Hanging Rock Lake
Stokes County, North Carolina12 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Limited data
Hanging Rock Lake in Stokes County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 11.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Area
- 12 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
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Hanging Rock Lake is a 12-acre mesotrophic lake in Stokes County, North Carolina. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Stokes County, Hanging Rock Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.8 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Hanging Rock Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Hanging Rock Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hanging Rock Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hanging Rock State Park Dam (completed 1938), built primarily for recreation on the Cascade Creek; concrete-type dam, 38 ft tall and 190 ft long.
- Surface area
- 11.9 ac
- Normal storage
- 140 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 290 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.71 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Hanging Rock State Park
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00342 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.19 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Stokes County
Nearby Lakes in Stokes County
Frequently asked questions about Hanging Rock Lake
Where is Hanging Rock Lake?
- Hanging Rock Lake is a lake in Stokes 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 Hanging Rock Lake?
- Hanging Rock Lake in Stokes County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 11.9 acres.
Is Hanging Rock Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Hanging Rock Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 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
21NC03WQ20 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 (1)
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.