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Cedar Cliff Lake, North Carolina, USA

Nestled within the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains, Cedar Cliff Lake is one of North Carolina’s most picturesque bodies of water. It is thin and elongated, with a surface area of 121 acres and a shoreline length of 4.5 miles. The lake is located in Jackson County, and features a hydroelectric dam on its southern end that was completed in 1952 by Nantahala Power and Light, now Duke…
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    • All About Cedar Cliff Lake, NC

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - North Carolina - Mountains Region, NC -

    Nestled within the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains, Cedar Cliff Lake is one of North Carolina’s most picturesque bodies of water. It is thin and elongated, with a surface area of 121 acres and a shoreline length of 4.5 miles. The lake is located in Jackson County, and features a hydroelectric dam on its southern end that was completed in 1952 by Nantahala Power and Light, now Duke Energy. The lake is easy to navigate, and often frequented by boating, canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts.

    Cedar Cliff Lake is known for having one of the most impressive populations of largemouth bass in the state. Unlike other lakes in the area, Cedar Cliff Lake is not stocked by North Carolina’s Wildlife Resources Commission. Instead, largemouth bass swim in from the Tuckasegee River. Other fish species that reach impressive sizes in the lake include trout, musky, and smallmouth bass. Anglers also reel in catches of crappie, rock bass, sunfish, and bream. Fishermen recommend trolling sandbars and small streams for trout. A state fishing license is required to fish at Cedar Cliff Lake.

    Enveloped by the Nantahala National Forest, hiking is popular at Cedar Cliff Lake – as in most areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. One of the most notable trails in the region is the Whiteside Mountain National Recreation Trail. Another, the Ellicott Rock Trail, leads up Scaly Mountain. The best time to come is during October, when temperatures are cool and rain is unlikely.

    Cedar Cliff Lake also lies within Gorges State Park, a 7,500-acre wonderland previously owned by the Duke Energy Corporation. The government purchased the territory and converted it into a national park in 1999.The park includes a game land area of 2,900 acres that is regulated by the North Carolina Resources Commission. Here visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking.

    Three other lakes are located near Cedar Cliff Lake, all part of the East Fork (Tuckasegee River) Hydroelectric Project: Bear Creek Lake (476 acres), Wolf Creek Lake (183 acres), and Tenasee Creek Lake (39 acres). All four lakes have dams built by the Nantahala Power and Light Company in the 1940s and 1950s. Nantahala Power and Light is now a division of Duke Energy Corporation. For artists, the Cedar Cliff Dam is a great place to practice amateur photography or painting.

    Cedar Cliff Lake has a host of recreational activities suited to visitors of all walks of life. For adrenaline seekers, whitewater rafting is possible along the west fork of the nearby Tuckasegee River. This five-mile stretch of class II-III rapids is ideal for beginners. Tubing is also possible here – and also a great method for bird and wildlife watching.

    Families love Cedar Cliff Lake for its many family friendly options. Kids and parents alike enjoy camping at any of the myriad local grounds, which offer everything from summer sports to arts and crafts for children. Mom and Dad can spend the day at a beautiful golf course, and the night relaxing by the lakeside with a good book in hand. Cross country skiing is unbeatable during the winter.

    It is easy to forget all your worries at Cedar Cliff Lake. Real estate is available around the lake, including lots with motor boat docks and beautiful sunset vistas. Serene vacation rentals are also plentiful, and sometimes include a boat rental. Visitors often come for a short weekend, but quickly fall in love with Cedar Cliff Lake’s irresistible charm.

    Things to Do at Cedar Cliff Lake

    These are some activities in the Cedar Cliff Lake, NC area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Tubing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • State Park
    • National Park
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Cedar Cliff Lake?

    Cedar Cliff Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Cedar Cliff Lake

    If you’re considering a Cedar Cliff Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Cedar Cliff Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Cedar Cliff Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Cedar Cliff Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Duke Energy Corporation

    Surface Area: 121 acres

    Shoreline Length: 5 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 2,198 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 2,330 feet

    Average Depth: 89 feet

    Maximum Depth: 173 feet

    Completion Year: 1952

    Drainage Area: 81 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Oligotrophic

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