Shoreline Miles: 360 miles
Surface Area: 14,600 acres
With the backdrop of the Smokies, the sunsets are amazing, but fishing and boating are what attract visitors to these waters. The lake offers year-round recreation including boating, fishing, waterskiing, jet skiing, swimming, camping, public parks, public lake access areas and much more. Fort Loudoun Lake is located at the headwaters of the Tennessee River and extends about 55 miles. The cities of Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, and Lenoir City are all vibrant river communities offering a wealth of shopping, fine dining, and major events.
Fort Loudoun Lake is the uppermost lake in the chain of nine TVA reservoirs that form a 652 mile continuous navigable channel to Paducah, Kentucky. Fort Loudoun Dam features a 360-foot lock which raises boats and barges from Watts Bar Lake to Fort Loudoun Lake, providing transit for half a million tons of cargo annually.
The tailwater area immediately below the dam is an excellent site for viewing a variety of water birds, Paddlers and hikers will be treated to the site of heron, gulls, and osprey. Fort Loudoun Lake is named for the nearby Fort Loudoun, which was built during the French and Indian war .
Other adjacent recreational activities include biking, hiking, golfing, paddling, and the “peaceful” side of the Smokies entrance at Townsend.