Bear Creek Reservoir
Jackson County, North Carolina476 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 49 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Bear Creek Reservoir in Jackson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Surface area: 476 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.7 ft
- Max depth
- ~49 ft est.
- Area
- 476 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bear Creek Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Creek Reservoir in Jackson County, North Carolina — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Bear Creek Reservoir
Prices for Sep 4–6, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Bear Creek Reservoir → · more North Carolina lake trips
Watch Bear Creek Reservoir’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Bear Creek Reservoir is a 476-acre mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 49 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Bear Creek Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-11-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Bear Creek Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.7 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.1 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~49 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 476 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Carolina has not published bathymetry for Bear Creek Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Bear CreekPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Bear Creek Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bear Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bear Creek (completed 1954), built primarily for hydroelectric on the East Fork Tuckasegee River; earth-type dam, 215 ft tall and 760 ft long.
- Surface area
- 476 ac
- Normal storage
- 34,600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 34,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 75 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Duke Energy
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00336 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Creek Reservoir
Where is Bear Creek Reservoir?
- Bear Creek Reservoir is a lake in Jackson County, North Carolina. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bear Creek Reservoir?
- Bear Creek Reservoir in Jackson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.1 µg/L. Surface area: 476 acres.
Is Bear Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Bear Creek Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Bear Creek Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 49 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 476 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Bear Creek Reservoir?
- Bear Creek Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bear Creek. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bear Creek Reservoir across LakeQuality
4 documented falls within 12.5 mi, nearest Courthouse Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
North Carolina's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Great Smoky Mountains?
Bear Creek Reservoir is about 36 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains →More North Carolina Lake Rankings
Ranked by overall water quality grade
Top 25 by Secchi water clarity
Grade A/B + low algae filter
Panfish-rich, public access
Full state directory
Other Grade C Lakes in North Carolina
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ38 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- WSSSOP
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory