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WOLF CREEK LAKE DISPERSED CAMPSITES

Closed

Camping is restricted at Wolf Creek Fishing Trail per official USFS forest orders. The Wolf Creek Lake area is designated for day-use fishing and boating access only. Additionally, fire restrictions are in effect across all North Carolina National Forests as of April 15, 2026, prohibiting open campfires outside developed recreation sites.

Nantahala National Forest

Old Fort Picnic Area -- closed Aug. 28-30, 2026

The Old Fort Picnic Area will be closed starting today through the weekend for paving. The area will reopen for parking Monday, August 31. The parking lot, which was damaged during Hurricane Helene, is being repaved as part of a larger project to restore and improve the picnic area. Due to the…

Nantahala National Forest

Commissary Ridge Dispersed Camping Area Temporarily Closed

Due to an increase in bear activity in the dispersed camping area at Commissary Ridge on the Pisgah National Forest near Mt. Mitchell State Park the camping area will be temporarily closed. This measure is to help provide visitor safety and minimize bear encounters.

Nantahala National Forest

Croatan Ranger District Office Relocation

Beginning Friday, August 7, 2026, the current Croatan Ranger District Office building will permanently close as North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) begins its US 70 widening project. Until construction of the new Croatan Ranger District is complete, visitor services will operate…

About

Wolf Creek Lake sits at approximately 3,100 feet elevation in the mountains of Jackson County, created by Nantahala Power & Light in the early 1950s. The 183-acre lake is the second largest of the four East Fork Lakes and offers fishing for rainbow, brook, and brown trout, as well as smallmouth bass and walleye. While some third-party sources reference primitive dispersed camping along the lakeshore, the official USFS website for National Forests in North Carolina explicitly lists the Wolf Creek Fishing Trail under Nantahala Ranger District areas where camping and building a fire or using a camp stove is restricted. The only officially designated dispersed camping area in the Nantahala Ranger District is Blue Valley Dispersed Camping. The lake does have a public boat ramp and restrooms at the NC Wildlife Resources Commission boating access area located at 8 Wolf Pen Rd, Tuckasegee, NC. This is a day-use facility for fishing and boating access, not overnight camping. Contact the Nantahala Ranger District at (828) 524-6441 to verify current regulations before planning any overnight stay.

Directions

From Sylva, take US-107 south through Cullowhee to the junction with NC-281. Turn left on NC-281 south and continue 13 miles to the Wolf Creek Lake access area on the left, just before crossing the dam.

Amenities

Water No
Fires Allowed No
Toilets
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed
Showers No
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $0

Vehicle

Max RV Length
Max Trailer Length
Big Rig Friendly No
Pull Through Sites

Contact

Email sm.fs.nantahalard@usda.gov
Phone +1 (828) 524-6441

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

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