Camping at Santeetlah Lake

Date: 10/2/12 – 10/5/12
Location: Santeetlah, NC
GPS Coordinates: 35.370826, –83.911037
After spending a few days camping in Tennessee, we moved on to North Carolina. Around the shore of Lake Santeetlah are many dispersed (boondocking) spots. We were lucky enough to secure one of the sites that I had found while surfing the web. This site (J9) is amazing as it sites on a point on the lake. You are surrounded by water on (almost) three sides and there is a stream coming out of the mountains that empties into the lake right at the site. The spot for the camper is right next to the road, but there is so little traffic that this is not a problem. We did a lot of kayaking on this lake and the is almost no other boats on the lake. It may be different during the summer, but during the fall you almost have the huge lake to yourself. There are many coves to explore and we could have spend a lot more time exploring this lake.
Near by is the Joyce Kilmer Forest where there are some huge trees and great hiking. Joyce Kilmer is the poet who wrote the poem
I think that I shall never see
A billboard lovely as a tree….
Also, close by is the Cherohala Skyway drive. I would highly recommend this drive as it lends itself to some great views and more hiking trails.
Here is our Review of this campground:
Campground: Santeetlah Lake Dispersed Camping
Campground Website: http://townoflakesanteetlah.org/index.htm
Site Number: J9
Price: $0 night
Date visited: 10/02/2012 - 10/5/2012
Rating (1 = low, 5 = high)
Campsite size: 5
Campsite space between sites: 5
Campsite privacy between sites: 4.5
Campsite level: 3
Campsite parking: dirt
Campfire permitted: yes.
Fire ring on each site
Campsite picnic table: Yes
Campground Facilities: No hookups
Campground access to hiking: 4. Lots of hiking close by
Campground access to water (kayaking, fishing, swimming, etc): 5
Overall Campground rating: 5

Our boondocking camping site

Lake side site good for water sports

Some great kayaking

Relaxing at the camp site

Beautiful lake to paddle


Here’s a like to some more pics on Picassa

One of the longer paddles that we did
Lake Santleetlah Paddle at EveryTrail


Hiking Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Joyce Kilmer Upper Loop Trail at EveryTrail


A shorted paddle on the lake
Horse Cover Creek Paddle at EveryTrail