Top 6 Lakes By The Triangle

Your Best Lake Life: Original Content by Carl Johnson

 No matter the time of year North Carolina is known for the great outdoor lifestyle it can offer. While the beaches can be a seasonal favorite, one of our best Triangle features that can even be taken for granted at times, is our close proximity to some of the best recreational lakes in the south east. If you are looking for a home nearby a local lake site, CLICK HERE to read our fabulous resources on Lake Living Communities. But if you are looking to learn more about the different lakes and opportunities each has to offer, keep reading as we highlight the top lakes by the Triangle: Kerr Lake, Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, Hyco Lake, Mayo Lake, and Little River Lake/Reservoir. Each lake offers unlimited amenities and activities that are close proximity to Triangle locations. You can find yourself bird watching for the American Bald Eagle, paddle boarding on one of the largest lakes in the south east, geocaching on local hiking trails, or taking in an outdoor movie lake side. See what the lake life really means below!

                                             Photo Caption: Kerr Lake Dam Photo Credit:  Kerr Lake

Kerr Lake
Website: Kerr Lake - Vance County NC Tourism Department (kerrlake-nc.com)
Address: 6254 Satterwhite Point Road, Henderson, NC 27537
Distance to Durham: 47 miles 
Size: 50,000 acres, or 850 miles of shoreline

What To Do: Being one of the largest lakes in the southeast, Kerr Lake offers a multitude of activities. Over 3-miles of hiking trails, camping at the many tent sites, RV hook up sites, and group campgrounds, birdwatching, golding, picnicking at any of the numerous pavilions throughout, and enjoy events at the outdoor amphitheater. These are just some of the many activities to do that don’t even include the water. If swimming and fishing are some of your favorite past times then Kerr Lake has you covered. The shoreline offers a few beach access points for easy access into the swimming area as well as nearby bathhouses. With multiple boat ramps throughout the shore as well as a local privately owned marinas, you are able to dock, fuel up, and set out for a day out on the water. If you aren’t able to bring your own paddle boards or kayak you can even rent right there lakeside. 

Events: The locals of Kerr Lake supply the area with shopping from antique stores and flea markets to big name grocery stores and coffee stops.  Some of the most popular seasonal events are: 
American Bass Anglers Professional Tournament - June & September
Relay for Life - June
Governor’s Cup Regatta - June
Independence Day & Firework Celebration on the Lake - July
Show, Shine, Shag & Dine Car Show - October 
E.C. Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion - October
Corbitt Truck Show & Reunion - October
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament - September & October

With hotels, rentals, and campsites all around the 50,000 acres of Kerr Lake there are numerous options for you to find a place to stay and make great memories during a relaxing vacation to the lake. Kerr Lake even offers a great country club, nearby wineries, museums and more! Make Kerr Lake your next stop any time of year when you need some time to unwind and enjoy.

                                           Photo Caption: Seaforth Access, Photo Credit: Jordan Lake 

Jordan Lake
Website: About Jordan Lake - Jordan Lake Visitors Guide | Raleigh, NC (jordanlakenc.org)
Address:  280 State Park Road, Apex, NC 27523
Distance to Durham: 24 miles 
Size: 13,000 acres

What To Do: This large man-made lake just south of Durham offers a quick escape from the city into nature. Even as a popular boating and recreational lake, Jordan Lake still provides much of the surrounding area as their main water supply. With almost 10 miles of hiking trails, Jordan Lake is a great spot for birdwatching, where it is often a known nesting site for the American Bald Eagle. There are even birdwatching platforms throughout to help you see the rare glimpse of the Bald Eagles and their nest sites. The lake’s recreational sites include 6 main campgrounds with hundreds of campsites, RV hookup locations, picnic shelters, shower stalls and common water/electric amenities. Beach access throughout the shore line, 11 boating docks and ramps around, paddling boarding, jet skiing and fishing are popular activities. 

Events: Some Jordan Lakes events you can enjoy include:
Jordan Lake Open Water Challenge Swim - May
Clean Jordan Lake Spring Cleaning - April
The Hurricane Swim - Triangle Swim Series Championship - October
NC SciFest Nature Scavenger Hunt - April

                                        Photo Caption: Waterfall Hero Hikes, Photo Credit: Falls Lake 

Falls Lake
Website:  Falls Lake State Recreation Area: Home | NC State Parks (ncparks.gov)
Address:  13304 Creedmoor Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Distance to Durham: 12 miles 
Size:  12,000 acres

What To Do: Offering over 14 miles of biking trails and 25 miles of hiking trails, Falls Lake is a few minutes drive out of the city where you can be one with nature. The recreational site for Falls Lakes offers seven access points into the water as well as over 30 campsites. Portions of Falls Lake trails are part of the Mountain-to-Sea State Trails which spans 1,400 miles of trails from the Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks.  The bike trails of Falls Lake set it apart from other popular lakes. Using the Beaverdam Access site you can get on what is known as the premier biking trails for the Durham area! According to the NC Parks website “during the spring and fall, migrating monarch butterflies add to the picturesque beauty of the lake” (Falls Lake State Recreation Area: Home | NC State Parks (ncparks.gov)). 

Falls Lakes also has general park and lake amenities such as campsites, swimming, fishing, boating, paddle boarding, community center and a local marina where you can rent your own boards as needed. 

Events: 
Run with a Ranger - April
B.W. Wells Heritage Day - April
First Day Hike - January
Beaver Dam Mountain Bike Night Rite - November

                                               Photo Caption: ADA Fishing Pier, Photo Credit: Mayo Lake 

Mayo Lake
Website: Mayo Lake Park | Person County, NC Website (personcountync.gov)
Address: 1013 Neals Store Rd, Roxboro, NC 27574
Distance to Durham: 34 miles 
Size: 2,800 acres

What To Do: This man-made lake is also known as Mayo Reservoir is a great less busy option than some of our previously named lakes. With beach access locations, dock and boat ramps, indoor and outdoor pavilions rentals, Mayo Lake has all that the bigger lakes offer just a calm drive away. The 120 acre recreation area around the lake, called Mayo Park, offers picnic shelters, RV hookups and tent and cabin campsites. The park takes pride in its great fun and clean atmosphere throughout making it welcoming for the single hiker to full family getaways. There is also a launch point for canoes, kayaking, and the popular paddling boarding. 

Pearson County’s website states that “Mayo Park’s Environmental Education and Community Center is a popular destination in Person County for larger events including parties, weddings, family reunions, and community events.  Convenient to Mayo Park’s EECC are an ADA accessible fishing pier, two picnic shelters, a large accessible playground, restroom facilities, and the Mayo Park boat landing. Mayo Park’s  Sasquatch disc golf course uses the natural beauty of Mayo Lake to create a scenic challenging disc golf course that will keep disc golfers on their toes” (Mayo Lake Park | Person County, NC Website (personcountync.gov)).

Events: Some great events that take place throughout the year at Mayo Lake are: concerts, NC Big Sweep geocaching, star gazing, kayaking tours, bird house building, disc golf tournaments, outdoor movies, fishing lessons and tournaments.
Annual Youth Fishing Derby - June
Mayo Lake Open Bass Tournament - April
Flying Colors Kite Day - April
Chalk & Art Day - March 

                                     Photo Caption: Hyco Lake Campground, Photo Credit: Hyco Lake 

Hyco Lake
Website: Welcome to HycoLake.com - Roxboro, NC
Address:  205 Pointer Dr, Leasburg, NC 27291
Distance to Durham: 42 miles 
Size:  3,750 acres

What To Do: Also known Carolina Power Lake, Hyco Lake is a popular man made lake that has over 1,800 homes surrounding that area. Some of the homes offered as rentals make Hyco a great place to spend a few days getaway. The 65 acres of the lake's recreational area offer multiple campsites, boat docks, bathhouse, tennis courts, playgrounds, fishing, and picnic shelters. Another popular spot at the lake is the 18-hole disc golf course which is open and free to the public. The recreation center’s community house is available to rent for events and often hosts concerts. 

Events: In addition to yearly fishing tournaments you can find great local events at Hyco Lake all year long, see below!
Flem Whitt Beach Music Festival - August
Light the Night on Hyco Lake - November
Buoys on Hyco Lake - Local bar & grill that hosts live music all year long
Hyko Lake Triathlon - April

                    Photo Caption: Fishing kayaks, Photo Credit: Little River Lake/Reservoir

Little River Lake/Reservoir
Website: Facilities • Little River Park and Marina (dprplaymore.org)
Address:  301 Little River Park Way, Rougemont, NC 27572 
Distance to Durham: 11 miles 
Size: 391 acres

What To Do: This little lake is big fun. Including fishing, boating, a biking trail along with five hiking trails all while being only minutes to downtown Durham. You can find all the basic lake staples such as campsites, picnic shelters, an event space, and even a horseshoe pit. Little River also offers a 15-acre park including a butterfly garden, over 7 miles of nature trails, playgrounds, and restroom facilities. You can also find events throughout the year hosted by the park (Little River Regional Park | Durham County (dconc.gov)).  You can book lakes tours on a canoe or bring your own to paddle around and take in nature. There is a cute little bait shop by the lake too that is perfect for snacks, drinks, and your fishing and lake needs.

Events: 
Little River Days - June
Shark Attack Beach Bash - July
Full Moon Float - May
Movies at the Park - Saturdays throughout the Summer
Walleye Challenge - June

If you think lake life is for you let us know today and we will work with you to make that dream happen! Whether you want a home on the lake or a community that is walkable to the trails, we know the ins and outs of the area to help you get the perfect property. Want to learn more about some of these great nearby communities? CLICK HERE to read about Roxboro and find out if it is a place you want to call home.