Lake James State Park
Open year-round. East Wimba Trail remains closed due to Hurricane Helene damage. Overmountain Victory Trail southern footbridge closed for repairs. Boat rentals currently unavailable. Near or above capacity crowds expected during Memorial Day weekend.
Flood Watch issued October 10 at 10:47PM EDT until October 11 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...In Northeast Georgia, the following counties: Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun and Stephens. In western North Carolina, the following counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Mitchell, Jackson, Transylvania and Yancey. In Upstate South Carolina, the following counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Central Greenville, Greater Oconee, Greater Pickens, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Spartanburg, and Oconee. * WHEN...Through Sunday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Low-water crossings may be flooded. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - As the remnants of Isaias move northward into the lower Ohio Valley, periods of rain will continue. High rainfall rates will continue in short bursts through the overnight hours. By Sunday morning, total accumulations of generally 5 to 8 inches are expected along the southeast-facing Blue Ridge Escarpment, with 2 to 5 inches elsewhere in the watch area. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
Flash Flood Warning issued October 10 at 10:25PM EDT until October 11 at 4:15AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
FFWGSP The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... McDowell County in western North Carolina... * Until 415 AM EDT. * At 1025 PM EDT, Rounds of torrential rainfall have impacted many areas of McDowell County following a prolonged period of steady light to moderate rain, which produced storm-total rainfall of 2-4 inches over the past 12 hours. Unfortunately, this current torrential rainfall is producing another 1.5-2.5 inches of rain over the past couple of hours. This rainfall over saturated soils is causing more significant rises to develop along areas streams and associated tributaries. Areas of greatest concern include the headwaters of Cove Creek and the Second Broad River near Sugar Hill, where the 3300 block of Sugar Hill Road is closed due to flooding; Nix Creek near Providence; Crooked Creek near Moffitt Hill; and the Upper Catawba River between Old Fort and Pleasant Gardens, including along Lytle Mountain Rd, where a foot of flood waters have currently closed the roadway. Additionally, a landslide has been observed on NC-226A with minor impacts to the roadway. Additional areas of Minor flooding are expected to develop over the next 1-3 hours. Please obey all barricades and heed all evacuation orders from local Emergency Management officials. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect flash flooding of low-lying areas near streams, including parks, trails, low-water crossings, boat- access areas, and campgrounds. Low-lying roadways are likely to be flooded. An isolated landslide or two cannot be ruled out. * Some locations that may experience flash flooding include... Marion, Old Fort, Lake James, Lake James State Park, B.R. Parkway-Craggy To Little Switzerland, B.R. Parkway-Little Switzerland To Linville, Linville Falls, Pleasant Gardens, Sugar Hill and Glenwood.
About
Lake James State Park sits along the shores of Lake James in McDowell and Burke counties, approximately 50 miles northeast of Asheville. The park offers three camping options suited to different experience levels. The Paddy's Creek drive-in campground features 33 tent sites with 20-foot driveways, 12x12-foot tent pads, fire pits, picnic tables, and nearby potable water. A 24-hour bathhouse provides flush toilets and hot showers. Two ADA-accessible sites are available. The Catawba River Access provides 20 walk-in backpack sites located 150-300 yards from the parking area with roughly 100 feet of elevation change. Each site has a 17x16-foot tent pad, fire pit, and picnic table. A bathhouse with water is available near the parking lot. For a more remote experience, the Long Arm Peninsula offers 30 primitive paddle-in sites accessible only by boat. These sites have larger tent pads but no potable water; campers must pack in their own supplies. Pit toilets are distributed throughout the peninsula. Beyond camping, the park offers swimming at Paddy's Creek beach (May through September), over 25 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, multiple boat ramps, and excellent fishing opportunities. The park is open year-round except Christmas Day, though summer and shoulder season weekends see high visitation.
Directions
From I-40, take Exit 90 and head north on Jamestown Road toward Nebo. Turn right on Harmony Grove Road, then left on Lake James State Park Road to reach Paddy's Creek Access. For Catawba River Access, continue on NC 126 to 2785 N.C. 126, Nebo.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $17 - $600 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 20ft |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| lake.james@ncparks.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (828) 544-6800 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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