Hiwassee River
Cherokee & Clay County - Western North Carolina Mountains

Class 1-2  •  18.3 Miles

Lake Chatuge is divided in half by the state line of Georgia and North Carolina with the Hiwassee Dam located at the northern end of the lake.  Flowing thru the valley lands of Western North Carolina the Hiwassee River grazes the northern edge of the mountain town of Hayesville, Clay County North Carolina heading westward on its long journey. 

The Hiwassee River’s riverbed is fairly level as it travels along the valley floor and great for fishing and fly fishing due to its accessibility.  All mountain rivers are either located on forestry lands, county lands or private lands.  Valley lands are primarily private owned though in many cases county roads both paved and unpaved skirt these waterways in many places. 

To find access to these fishing locations it best to use a county map or gain permission from private property owners to access the riverbank.  Maps concerning National Forest property will locate river access from unpaved roads yet most forest river and stream access is often overgrown with fewer access points though the isolation in these forest locations is its own reward. 

Flowing westward the Hiwassee River winds is way across the extreme southwestern tail of Western North Carolina.  Finding its way to the mountain town of Murphy, Cherokee County North Carolina the Hiwassee River joins the Valley River converging on the northern tip of Murphy.  Together the two rivers flow through a gorge a short distant to Hiwassee Lake and merge with the waters of Nottely River in the Nantahala National Forest. Hiwassee Lake is located north of the town of Murphy below the southern edge of the Lower Unaka Mountains also known as the Unicoi Mountains.  Hiwassee Lake is a long channel lake with many side channels to explore for fishing enthusiast.  The lake is also used for recreational boating though there’s no large body of water on the lake, which often draws most boating recreation. 

Flowing thru the locks at the Hiwassee Dam these three rivers the Nottely River, the Valley River and the Hiwassee River converge into one river the Hiwassee.  Twisting thru the mountain foothills of far Western North Carolina the Hiwassee River soon arrives at Appalachia Lake, another channel lake much smaller than Hiwassee Lake.  The Appalachia Lake Dam hugs the state line, once the waters of Appalachia Lake leaves the dam it enters the state of Tennessee, it still continues on westward as the Hiwassee River.

Hiawassee Fish Species: Rainbow Trout & Brown Trout

Directions: US Route 64 at Hayesville to US Route 64 West Peachtree

Latitude: 35.0650862

Longitude: -83.9257366

for more information and licenses
North Carolina Wildlife Resources
919-707-0010

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