North Carolina lakes

Every North Carolina lake we monitor — search, sort by conditions, or switch to the map. Cards show real readings or a clear dash.

Browse North Carolina by county
105lakes
47counties
50,000acres · largest
10live gauges

LakeVibe tracks 105 lakes across North Carolina in 47 counties. The largest is John H. Kerr Reservoir at about 50,000 acres. 10 lakes have live USGS water readings, refreshed regularly. Browse every lake by size or water clarity, see what each is good for, or find one near Raleigh–Durham — with real conditions, not guesses.

Good for
105 lakes
Aberdeen Lake

Aberdeen Lake

Moore County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Apalachia Lake

Apalachia Lake

Cherokee County
Clear water
Water
12.5 ftClarity
Level
Badin Lake

Badin Lake

Stanly County · near Charlotte
Water
Clarity
Level
Bass Lake

Bass Lake

Watauga County · near Boone
Water
Clarity
Level
Bay Tree Lake

Bay Tree Lake

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
3.3 ftClarity
Level
Bear Creek Lake

Bear Creek Lake

Jackson County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Beetree Reservoir

Beetree Reservoir

Buncombe County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Belews Lake

Belews Lake

Stokes County · near Greensboro
Clear water
Water
12.5 ftClarity
Level
Blewett Falls Lake

Blewett Falls Lake

Richmond County
Water
Clarity
Level
Boiling Spring Lakes

Boiling Spring Lakes

Brunswick County · near Wilmington
Water
Clarity
Level
Bond Lake

Bond Lake

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
341 ftLevel
Buckhorn Reservoir

Buckhorn Reservoir

Wilson County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Cane Creek Lake

Cane Creek Lake

Union County · near Rock Hill
Water
Clarity
Level
Cane Creek Reservoir

Cane Creek Reservoir

Orange County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
2.3 ftClarity
Level
Cascade Lake

Cascade Lake

Transylvania County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Cedar Cliff Lake

Cedar Cliff Lake

Jackson County · near Asheville
Clear water
Water
10.5 ftClarity
Level
Chatuge Lake

Chatuge Lake

Clay County
Clear water
Water
7.5 ftClarity
Level
Cheoah Lake

Cheoah Lake

Graham County
Clear water
Water
16.4 ftClarity
Level
City Lake

City Lake

Guilford County · near Greensboro
Water
Clarity
Level
Cliffside Lake

Cliffside Lake

Macon County
Water
5.7 ftClarity
Level
East Fork Lake

East Fork Lake

Jackson County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Falls Lake

Falls Lake

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
87°FWater
2.8 ftClarity
246 ftLevel
Falls Reservoir

Falls Reservoir

Montgomery County · near Charlotte
Water
Clarity
Level
Fontana Lake

Fontana Lake

Graham County
Clear water
Water
8.2 ftClarity
Level
Graham-Mebane Lake

Graham-Mebane Lake

Alamance County · near Greensboro
Water
2.3 ftClarity
Level
Greenfield Lake

Greenfield Lake

New Hanover County · near Wilmington
Water
Clarity
Level
High Rock Lake

High Rock Lake

Davidson County · near Greensboro
Water
Clarity
Level
Hinson Lake

Hinson Lake

Richmond County
Water
Clarity
Level
Hiwassee Lake

Hiwassee Lake

Cherokee County
Clear water
Water
13.9 ftClarity
Level
Hyco Lake

Hyco Lake

Person County
Water
3.3 ftClarity
10 ftLevel
John H. Kerr Reservoir

John H. Kerr Reservoir

Vance County
Water
6.2 ftClarity
Level
Jones Lake

Jones Lake

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Jordan Lake

Jordan Lake

Chatham County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
2.3 ftClarity
214 ftLevel
Julian Price Lake

Julian Price Lake

Watauga County · near Boone
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Adger

Lake Adger

Polk County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Auman

Lake Auman

Moore County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Benson

Lake Benson

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Brandt

Lake Brandt

Guilford County · near Greensboro
Water
2.3 ftClarity
Level
Lake Burlington

Lake Burlington

Alamance County · near Greensboro
Water
2.6 ftClarity
Level
Lake Butner

Lake Butner

Granville County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Crabtree

Lake Crabtree

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
275 ftLevel
Lake Devin

Lake Devin

Granville County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Emory

Lake Emory

Macon County
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Gaston

Lake Gaston

Warren County
Water
3.3 ftClarity
Level
Lake Glenville

Lake Glenville

Jackson County · near Asheville
Clear water
Water
10.8 ftClarity
Level
Lake Hickory

Lake Hickory

Catawba County · near Hickory
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Higgins

Lake Higgins

Guilford County · near Greensboro
Water
2 ftClarity
Level
Lake James

Lake James

Burke County · near Hickory
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Johnson

Lake Johnson

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
343 ftLevel
Lake Julian

Lake Julian

Buncombe County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska

Haywood County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Logan

Lake Logan

Haywood County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Lucas

Lake Lucas

Randolph County · near Greensboro
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Lure

Lake Lure

Rutherford County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Lynn

Lake Lynn

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
333 ftLevel
Lake Mackintosh

Lake Mackintosh

Alamance County · near Greensboro
Water
3.6 ftClarity
Level
Lake Mattamuskeet

Lake Mattamuskeet

Hyde County
83°FWater
Clarity
1 ftLevel
Lake Michie

Lake Michie

Durham County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Norman

Lake Norman

Iredell County · near Charlotte
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Orange

Lake Orange

Orange County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Phelps

Lake Phelps

Washington County
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Raleigh

Lake Raleigh

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Reidsville

Lake Reidsville

Rockingham County · near Greensboro
Water
3.6 ftClarity
Level
Lake Rhodhiss

Lake Rhodhiss

Burke County · near Hickory
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Rim

Lake Rim

Cumberland County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Roxboro

Lake Roxboro

Person County · near Greensboro
Water
3.6 ftClarity
Level
Lake Summit

Lake Summit

Henderson County · near Greenville SC
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Surf

Lake Surf

Moore County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Sutton

Lake Sutton

New Hanover County · near Wilmington
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Tabor

Lake Tabor

Columbus County
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Thom-A-Lex

Lake Thom-A-Lex

Davidson County · near Greensboro
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Tillery

Lake Tillery

Stanly County · near Charlotte
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Tomahawk

Lake Tomahawk

Buncombe County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Townsend

Lake Townsend

Guilford County · near Greensboro
Water
4.4 ftClarity
Level
Lake Toxaway

Lake Toxaway

Transylvania County · near Greenville SC
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Waccamaw

Lake Waccamaw

Columbus County · near Wilmington
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Wheeler

Lake Wheeler

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lake Wylie

Lake Wylie

Gaston County · near Charlotte
Water
5.2 ftClarity
Level
Little River Reservoir

Little River Reservoir

Durham County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
Lookout Shoals Lake

Lookout Shoals Lake

Iredell County · near Hickory
Water
Clarity
Level
Mayo Lake

Mayo Lake

Person County
Clear water
Water
7.9 ftClarity
Level
Merchants Millpond

Merchants Millpond

Gates County
Water
Clarity
Level
Mountain Island Lake

Mountain Island Lake

Gaston County · near Charlotte
Water
5.9 ftClarity
Level
Nantahala Lake

Nantahala Lake

Macon County
Clear water
Water
19.7 ftClarity
Level
Oak Hollow Lake

Oak Hollow Lake

Guilford County · near Greensboro
Water
Clarity
Level
Orton Pond

Orton Pond

Brunswick County · near Wilmington
Water
Clarity
Level
Randleman Lake

Randleman Lake

Randolph County · near Greensboro
Water
2.6 ftClarity
Level
Roanoke Rapids Lake

Roanoke Rapids Lake

Northampton County
Water
5.2 ftClarity
Level
Salem Lake

Salem Lake

Forsyth County · near Greensboro
Water
Clarity
Level
Salters Lake

Salters Lake

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Santeetlah Lake

Santeetlah Lake

Graham County
Clear water
Water
11.8 ftClarity
Level
Shearon Harris Lake

Shearon Harris Lake

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
2.6 ftClarity
Level
Shelley Lake

Shelley Lake

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
251 ftLevel
Singletary Lake

Singletary Lake

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Stony Creek Reservoir

Stony Creek Reservoir

Alamance County · near Greensboro
Water
1.6 ftClarity
Level
Suggs Mill Pond

Suggs Mill Pond

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Sycamore Lake

Sycamore Lake

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Tuckertown Reservoir

Tuckertown Reservoir

Davidson County · near Charlotte
Water
Clarity
Level
University Lake

University Lake

Orange County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
2 ftClarity
Level
W. Kerr Scott Reservoir

W. Kerr Scott Reservoir

Wilkes County · near Boone
Water
5.2 ftClarity
29 ftLevel
Waterville Lake

Waterville Lake

Haywood County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
West Fork Eno Reservoir

West Fork Eno Reservoir

Orange County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level
White Lake

White Lake

Bladen County · near Fayetteville
Water
Clarity
Level
Wolf Creek Lake

Wolf Creek Lake

Jackson County · near Asheville
Water
Clarity
Level
Yates Mill Pond

Yates Mill Pond

Wake County · near Raleigh–Durham
Water
Clarity
Level

Biggest lakes in North Carolina

Best North Carolina lakes for fishing

Best North Carolina lakes for boating

Best North Carolina lakes for paddling & kayaking

Best North Carolina lakes for sailing & big water

Best North Carolina lakes for camping & picnicking

Best North Carolina lakes for swimming

Best North Carolina lakes for wildlife viewing

Lakes near you

Lakes near Raleigh–Durham

Lakes near Greensboro

Lakes near Asheville

Lakes near Fayetteville

Lakes near Charlotte

Lakes near Wilmington

North Carolina lakes — frequently asked

How many North Carolina lakes are on LakeVibe?

LakeVibe tracks 105 lakes across North Carolina in 47 counties, each with real water data and things to do.

What is the largest lake in North Carolina?

John H. Kerr Reservoir is the largest lake we track in North Carolina, at about 50,000 acres.

Which North Carolina lake has the clearest water?

Of the lakes with measured clarity, Nantahala Lake has the deepest Secchi-disk reading — about 19.7 ft of visibility. Clarity varies by season and conditions.

Which North Carolina lakes have live water-level and temperature?

10 North Carolina lakes have live USGS gauge readings for water level and/or temperature, updated regularly. Each lake page shows its source and the time it was last checked.

Where can I go fishing in North Carolina?

Popular fishing lakes in North Carolina include John H. Kerr Reservoir, Lake Norman, Lake Gaston, Jordan Lake. Each lake page lists its public fishing access and what it's stocked with where that's published.