Fontana Lake is located in the western North Carolina. Appalachian Mountains of Graham County and Swain County. Fontana Lake is a 29-mile-long scenic mountain lake with more than 280 miles of shoreline and nearly 11,000 acres of water. The 480-foot-high Fontana Lake Dam on the Little Tennessee River is the tallest dam in the TVA system. The Appalachian Trail, which extends over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine, crosses the top of Fontana Lake Dam.

With most of Fontana Lake's 280 miles of shoreline preserved by the the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and USFS Nantahala National Forest, Fontana Lake's breathtaking beauty remains unspoiled. Quiet secluded coves and inlets on Fontana Lake provide excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, or just relaxing and enjoying the view. From the spring's mountain laurel to the glorious colors of fall, Fontana Lake's engaging scenery can be enjoyed year round. Game fish in Fontana include smallmouth and largemouth bass, white bass, walleye, and crappie.

Fontana Dam


Hikers on the Appalachian Trail stop to admire the view from atop Fontana Dam. The highest dam east of the Rocky Mountains, Lake Fontana is on the Little Tennessee River in western North Carolina.

Lake Fontana Reservoir occupies a site of particular splendor deep in the Great Smoky Mountains. Fishing, boating, and swimming are all popular at Fontana, but it is perhaps most appreciated by wilderness hikers and campers.

The Appalachian Trail, which extends over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine, crosses the top of Fontana Dam. The hot showers available at the trail shelter maintained by TVA have led grateful hikers to dub it the Fontana Hilton. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park borders the reservoir to the north.

Fontana was built during World War II to provide electric power for the war effort. A new town, housing some 5,000 people who worked around the clock in three shifts, sprang up in the forest, and the project broke construction records. What was once the construction village is now a resort offering recreational activities such as boating, horseback riding, and crafts making.

The Fontana Dam Visitor Center is is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from May through November. It will be closed when the homeland security alert level is high (orange) or higher.

More information on Fontana Lake

Lake Santeetlah Reservoir
Robbinsville - Graham County NC

Lake Santeetlah reservoir is located in Graham County and surrounded by the Cheoah District of the Nantahala National Forest. While the lake surface and land below the high water level is owned and managed by Tapoco, Inc., almost 80 percent of shoreline is public land managed by the Forest Service. Santeetlah Lake has a wide variety of fish including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and walleye. Formerly, Lake Santeetlah was the home of the state record largemouth and walleye. Santeetlah also has a good population of crappie, sunfish, and trout.

Access: From Robbinsville follow Hwy 129 North to Santeetlah Reservoir. Follow signs to boating and fishing access areas.

Cheoah Point is located approximately 7 miles from Robbinsville on Hwy 129 North. Turn left at sign and go 0.8 miles to Cheoah Point

Cheoah Point is open all year around and offers a swimming beach, tent and trailer campground with restrooms and water and picnic area. This campground is offered on a first come first serve basis and there is a fee required for overnight stay.

Lake Santeetlah reservoir is popular among a diverse group of anglers. Trout fisherman and bass fisherman enjoy the wide variety of fisheries within Santeetlah Reservoir.

For more information: Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for more information on local fishing regulations and license requirements. Trail and local topographic maps are available from:
Cheoah Ranger District
Route 1, Box 16A
Robbinsville, NC 28771