Fontana Lake is a freshwater wonder. As the largest lake in Western North Carolina, the lake offers 240 miles of pristine shoreline. In fact, 90% of the Fontana Lake shoreline borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the protected Nantahala National Forest. The unspoiled beauty of Fontana Lake makes it a perfect destination for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts.
Where is Fontana Lake?
Fontana Lake is located on the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The eastern end of the lake reaches Bryson City, NC. There are two popular, beautiful routes from Pigeon Forge to the lake. One route takes you over Newfound Gap (US 441) into Cherokee, NC. The other uses the Foothills Parkway from Townsend.
US 441 Foothills Parkway
Things to Do at Fontana Lake
There is so much to do and explore at Fontana Lake! The expansive manmade lake covers more than 10,000 acres and is 31 miles long, which means there are many opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. You can tour the dam, rent a boat from a marina, swim, fish, and even enjoy a cruise on the water. You can even segment hike the Appalachian Trail from here.
Appalachian Trail
Explore Fontana Dam
The 480 foot high Fontana Dam is the tallest dam in the eastern United States. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began construction on Fontana Dam in 1942 and completed the project in just 36 months. Today, 80 years later, it is still the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains at 480 feet. Fontana Dam provides electricity and flood control to the surrounding region. Tour the dam and check out the visitor center off NC Highway 28.
Those driving to Fontana Dam from the northwest should be aware that most routes will take you through the Tail Of The Dragon, a dangerous 11 mile stretch of US 129 that features 318 curves.
Fontana Dam Visitor Center
At the Fontana Dam Visitor Center you’ll find clean, accessible bathrooms, a gift shop with souvenirs, snacks and beverages, a wonderful vantage point to take photos and view the incredible surrounding scenery, and educational info. The highest dam in the TVA system provides hydroelectricity to generate power for people in seven southeastern states.
Inscription From Fontana Dam Visitor Center:
The Highest Dam in the TVA System: Fontana Dam is the highest concrete dam east of the Rocky Mountains. Construction began in 1942, and it was completed in 1944 – an incredibly short period for a dam this large. Today, a dam similar in size would take 10 years to complete.
The dam is 480 feet high and stretches 2,385 feet across the Little Tennessee River. It produces a lot of electricity too. The powerhouse at the dam has three units that can supply 238,000 kilowatts of electric power. (A kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. Ten 100-watt light bulbs, all on at the same time, equall 1,000 watts.)
TVA operates the Tennessee River System and its tributaries – the Little Tennessee River is one of them – to procide multiple benefits to the surrounding area. These benefits include navigation, flood control, water quality, power supply, recreation and land use.
Enjoy the beauty of the area, and please protect it for those who follow you.
Fontana Dam: Putting Water To Work: If you’ve ever seen waves crash onto a beach, or watched a river carry tree branches downstream, you know that water can be a powerful force. Here at Fontana Dam, and at 29 other locations throughout the Tennessee River System, TVA is using that force to generate power for our homes, businesses and industries.
This type of power is called hydroelectricity. To create it, water from the Little Tennessee river flows into a 29-mile-long reservoir that sits behind Fontana Dam. When the water is in the center of the dam – the same height as a 50-story skyscraper – where it spins the propellers of three large turbines. These turbines are connected to three generators, which produce clean, efficient hydroelectricity for people in seven southeastern states.
After the process is complete, TVA returns the water it uses back to the Little Tennessee River, helping to protect our natural resources while powering everyday life.
Hike From Fontana Dam
A popular hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the 4.6 mile trek from Fontana Dam to Shuckstack fire tower, one of the three remaining fire towers in the national park. The fairly difficult route follows the Appalachian Trail across the dam and into the national park. The views from the top are some of the best in the park.
Shuckstack Fire Tower
Parking At Fontana Dam
If you are planning on starting a hike from the Fontana Dam Visitor Center and walking across the dam, you do not need a Smokies parking pass if you park at the visitor center. The entrance to the national park starts just across the dam. If the dam is open to vehicles, you can drive across it to access limited parking near the AT & Lakeshore Trail trailheads (about a mile from the visitor center), but you will need a parking pass. Call the visitor center at (828) 498-2234 to find out if the dam road is open.
Camping at Fontana Lake
From backcountry camping to RV resorts, there are many ways to cozy up with nature around the lake. You’ll find primitive tent camping sites only accessible by boat in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for adventure lovers. Looking for creature comforts? Luxury campgrounds offer all kinds of amenities to make the outdoors even more fun.
Backcountry Camping
Fontana Lake Cabin Rentals
Cabin rentals on the lake range from treehouses overlooking the shoreline to family-friendly, multi-bedroom homes with room for everyone. Want to really enjoy the lake’s verdant waters? Consider a floating cabin rental on Fontana Lake! Houseboat rentals are popular here and offer a unique way to experience lake life.
Cabin Rentals
Watersports & Boat Rentals
There are several full-service and public-access marinas on Fontana Lake. Boat rentals make it easy to enjoy lake life on the blue-green water. You’ll find pontoon boats, ski boats, wake boats, and jet skis for rent at Fontana Lake. Prefer to paddle? Kayak and stand up paddle board rentals at the lake also let you enjoy the water’s splendor.
Fontana Lake Fishing
Casting off into the emerald waters of this North Carolina lake appeals to all anglers. You can catch smallmouth and largemouth bass here all year long and catch fish from spring into fall. In fact, it is not uncommon to reel in 50 pound plus catfish from the lake’s cool, deep waters. Chartered and guided fishing at Fontana Lake can help ensure a great catch.
