A Guide to Life on the Water
The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau is full of moving water. Cold mountain streams like the Chattooga, Horsepasture, and Cullasaja hold wild and stocked trout. Lake Glenville offers 1,470 acres for boating and paddling, and smaller private lakes like Fairfield Lake in Sapphire Valley offer members a quiet afternoon on the water.
Whether you want to cast a fly on a remote stream, spend the day on a pontoon, or paddle a calm cove, this guide covers where to go and where to find the gear and guides to get you there. Look for the ★ Must-See label on our favorite spots.
Waterfront Living
From lakefront homes on Lake Glenville and Lake Toxaway to properties along rivers and trout streams, the Plateau has plenty of ways to live right on the water.
Our local team knows which homes have the water access, docks, and setting you're looking for.
Jackson County, home to Cashiers and Glenville, was named North Carolina's premier fly fishing destination by the state House of Representatives in 2016. The county's WNC Fly Fishing Trail maps 15 of the best spots, and the Plateau's cold, clean streams hold wild and stocked brook, brown, and rainbow trout. Here are a few favorites close to home.
★ Must-See | Near Cashiers | Wild brown trout
The Chattooga begins below Whiteside Mountain near Cashiers and runs about 52 miles south, forming the border between South Carolina and Georgia before it ends at Lake Tugalo. It was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1974. The North Carolina section is wild trout water known for brown trout, with the best access off NC 107 south of Cashiers. Scotsman and Fowler Creeks, two small tributaries on the WNC Fly Fishing Trail, feed into the river here. Much of the surrounding land is private, so stick to public access.
★ Must-See | Panthertown Valley | Native brook trout
For anglers willing to hike, Panthertown Creek is about two miles from the trailhead into the backcountry of Panthertown Valley. Its brook trout rarely see other anglers. A light 3- or 4-weight rod and big, bushy dry flies are all you need.
North of Glenville | Brook, brown, and rainbow trout | Delayed Harvest sections
Known locally as "the Tuck," the Tuckasegee River flows about 60 miles northwest from the mountains above Glenville to Fontana Lake. Its Delayed Harvest sections are stocked several times a year, and the best fly fishing runs from October through May. The river itself is public, but much of the land along it is private. Use trails and public access points to get in, wade as far as you feel comfortable, and get out only at a public access point. The water isn't deep enough to float the whole way by boat except after a dam release, which takes real skill.
New to fly fishing, or want to fish the best private water? Local fly shops offer guided trips and beginner classes. See Where to Rent Gear below.
Cashiers Living
From Cashiers, the Chattooga River and Panthertown Valley are a short drive away, and some communities bring the fishing even closer. Lonesome Valley has its own fly-fishing waters and a catch-and-release trout pond more than 50 years old.
Ask us about homes in Cashiers.
Lake Glenville is the Plateau's big boating lake, and it's open to everyone. Closer to Cashiers and Sapphire, smaller private lakes offer residents and members a slower pace for paddling and afternoon swims.
★ Must-See | Glenville | 1,470 acres | Rentals available
With 1,470 acres of water and 26 miles of shoreline, Lake Glenville is big enough for waterskiing, wakeboarding, and full days on a pontoon, with quiet coves for swimming and fishing. Don't have a boat? Signal Ridge Marina rents pontoons, tritoons, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. On shore, Duke Energy's Pines Recreation Area has a public swim beach, a fishing pier, and picnic tables. Every July, the Friends of Lake Glenville host Fireworks Over the Lake, starting with a boat parade at dusk.
Lake Glenville | Guided tours
Four waterfalls on Lake Glenville can only be seen from the water: Mill Creek Falls, Hidden Falls, Norton Falls, and Hurricane Falls. Book a guided trip with Lake Glenville Waterfall Cruises, or rent a boat and find them on your own. See our waterfall guide for more.
Sapphire Valley | Private | Paddle boats and beach
In Sapphire Valley, Fairfield Lake has a beach and paddle boats, with views of Bald Rock Mountain rising above the water. The lake is private and open to Sapphire Valley Master Association members. The Camp Merrie-Woode trail around the lake is open to the public at certain times of the year.
Lake Toxaway | 640 acres | Private
At 640 acres, Lake Toxaway is the largest privately held lake in North Carolina, with no public marinas or boat launches. Lake Toxaway Country Club's marina serves its members, and guests of The Greystone Inn can enjoy the lake too, including sunset cruises aboard the Miss Lucy, a mahogany wooden boat.
Life on Lake Glenville
In Glenville, a day on the water starts at your own dock. Lake communities like Summer Hill, Summer Cove, The Lake Club, and Trillium have community docks right on Lake Glenville.
Ask us about homes in Glenville.
From glassy coves to whitewater, there's a paddle for every comfort level within an easy drive of the Plateau.
★ Must-See | Glenville | Calm water | Rentals available
Lake Glenville's quiet coves are a great place to start, especially early in the morning before the boat traffic picks up. Signal Ridge Marina rents canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, so you don't need to bring your own.
North of Glenville | Gentle rapids to Class III | Tubing, rafting, and inflatable kayaks
The Tuckasegee is the region's go-to river for a lazy summer float. The stretch from Dillsboro to Whittier has gentle rapids that work well for families and first-timers, with kids as young as four welcome on guided trips. For tubing, put in at East LaPorte Park and float down to Lena Davis Landing. Local outfitters rent tubes, rafts, and inflatable kayaks and run shuttles. Much of the river is too shallow to paddle end to end except after a dam release, so stick to these established stretches and check with an outfitter on water levels before you go. Watch for the Cullowhee Dam and the Class III Dillsboro Drop, and save the West Fork's Class IV rapids for experts.
South of Cashiers | Whitewater | Guided trips only for most visitors
Below the North Carolina state line, the Chattooga River becomes some of the best-known whitewater in the Southeast. Because it's a National Wild and Scenic River, commercial trips are limited to three outfitters permitted by the U.S. Forest Service: Nantahala Outdoor Center, Southeastern Expeditions, and Wildwater. Trips run on Section III and Section IV, from half-day runs to overnight camping trips, and the outposts are in South Carolina and Georgia, about an hour from Cashiers.
Quiet lakes in Sapphire Valley
In Sapphire, quiet water is part of everyday life. Whisper Lake owners have deeded access to their own private lake, with a dock and canoe and kayak racks, and Sapphire Valley Master Association members can enjoy Fairfield Lake's beach and paddle boats.
Ask us about homes in Sapphire.
Whether you need a fly rod, a pontoon for the day, or a guide who knows where the fish are, these local businesses can get you on the water.
Lake Toxaway Living
At 640 acres with 14 miles of shoreline, Lake Toxaway is the largest privately held lake in North Carolina. With no public marinas or boat launches, the water stays quiet and uncrowded, perfect for swimming off the dock, paddling the coves, and evening cruises as the sun sets behind the mountains.
Ask us about homes in Lake Toxaway.
For many people who live on the Plateau, a day on the water is just part of a normal weekend. In Glenville, Lake Glenville is the center of summer life. Cashiers sits near the headwaters of the Chattooga River and minutes from Panthertown's trout streams. In Sapphire, private lakes like Fairfield Lake and Whisper Lake give residents and members quiet water close to home, and Lake Toxaway is the largest private lake in North Carolina. From Highlands, the Chattooga and the Cullasaja River are a short drive away.
Looking for more to explore? See our guides to Plateau waterfalls and hiking trails.