What’s shaped like a squished lizard, offers premier fishing, and rests more than 600 feet above sea level? High Rock Lake, one of North Carolina’s largest manmade bodies of water, lies just 50 minutes away from Greensboro and a little over an hour from Charlotte. The large aquatic destination presents an ideal day trip or weekend away for anglers, boating enthusiasts, and bird watchers.
High Rock’s 15,000 acres of water make it the second-largest manmade lake in the Tar Heel State, formed by an eponymous dam and fed by two rivers and several creeks. Unlike most water-adjacent areas, High Rock and some of its surrounding real estate have remained decidedly low-key and accessible, immune from the waterfront property premium (though some million-dollar homes have been built). “It’s very much a lake ‘for the people,’ and most houses around it are not particularly high-end,” according to one Reddit user. “Property on the lake has been selling for cheap, even in this market.” But it’s not just the humans enjoying the environs. The lake’s size makes it a haven for a broad collection of wildlife, from blue herons to flamingos in the skies, with crappie and bass floating under the water’s surface.
The lake’s 350 miles of shoreline aren’t an all-out watery paradise, though. There are some downsides, including stubborn, lasting environmental issues. But High Rock can offer a humbler, more affordable chance at a lakefront vacation. “It is the perfect blend of fun and relaxation,” local Lockie Hunter wrote in a review on Google. “The ‘pace’ of the lake is just perfect […] High Rock strikes that perfect balance of having enough to do, while also not feeling overcrowded.”
Cast a line, hit the waters, or spot some birds
If you’ve already heard of High Rock Lake, chances are you own a rod, reel, and can set up a fishing line with your eyes closed. The fishing community discovered High Rock when it hosted the Bassmaster Classic in the 1990s. Its massive size and diverse landscape mean you can cast from the shore to reach bass hiding under the docks, or take a kayak or motorboat to the middle of the water to reel in some stripers. Local fishermen most often hit High Rock Lake to reel in crappie or largemouth, which are the lake’s calling card. If you’re visiting sans gear, several nearby bait-and-tackle shops will help you get started. Just don’t eat the fish, as the lake’s water quality is questionable at best, with environmental issues that have led to toxic algal blooms. Despite the lake’s two designated swimming areas, you might not want to hop into the water either. If you’re really hankering for a dip, keep an eye out for the five red flags that should make you pause before lake swimming. Or, instead of getting in the water, get on it…