Thorpe Reservoir
Jackson County, North Carolina1,462 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- 99 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Thorpe Reservoir in Jackson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.3 µg/L. Surface area: 1462 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.7 ft
- Max depth
- ~99 ft est.
- Area
- 1,462 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Thorpe Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Thorpe 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 Thorpe 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 Thorpe Reservoir → · more North Carolina lake trips
Watch Thorpe Reservoir’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Thorpe Reservoir is a 1,462-acre mesotrophic lake in Jackson County, North Carolina with an estimated average depth of about 99 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Thorpe Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NCDEQ, last sampled 2024-11-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Thorpe Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water1,462 acres
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 8.7 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.3 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~99 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~55 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 1,462 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 Thorpe 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
- Pine CreekPublic
- Powerhouse SitePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Thorpe Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Thorpe Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Thorpe (completed 1941), built primarily for hydroelectric on the West Fork Tuckasegee River; rockfill-type dam, 150 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,462 ac
- Normal storage
- 65,600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 67,100 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 37 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Duke Energy
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NC00378 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Jackson County
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Thorpe Reservoir
Where is Thorpe Reservoir?
- Thorpe 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 Thorpe Reservoir?
- Thorpe Reservoir in Jackson County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.3 µg/L. Surface area: 1462 acres.
Is Thorpe Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Thorpe Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Thorpe Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 99 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 1462 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Thorpe Reservoir?
- Thorpe Reservoir has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pine Creek, Powerhouse Site. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Thorpe Reservoir across LakeQuality
4 documented falls within 12.3 mi, nearest Cullasaja 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?
Thorpe 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
80 measurements from 4 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
21NC03WQ80 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 (4)
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