Highest Elevation Lakes and Reservoirs in North Carolina

This list of the highest elevation lakes and reservoirs in NC is based on the official United States Geological Survey publication: Lakes and Reservoirs of the United States. The county label for each of the lakes/reservoirs in each county may vary since there are some bodies of water that cross county lines, but only the single county listed in the Geological Survey is shown. This is a list of the 100 highest lakes and reservoirs in North Carolina, ranked by elevation. All elevation measurements are in feet above sea level.

1 Potato Hill Lake: Highest Elevation Lake/Reservoir in North Carolina

Elevation: 4108

Classification: Reservoir (Highest Reservoir in North Carolina)

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.2830469 -81.71659714

2 Highlands Reservoir

Elevation: 4091

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0997755 -83.2038558

3 Inver Lochy Lake

Elevation: 4003

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.1213044 -81.83557688

4 Ravenel Lake

Elevation: 3996

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0854645 -83.16093213

5 Wildwood Mountain Lake

Elevation: 3973

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.093426 -83.168204

6 Flat Top Mountain Lake

Elevation: 3924

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Buncombe County, North Carolina 35.5767832 -82.3765083

7 Cold Springs Saddle Club Lake

Elevation: 3914

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0928922 -83.17922491

8 Grandmother Lake

Elevation: 3839

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.0744882 -81.8431103

9 Ravenel Lake

Elevation: 3835

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0547468 -83.18809188

10 Harris Lake

Elevation: 3829

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0501389 -83.19423576

11 Mars Hill Reservoir

Elevation: 3819

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Madison County, North Carolina 35.9424925 -82.49428178

12 Hurricane Lake

Elevation: 3813

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1212991 -83.12763262

13 Randall Lake

Elevation: 3796

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0796094 -83.20696651

14 Whiteside Lake

Elevation: 3790

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1114153 -83.15318832

15 Grandfather Mountain Lake

Elevation: 3786

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.097313 -81.85367588

16 Hidden Lake

Elevation: 3760

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1272613 -83.16536702

17 Trout Lake

Elevation: 3757

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.151692 -81.70165083

18 Wildcat Lake

Elevation: 3734

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.1478348 -81.88263791

19 Osage Lake

Elevation: 3721

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0075888 -83.29092402

20 Allison Lake

Elevation: 3675

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1298165 -83.157647

21 Webb

Elevation: 3665

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1538139 -83.0991043

22 Mirror Lake

Elevation: 3665

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0649825 -83.20758955

23 Ponderosa Lake

Elevation: 3648

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Buncombe County, North Carolina 35.5628997 -82.35846868

24 Club Lake

Elevation: 3635

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0498343 -83.21828713

25 Mill Pond

Elevation: 3635

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.1579294 -81.87123731

26 Richard Wood Upper Lake

Elevation: 3629

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1050931 -83.1348692

27 Appalachian Ski Mountain Lake

Elevation: 3626

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.1751287 -81.6581615

28 Lake Kawahna

Elevation: 3626

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.0528988 -81.87714586

29 Heart Lake

Elevation: 3609

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.1451016 -81.68883842

30 Lake Sequoyah

Elevation: 3603

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0623689 -83.22125875

31 Bass Lake

Elevation: 3563

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.1413164 -81.6843732

32 Laurel Lake

Elevation: 3553

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Mitchell County, North Carolina 35.8662908 -82.11042185

33 Balsam Lake

Elevation: 3540

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.2687288 -82.96958914

34 Fisher Lake

Elevation: 3534

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0068413 -83.30222227

35 Land Harbors Lake

Elevation: 3530

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 36.0387816 -81.8911576

36 Trout Lake

Elevation: 3498

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.2002214 -83.11621969

37 Jenkins Lake

Elevation: 3484

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1614819 -83.12283146

38 Lake Glenville

Elevation: 3484

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1732235 -83.14643508

39 Cashiers Lake

Elevation: 3471

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1069067 -83.1007044

40 Chetola Lake

Elevation: 3468

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.1381122 -81.6724113

41 Hampton Lake

Elevation: 3438

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.101526 -83.07888916

42 Moravian Camp Lake

Elevation: 3425

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Ashe County, North Carolina 36.36947 -81.26321038

43 A S U Lake

Elevation: 3425

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.2393964 -81.67209393

44 Sims Pond

Elevation: 3422

Classification: Lake (Highest Elevation Naturally Occurring Lake in NC)

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.1425257 -81.7188496

45 Montreat Reservoir

Elevation: 3406

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Buncombe County, North Carolina 35.6649796 -82.28708017

46 Willis Lake

Elevation: 3402

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Alleghany County, North Carolina 36.4263543 -81.14515592

47 Price Lake

Elevation: 3383

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.1363844 -81.73413385

48 Cliffside Lake

Elevation: 3373

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0797574 -83.23516346

49 Moore Creek Upper Lake

Elevation: 3340

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.1018548 -83.55737857

50 Spruce Pine Reservoir

Elevation: 3337

Classification: Reservoir

Mitchell County, North Carolina 35.9634096 -82.06607108

51 Noname

Elevation: 3317

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.0891071 -83.28189775

52 Waynesville Reservoir

Elevation: 3311

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Haywood County, North Carolina 35.4120467 -82.9981918

53 Moore Creek Lower Lake

Elevation: 3297

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.1009736 -83.56540115

54 McGuire Lake

Elevation: 3265

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.3433883 -83.14718753

55 Buckner Lake

Elevation: 3242

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Mitchell County, North Carolina 35.8407864 -82.10996791

56 Camp Daniel Boone Lake

Elevation: 3212

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Haywood County, North Carolina 35.3912833 -82.89757615

57 Canton Reservoir

Elevation: 3206

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Haywood County, North Carolina 35.5881607 -82.8437464

58 Lupton Lake

Elevation: 3202

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1269497 -83.07796006

59 Richard Wood Lower Lake

Elevation: 3199

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1017597 -83.1282023

60 Fairfield Lake

Elevation: 3189

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1217606 -83.0381982

61 Waynesville Reservoir

Elevation: 3183

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Haywood County, North Carolina 35.4280475 -83.01215126

62 Cranberry Lake

Elevation: 3179

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 3179 36.1426527 -81.97037433

63 Hodge Lake

Elevation: 3179

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.3584337 -83.1581992

64 Intermont Lake

Elevation: 3169

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1067598 -83.0015309

65 Fairfield Lake

Elevation: 3156

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1270451 -83.04190808

66 Meadow Lake

Elevation: 3150

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1150935 -83.0331983

67 Hogback Lake

Elevation: 3150

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.1176806 -83.01464201

68 Blue Ridge Lake

Elevation: 3146

Classification: Lake

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1665264 -82.93888367

69 Indian Lake Upper

Elevation: 3143

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1567671 -82.9398591

70 Fleetwood Falls Lake

Elevation: 3124

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Ashe County, North Carolina 36.3001273 -81.5448274

71 Rosasco Lake Upper

Elevation: 3117

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.2204389 -81.77720398

72 Sapphire Lake

Elevation: 3114

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.11255 -83.02100185

73 Noname

Elevation: 3107

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Alleghany County, North Carolina 36.43513 -81.1281409

74 Woodfin Reservoir

Elevation: 3094

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Buncombe County, North Carolina 35.6998718 -82.4357365

75 Wolf Creek Lake

Elevation: 3068

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.2274683 -82.99438251

76 High Rock Lake

Elevation: 3068

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1655979 -82.67883284

77 Tanasee Creek Lake

Elevation: 3064

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Jackson County, North Carolina 35.2125328 -82.99470828

78 Blue Ridge Hills Lake

Elevation: 3061

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1551033 -82.9031908

79 Upper Lake Toxaway

Elevation: 3055

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1467654 -82.956527

80 Lake Charles

Elevation: 3055

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Buncombe County, North Carolina 35.4789358 -82.25384217

81 Marchmans Lake

Elevation: 3035

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1738978 -82.70161762

82 Tarheel Lake

Elevation: 3035

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1334497 -82.6998499

83 Queens Creek Lake

Elevation: 3015

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.2775984 -83.65314628

84 Nantahala Lake

Elevation: 3009

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Macon County, North Carolina 35.1808553 -83.68276383

85 Slick Rock Mountain Lake

Elevation: 3009

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1627992 -82.70354887

86 Lake Toxaway

Elevation: 3009

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1345063 -82.9407895

87 T J Wilson Lake

Elevation: 3002

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1315019 -82.71231403

88 Temple Lake

Elevation: 2996

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Alleghany County, North Carolina 36.4470781 -81.09527271

89 Long Lake

Elevation: 2992

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.162338 -82.7045713

90 Eagles Nest Lake

Elevation: 2986

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1301166 -82.6598488

91 Gusher Knob Lake

Elevation: 2979

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Avery County, North Carolina 35.9843715 -82.00161247

92 Lake Taroga

Elevation: 2950

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1418783 -82.73352015

93 Thunder Lake

Elevation: 2933

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1315607 -82.66552931

94 Tar Heel Lake

Elevation: 2923

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1336393 -82.68198111

95 Boot Lake

Elevation: 2920

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1301515 -82.68522285

96 Arrowhead Lake

Elevation: 2917

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina 35.1350613 -82.68694211

97 Different Drum Lake

Elevation: 2910

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Watauga County, North Carolina 36.2245007 -81.7568997

98 Lake Louellen

Elevation: 2910

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Henderson County, North Carolina 35.2028167 -82.56171943

99 Lake Logan

Elevation: 2910

Classification: Lake

Location: Haywood County, North Carolina 35.4150872 -82.92856369

100 High Meadows Lake

Elevation: 2907

Classification: Reservoir

Location: Alleghany County, North Carolina 36.4117987 -80.9948002

This data was queried from the Geographic Names Information System. I first got interested in the elevation of these bodies of water due to my interest in looking for kokanee salmon across the United States. Kokanee prefer the higher altitude lakes and reservoirs, and I was intrigued to learn about the kokanee in North Carolina, a fish that’s more commonly found in the west and pacific north west of the United States and Canada. I put together this guide during that research.