As an extraordinary man-made wonder nestled alongside the Smoky Mountains, Douglas Lake features 550 miles of shoreline and over 30,400 acres of beautiful land. It extends 43.1 miles upstream from the Douglas Dam and its primary tributaries are the Pigeon Rivers and the Nolichucky, although it also benefits from several small inlet creeks. It was created along with the Douglas Dam to serve as its reservoir. Therefore, it is sometimes called the Douglas Reservoir.
While the Smoky Mountain area, including Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, is filled with an abundance of natural landscapes and picturesque bodies of water, this beautiful man-made lake is perhaps one of the most beloved sites of all. Whether you want to stay dry on the shore or enjoy the water, there are options for you at Douglas Lake, making it well worth a visit.
Douglas Lake has a depth that reaches 140 feet, though the lake levels can rise as much as 15 to 20 feet in a day or two, especially during immense rains. Getting out on the water itself is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the lake. Rent a stand-up paddle board (basically a surfboard with a paddle) to do just that. You can obtain these from rental companies in the area. Rental sometimes even includes the boards being delivered, along with additional needed equipment like an emergency whistle, ankle leash, and personal flotation device. If you are unsure how to go about paddleboarding, lessons are available upon request.
Of course, if you want something a little more substantial to enjoy on the water, you can step it up and rent a pontoon boat. One good location to do this is Mountain Cove Marina. This fleet of Crest pontoon boats features a variety of options, and all measure 22-foot and are brand new 2021 models. The boats also feature an AM/FM radio, and you get a helpful lake map along with every half or full-day rental, along with life jackets.
Aside from simply floating on the water via a paddleboard, kayak, your own boat, a rental pontoon, or other options, one of the main activities to enjoy when visiting Douglas Lake is the sport of fishing. In fact, this lake is such a great fishing spot that it has been rated as one of the best locations in the entire country to catch largemouth bass and crappie. There are also spotted, striped, and white bass present in the lake.
If being near the water, but not exactly on it or in it, sounds better to you, you can always enjoy some birdwatching, which is available year-round. Of course, if you want to see migrating shorebirds, waterfowl flock, or wading birds, it’s best to visit between July and October. Other birds you can look for include wood storks, American white pelicans, the great egret, great blue heron, sandpipers, swallows, and many more.
If you appreciate history, and wonders of construction, you should also make time to visit the Douglas Dam Overlook. This location will explain the history behind the dam and the lake itself, which was built between 1942 and 1943, along with expounding on the record-breaking construction efforts that were achieved. For example, the dam was built in record time, taking only 12 months and 17 days. This was immensely quick for a structure of its size, as it measures 1,705 feet long, 201 feet high and generates 11 megawatts of hydropower. The Overlook itself also features beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, lake, and dam.
Insider Tips:
-When fishing on or by the lake, a standard fishing license is required.
-You can swim in Douglas Lake anywhere, but the best location is near the sandy beach, which is located near Douglas Dam. This features a sandy beach and a concrete public boat launch. This location also features a picnic area, pavilion, and bathrooms, along with parking.
-Douglas Lake is not large enough to accommodate speedboats.