Updated August 2026
Best Kayaking Lakes in North Carolina
Top 13 kayaking lakes in North Carolina, ranked by Secchi clarity (clearer water makes for better paddling — you can see fish, plants, and the bottom).
- Grade A–B water quality
- No known access restrictions
- 50–2,000 acres
Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Sutton Lake (A) tops the North Carolina list.
Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote North Carolina lakes rather than the small, residential ones.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Grade | Clarity | Area | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sutton Lake | New Hanover | NC | A | 10 ft | 1,185 acres | - |
| 2 | Center of Sutton Lake | New Hanover | NC | A | 6.7 ft | 1,185 acres | - |
| 3 | Lake Julian | Buncombe | NC | A | - | 470 acres | ~26 ft est. |
| 4 | Burnett Reservoir | Buncombe | NC | A | - | 334 acres | ~28 ft est. |
| 5 | Water Lake | Richmond | NC | A | - | 56 acres | ~33 ft est. |
| 6 | Old Town Reservoir | Moore | NC | B | 6.9 ft | 61 acres | ~49 ft est. |
| 7 | White Lake | Bladen | NC | B | 3.9 ft | - | ~31 ft est. |
| 8 | Hope Mills Lake | Cumberland | NC | B | 3.3 ft | 68 acres | ~26 ft est. |
| 9 | Bay Tree Lake | Bladen | NC | B | 2.4 ft | - | ~28 ft est. |
| 10 | Jones Lake | Bladen | NC | B | 2.1 ft | - | ~39 ft est. |
| 11 | Catfish Lake | Craven | NC | B | 1.8 ft | - | ~40 ft est. |
| 12 | Salters Lake | Bladen | NC | B | 1.7 ft | - | ~40 ft est. |
| 13 | Merchants Millpond | Gates | NC | B | 1.6 ft | 760 acres | - |
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Where to stay near North Carolina kayaking lakes
Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near North Carolina's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.
Top-rated places to stay near North Carolina paddling lakes
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.