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The French Broad Paddle Trail spans 140 miles of river from Rosman, NC all the way to Newport, TN! This paddle trail runs directly through Asheville and offers an abundance of SUP opportunities!
This picturesque 200 acre lake in Haywood County is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and is less than 30 minutes from Asheville. If you’re looking for a quick & easy paddle in a beautiful location Junaluska is for you! Perfect for sunrise & sunset trips!
This 8.9 acre lake in Black Mountain is absolutely stunning and less than 30 minutes from Asheville! It’s the perfect location for a quick day-trip or for first-time paddle boarders looking to get their feet wet!
Just over 1 hour from Asheville, this 500 acre lake is the largest of the “Four Remote Gems” of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. Explore this secluded lake with minimal shoreline development and a hidden waterfall to discover!
This 121 acre lake is adjacent to Bear Creek Lake and is another of the "Four Remote Gems." It’s narrow winding channel provides a peaceful paddling experience. Cedar Cliff Lake is the lowest in elevation of the “Four Remote Gems” of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River.
Another “Remote Gem” – 183 acre Wolf Creek Lake is the second largest lake (after Bear Creek Lake) on the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. This lake is interestingly fed through an underground tunnel from nearby Tanasee Creek Lake.
The smallest and most secluded of the “Four Remote Gems” of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River. At 40 acres Tanasee Creek Lake is too small for larger motor boats providing a more peaceful paddling experience for SUP’s.
Explore the crystal clear waters of the Tuckasegee River – just 1 hour from Asheville! This 60 mile river runs right through downtown Bryson City.
This 8 acre lake was originally owned by the Mead Paper Company and used for corporate retreats. It was acquired by the US Forest Service in 1982 and opened to the public. Motor boats are not permitted so you can paddle peacefully!
Lake Glenville is the highest elevation lake east of the Mississippi. It spans 1,470 acres with 26 miles of shoreline surrounded by mountainous rainforest. There are four waterfalls to discover that can only be accessed by boat!
Jocassee offers over 7,500 acres of pristine lake that remains mostly undeveloped. This lake is in South Carolina but still less than 2 hours from Asheville. There are several beautiful waterfalls that flow directly into the lake!
Just south of Jocassee, Keowee is another beautiful South Carolina lake spanning 18,500 acres. It’s 26 miles long with over 300 miles of shoreline offering plenty to explore including multiple waterfalls, a popular “jumping rock,” and “party cove.”
Lake James is a stunning 6,800 acre lake situated at the base of Linville Gorge and less than 1 hour from Asheville. There are two separate boat access points and 30 paddle-in campsites for those who are interested in multi-day adventures!
Lake Rhodhiss is a scenic 3,000-acre lake nestled between the Blue Ridge foothills – just over one hour from Asheville. With over 90 miles of shoreline, this peaceful lake offers clear water, quiet coves, and minimal development—perfect for a relaxing paddle.
Fontana is the largest lake in Western NC encompassing over 10,000 acres and 238 miles of shoreline. It’s natural beauty is preserved & protected by the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Nantahala National Forest.
Slightly southwest of Fontana Lake is the smaller yet equally beautiful Lake Santeetlah. It’s over 2,800 acres with 76 miles of shoreline – 80% of which is protected by Nantahala National Forest. Less than 2 hours from Asheville!
Lake Julia is a 100 acre lake located just 1.5 hours from Asheville within the incredible Dupont State Recreational Forest. This beautiful lake is not accessible by vehicle so you need to hike in your SUP about 2.5 miles but it is WORTH IT!
Fawn Lake is a small ~5 acre lake located in Dupont State Recreational Forest. There is no direct vehicle access so you need to hike your SUP about half a mile in order to access this beautifully scenic and secluded swimming hole.
The Green River flows directly into the 430+ acre Lake Adger which boasts 14.5 miles of shoreline with beautiful mountain views. This lake is restricted to low horsepower boats which keeps the water calm and serene for paddling.
Lake Summit is a 324 acre lake that feeds into the Green River. This lake is privately managed only allowing motorized boats from homeowners. However, the lake remains legally accessible to non-motorized boats like SUP’s.
The Watauga River flows for 78.5 miles from Western North Carolina into Eastern Tennessee. It presents multiple options for paddling that are less than 2 hours from Asheville!
Watauga Lake’s 6,430 acres and 105 miles of shoreline are surrounded by the scenic and pristine Cherokee National Forest. This beautiful lake is in Tennessee but it’s less than 2 hours from Asheville and definitely worth the trip!
This paddle trail runs for 163 miles through beautiful North Carolina terrain and offers 17 public access points for paddlers. The Yadkin River is a mostly flat, relaxed float with a few class I-II rapids.
Just under 2 hours from Asheville, this gorgeous, crystal clear lake spans 1,600 acres with nearly 30 miles of mostly undeveloped shoreline. The lake sits just above scenic Nantahala Gorge at an elevation of 3,000 feet.
CLOSED FOR 2025 Lake Lure is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene and is not able to accommodate paddlers at the moment. Stay tuned to explore this beautiful lake in 2026!
This nearly 60 mile long dam-release river flows from Lake Summit to Lake Adger. The Upper Green contains class II-IV rapids while the Lower Green offers a relaxed float with a few class I-II rapids.
The 217 mile long Catawba River flows from Western North Carolina into South Carolina where it eventually becomes the Wateree River. This river presents multiple options for great paddle boarding experiences that are less than one hour away from Asheville!
