While I was planning our trip to Asheville, North Carolina I knew Robin wouldn’t want to spend all day everyday hiking. We love kayaking so I thought it would be fun to spend a day out on the water. I had a picture in my head of a lake surrounded by changing leaves in a picturesque fall setting. After asking around we decided to try our luck by taking a day trip to Lake Watauga.
This day trip is completely dog friendly! We were traveling with our dog Copper the whole time we were in Asheville so everything I planned he could come along.
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How to Get to Lake Watauga
Lake Watauga is an hour and twenty minutes outside of Asheville and you cross over into the state of Tennesse. You will need a car to get to the lake, but I recommend a car for your whole Asheville trip because there is little to no public transportation available. Especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The drive to Watauga Lake is stunning and will take you through the mountains and by several small towns. We stopped off at an overlook and got a great view of the changing leaves in the mountains.
Canoe & Kayak Rentals
We rented a canoe from Boots Off Campground and Hostel. They are on the opposite side of the road from the lake but they will transport everything for you. Plus they have great service! We hadn’t made a reservation but they had plenty of watercraft available to use.
The guys operating the camp will drop your boat off at the lake for you and pick the boat up when you’re done at peaceful Rat Branch boat launch. This is all included with your rental! They also offer drop-offs and pick-ups at other locations on Watauga Lake upon request. They also have dry bags and boxes for you to use if you don’t have your own. This was really helpful because we forgot ours and it offers a lot of peace of mind on the water just in case you tip over.
You can rent canoes, single or tandem kayaks as well as stand up paddle boards. And the best part is, they are all dog friendly!
Canoe and Tandem Kayak Cost: $50 for 4 hours or $80 for 8 hours
Single Kayak and Stand up Paddle Board Cost: $30 for 4 hours or $50 for 8 hours
We had a great experience and if we ever go back I would definitely rent from them again!
Contact Information for Boots Off Campground
Address: 142 Shook Branch Road, Hampton, Tennessee 37658
Phone Number: 239-218-3904
Related Asheville Posts:
- Dog Friendly Places to Eat in Asheville, NC
- 5 Dog Friendly Hikes off of Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC
- Essentials to Bring When Kayaking with a Dog
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Putting in on Your Own
If you decide to bring your own watercraft, from canoe or kayak to boat, then you can use them on the lake. The put-in spot that we used: Peaceful Rat Branch Boat Launch was free to use and open to the public.
There was a decent sized parking area but I could see it filling up during the busy summer months so keep that in mind. However in the fall, when we went, there was plenty of space to spare.
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Alternative Canoeing/Kayaking off Blue Ridge Parkway
Our original plan was a day trip to Price Lake from Asheville. We would’ve canoed around Price Lake which is directly off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The lake is located about 1 hour 45 minute drive away from downtown Asheville so it is actually further away than Lake Watauga.
When we arrived at the lake all the trees were bare and there was a waiting list for a canoe rental. When talking to the super kind staff they explained that the lakes are actually often one of the first places to change color and lose their leaves so they tend to be better to visit early in the leaf peeping season! I had no idea. It was actually their recommendation that Lake Watagua probably was still at its peak and why we got the perfect conditions that we did! Something to keep in mind if you are visiting in the fall.
Either way, Price Lake looked a little busy but would still a nice place to get out on the water. You can rent canoes and kayaks from Price Lake Canoe and Boat Rentals company. Plus, great news, they are dog friendly as well! They get very busy on weekends and I am sure it is a popular place in the summer so make sure you make a reservation if you’re visiting during peak times.
Canoe, Stand Up Paddle Board and Double Kayaks Cost: $15 first and second hour then $10 each additional hour
Single Kayak Cost: $10 per hour
Their website can help answer any additional questions you may have!
Practical Information For Asheville, NC
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your North Carolina Travel Guide.
Day Trip to Lake Watauga
We had such a fun day trip to lake Watauga. The lake was beautiful and it was fun watching the sail boats out on the lake along side us. We rowed out to an island in the middle of the lake where we explored a little and let Copper run around and swim. If it had been warmer I am sure we would have played in the water a little as well.
Canoeing was a great way to take a break from hiking while still getting outside and staying active. We thought 4 hours was a long time for a boat rental but the lake is HUGE and it ended up being the perfect amount of time. We probably could’ve even used another hour to play on the island a little more.
Hi Rachel ,
Would you be able to tell me the tentative dates when I can catch fall colors in lake watauga please ? When did you visit it to catch these colors ?
Yes of course! We visited The last week of October (October 25th to be exact) and it was perfect. The fall colors where nearing there end at the higher elevations nearby though! I would recommend visiting sometime in October to see the best colors. Of course each year can vary.