US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 51872926).
The red circle marks Bear Creek Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (North Carolina: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official NCWRC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 51872926), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NCWRC Boating Access Areas. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 28 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Bear Creek Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Full hookups at 1 sites
Tent sites
Tent sites
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Showers · Toilets
All campgrounds & RV parks in North Carolina
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (35.2347, -83.0540). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Bear Creek Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.
1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Boating Access Area | Forest Hills | NC Wildlife Resources Commission | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 35.2440, -83.0641 |
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Bear Creek Lake covers about 438 acres in Forest Hills, North Carolina (Jackson County).
Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Bear Creek Boating Access Area. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 28 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.
Bear Creek Lake touches Forest Hills in Jackson County, North Carolina.
Know Bear Creek Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All North Carolina lakes & ponds · All waters in Forest Hills