High Rock Lake
Davidson County, North Carolina15,180 acresView mapDirections
NC DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for High Rock Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
High Rock Lake in Davidson County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 41.5 µg/L. Surface area: 15180 acres.
High Rock Lake is a 15,180-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Davidson County, North Carolina. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Davidson County, High Rock Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2021-09-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 15,000 acres, High Rock Lake is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has 4 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around High Rock Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What High Rock Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
- Big water15,180 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether High Rock Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for High Rock Lake
These are the measurements NC DEQ publishes for High Rock Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 41.5 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 50µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 41.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 64 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about High Rock Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Lake Details
Surface area
15,180 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by NC DEQ
No bathymetric survey has been published for High Rock Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Bringle FerryPublic
- Dutch SecondPublic
- Southmount Abbotts Creek Boat AccessPublic
- Buddle Creek Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near High Rock Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near High Rock Lake in Davidson 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around High Rock Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near High Rock Lake
Prices for Oct 23–25, 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 High Rock Lake → · more North Carolina lake trips
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Fishing High Rock Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
High Rock Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the High Rock (completed 1927), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Yadkin River; gravity-type dam, 96 ft tall and 936 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15,180 ac
- Normal storage
- 248,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 287,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3,980 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Cube Yadkin Generation LLC
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC06521 · Operator website
Nearby Lakes in Davidson County
Frequently asked questions about High Rock Lake
Where is High Rock Lake?
- High Rock Lake is a lake in Davidson County, North Carolina. Its water-quality measurements are published by NC DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of High Rock Lake?
- High Rock Lake in Davidson County, North Carolina has water-quality measurements published by NC DEQ, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 41.5 µg/L. Surface area: 15180 acres.
Is High Rock Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on High Rock Lake?
- High Rock Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bringle Ferry, Dutch Second, Southmount Abbotts Creek Boat Access, Buddle Creek Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at High Rock Lake?
- High Rock Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by North Carolina's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore High Rock Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
12.9 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Carolina's top lakes, each with its readings
North Carolina's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in North Carolina
Other Lakes in North Carolina
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Carolina
Where this data comes from
128 measurements from 8 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Carolina Dept of Environmental Quality NCDEQ-DWR WQX
21NC03WQ128 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
Monitoring station identifiers (8)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory