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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

Closure: Bradley Creek Trail (TR351) and a section of Yellow Gap Road ( FS Road 1206)

Bradley Creek Trail (TR351) and a section of Yellow Gap Road ( FS Road 1206) near milepost 6.7 from Highway 276, are temporarily closed to all traffic, including hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.Crews are repairing damage from a landslide that occurred during a previous weather event and was…

Nantahala National Forest

Lower portion of Dry Falls, Nantahala Ranger District, will be temporarily closed September 14- 18

The Nantahala Ranger District will temporarily close access to the lower portion of Dry Falls from September 14–18 to conduct necessary maintenance and improvements. During this period, public access to the base of the waterfall will not be available.To ensure visitors can still enjoy the site,…

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…

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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