Where is Watauga Lake?

Watauga Lake is a lake in Carter County, Tennessee. Its water-quality measurements are published by TDEC and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Watauga Lake?

Watauga Lake has a maximum depth of 265 feet. The lake covers 6353 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Watauga Lake?

Watauga Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Watauga Lakeshores Marina, Fish Springs Marina, Cove Ridge Yacht Club and Marina.

Can I fish at Watauga Lake?

Watauga Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Tennessee's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Watauga Lake

Carter County, Tennessee6,353 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from TDEC for this lake.

Max depth

265 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

6,353 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

101.5 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Mercury
265 ft max depth

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tennessee has water-quality measurements published by TDEC, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 265 ft. Surface area: 6353 acres.

Loading map…

Watauga Lake is a 6,353-acre lake in Carter County, Tennessee with a maximum depth of 265 feet. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, TDEC. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Watauga Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch3 documented ramps
Deep water265 ft surveyed max depth
Big water6,353 acres

Swimming conditions

No reading

Recreation use not supported

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Watauga Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Watauga Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

Get alerts for Watauga Lake →

Water quality measurements for Watauga Lake

These are the measurements TDEC publishes for Watauga 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. TSI undefined.

Ask about Watauga Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

265 ft

Surface area

6,353 acres

Shoreline

101.5 mi

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Watauga Lakeshores MarinaSemi-private
Fish Springs MarinaSemi-private
Cove Ridge Yacht Club and MarinaSemi-private

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Watauga Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tennessee — 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 Watauga Lake

Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Watauga Lake → · more Tennessee lake trips

Follow Watauga Lake’s readings

Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.

Or email

Fishing Watauga Lake

→ Watauga Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Watauga Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit TN06010103020_1000 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Carter County

Wilbur Lake3.1 miView →Ripshin Lake11.1 miView →South Fork Holston River Lake16.2 miView →Steele Creek Park Lake19 miView →Watauga River LakeEutrophic16.5 miView →Boone Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about Watauga Lake

Where is Watauga Lake?: Watauga Lake is a lake in Carter County, Tennessee. Its water-quality measurements are published by TDEC and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Watauga Lake?: Watauga Lake in Carter County, Tennessee has water-quality measurements published by TDEC, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 265 ft. Surface area: 6353 acres.
Is Watauga Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Watauga Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Watauga Lake?: Watauga Lake has a maximum depth of 265 feet. The lake covers 6353 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Watauga Lake?: Watauga Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Watauga Lakeshores Marina, Fish Springs Marina, Cove Ridge Yacht Club and Marina.
Can I fish at Watauga Lake?: Watauga Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Tennessee's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.