilities: dock

Reviews

★★★★★over 1 year ago
This is a beautiful lake. It is enjoyed by residents of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina alike. It also has a lot of out of state visitors. There's swimming ,picnic areas and Boat docks . You can also hike and camp in places around the lake.
★★★★★about 2 years ago
Such a beautiful place. Our 2nd time to kayak in this lake and we love it even on a windy cold day! Park is clean and convenient for parking and loading/unloading. Lots of little cove area where water is calm. Very relaxing!
★★★★★over 1 year ago
This is one of my favorite places to go. I have some advice about the place that might be handy if you want to visit. If you want to experience the true beauty of Appalachia, this is the place. Don't trust Google maps to guide you there though, it brought us to some guy's private property wanting us to trespass. I come here all the time, it's gorgeous in all seasons. I've included photos from the different seasons so you can see what it looks like. In the spring, there are tons of ducks and geese, and their babies are everywhere!! So cute. Just watch out for goose poo! The swimming area is great during the summer, and it is absolutely beautiful to see the colorful trees in the fall. In the winter there's consistently way less people there so if you want to be by yourself you should go then. It's very peaceful. Just be careful if there's ice! Even so, the spot I like to visit isn't usually too crowded except maybe in the summer. It's not that bad though. This lake is great for fishing and boating too. Sometimes I see the fish nearly jumping out of the water! If you want to visit, I recommend going to 1588 US-321 Scenic, Hampton, TN 37658. You can get to Shook Branch park there. It's got a tiny little parking lot (if you can even call it that lol) right next to the road. On the right side of the parking area there are stairs that go down and split into two paths. The left path goes to the hiking tail and the right path leads to the swimming area. Hope you have a great time! I go fairly often so you might see me there :)
★★★★★almost 2 years ago
First time visit with our American relations. The boatyard staff were great and friendly. Boat was excellent and lake amazing A great day to unwind and relax. A must try if you are in the area.
★★★★★about 3 years ago
It's a beautiful lake. Clean water and very respectful boat drivers. You can enjoy the lake in your kayak, paddle board or a boat. Parking is $2 and there are also restrooms.