Lake Nantahala
is located in the towering mountains of western North Carolina, near the small town of Topton. It sits like a pristine jewel at the edge of the Nantahala National Forest, surrounded by the rustic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Activities on or near Lake Nantahala include swimming, boating, fishing, camping, rock climbing, horseback riding, hiking and golf. Whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking are available on the Ocoee or Nantahala Rivers, and snow skiing, sledding and snowboarding opportunities can be found at nearby Maggie Valley. The Nantahala River, which is just south of the lake, attracts anglers from all across the country. The whole area is brimming with crappie, trout, walleye, catfish, bass and sunfish. It’s also very popular for its world-class white-water rafting trips. The 8-mile river trip through Class I, II, and III rapids takes about three hours, and more than ten outfitters can found along the river, offering a variety of services. There are also many hiking trails near Lake Nantahala, some that connect to parts of the Appalachian Trail, and a drive through the Nantahala Gorge offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in Western North Carolina. The town of Franklin is just 18 miles away, and is well known for its gem mines open for public prospecting, along with lots of antique shops, art galleries, fine restaurants and accommodations. Other nearby places to visit in the Lake Nantahala area include the resort towns of Highlands and Cashiers, the Smoky Mountain Railroad, Cherokee Indian casinos and the Cullasaja River Gorge.
Surrounding areas: Aquone, North Carolina (3.0 mi), Topton, North Carolina (5.0 mi), Nantahala, North Carolina (7.5 mi), Andrews, North Carolina (8.9 mi), Lake Chatuge Village, North Carolina (12.2 mi), Hayesville, North Carolina (12.5 mi), Robbinsville, North Carolina (12.6 mi)
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Lake Nantahala Vacation Rentals
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Lake Nantahala Weather & Climate
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The Mountains of North Carolina range from 800 feet to over 6,600 feet and topography affects the local weather. Expect temperatures to be 10 to 20 degrees cooler on the mountaintops. Spring is unpredictable, particularly at the higher elevations. Snow may fall in March, but by May, things warm up with daytime highs in the 80s. Summer is warm and humid, but more pleasant at the higher elevations. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common in the summertime. Winter is generally moderate, but extreme conditions can occur in the mountains. It%u2019s not unusual to have warm temperatures in the valleys and snow in the higher areas. In the lowlands, snows of one inch or more occur just 1-5 times per year. More frequent and deeper snows fall at the higher elevations.
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| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
48°F |
25°F |
7.17 in. |
- |
| February |
52°F |
27°F |
6.09 in. |
- |
| March |
60°F |
34°F |
6.97 in. |
- |
| April |
68°F |
40°F |
5.18 in. |
- |
| May |
76°F |
49°F |
5.37 in. |
- |
| June |
82°F |
57°F |
5.54 in. |
- |
| July |
85°F |
61°F |
5.00 in. |
- |
| August |
85°F |
60°F |
5.50 in. |
- |
| September |
80°F |
54°F |
4.45 in. |
- |
| October |
70°F |
41°F |
3.51 in. |
- |
| November |
60°F |
33°F |
5.33 in. |
- |
| December |
51°F |
27°F |
6.02 in. |
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Lake Nantahala Map & Transportation
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| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
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The closest airports in the area are the Mc Ghee Tyson airport (TYS) located about 47 miles northwest of Lake Nantahala in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge airport (GKT) located approximately 47 miles north of Lake Nantahala in Sevierville, Tennessee, the Asheville Regional airport (AVL) located roughly 66 miles east of Lake Nantahala in Asheville, North Carolina, and finally the Moore Murrell airport (MOR) located around 71 miles north of Lake Nantahala in Morristown, Tennessee.
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Lake Nantahala Attractions
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| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Cherokee Fun Park | Cherokee | NC | 28.5 mi. | | | Santa's Land | Cherokee | NC | 28.5 mi. | | | Ghost Town in the Sky | Maggie Valley | NC | 39.8 mi. | | | Dollywood | Pigeon Forge | TN | 42.6 mi. | | | Rockin' Raceway | Pigeon Forge | TN | 42.6 mi. | | | NASCAR SpeedPark | Sevierville | TN | 48.0 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| Lake Lanier Island Beach & Water Park | Lake Lanier Island | GA | 72.3 mi. | | | White Water Park | Marietta | GA | 98.6 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| Chatuge Shores Golf Course | Hayesville | NC | 12.5 mi. | | | Mountain Harbour Golf & Yacht Club | Hayesville | NC | 12.5 mi. | | | Franklin Golf Course | Franklin | NC | 16.3 mi. | | | Mill Creek Country Club | Franklin | NC | 16.3 mi. | | | Cherokee Hills Golf & Country Club | Murphy | NC | 21.3 mi. | | | Smoky Mountain Country Club | Whittier | NC | 24.6 mi. | | | Rabun Country Golf Club | Clayton | GA | 26.3 mi. | | | Butternut Creek Golf Course | Blairsville | GA | 26.6 mi. | | | Highlands Cove | Highlands | NC | 27.8 mi. | |
| | | Ski Areas |
| Scaly Mountain | Scaly Mountain | NC | 23.1 mi. | | | Cataloochee | Maggie Valley | NC | 39.8 mi. | | | Ski Wolf Laurel | Mars Hill | NC | 77.3 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| Chatuge State Park | | GA | 17.2 mi. | | | Moccasin Creek State Park | | GA | 24.0 mi. | | | Black Rock Mountain State Park | | GA | 24.3 mi. | | | Unicoi State Park | | GA | 31.9 mi. | | | Vogel State Park | | GA | 34.0 mi. | | | Oconee State Park | | SC | 39.1 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| Sequoyah Birthplace Museum | Vonore | TN | 43.0 mi. | (History) | | East Tennessee Discovery Center | Knoxville | TN | 55.8 mi. | (Science) | | Ewing Gallery of Art & Architecture | Knoxville | TN | 55.8 mi. | (Art) | | Knoxville Museum of Art | Knoxville | TN | 55.8 mi. | (Art) | | East Tennessee Historical Society Museum | Knoxville | TN | 55.8 mi. | (History) | | Farragut Folklife Museum | Farragut | TN | 55.9 mi. | (History) | | South Carolina Gold Museum | Pickens | SC | 58.2 mi. | (Miscellaneous) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| Knoxville Zoological Gardens | Knoxville | TN | 55.8 mi. | | | Western North Carolina Nature Center | Asheville | NC | 69.3 mi. | | | Greenville Zoo | Greenville | SC | 75.7 mi. | | | Tennessee Aquarium | Chattanooga | TN | 93.3 mi. | | | Warner Park Zoo | Chattanooga | TN | 93.3 mi. | | | Zoo Atlanta | Atlanta | GA | 107.1 mi. | |
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Disclaimer: We recommend you conduct your own research regarding all accomodations and attractions found on this website. The distances shown on this website are straight-line distances as the crow flies. The road distance may be considerably longer. You assume all liability for use of any information found on this website. No information is confirmed or warranted in any way. By using our services you agree to the terms and conditions of this disclaimer.
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