US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 141327590).
The red circle marks Lake James.
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 141327590), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 12.6 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Lake James shoreline, mostly along the north, east and south shores.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Linville River Boating Access Area, 50 ft from a shoreline trail (NC Wildlife Resources Commission boating access data).
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 46 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake James, 8 of them within 5 miles. 4 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Tent sites · Drinking water · Campfires allowed
Tent sites · Campfires allowed
Tent sites · Showers · Toilets · Drinking water
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 (35.7546, -81.9192). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake James. 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.
5 public access sites listed, 5 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bear Boating Access Area | Glen Alpine | NC Wildlife Resources Commission | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 35.7482, -81.9669 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 35.7185, -81.9695 |
| Canal Bridge Boat Ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 35.7394, -81.8866 |
| Hidden Cove Boat Ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 35.7302, -81.8910 |
| Linville River Boating Access Area | Glen Alpine | NC Wildlife Resources Commission | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 35.7931, -81.8690 |
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
On OpenStreetMap: 4 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake James not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming beach | Beach | Public access; lifeguards (seasonal); hours: 10:00-18:00 | Get directions |
| Boat beach | Beach | Public access; lifeguards (seasonal); hours: 10:00-18:00 | Get directions |
| Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules; fee | Get directions |
| Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Reported on or near Lake James
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Lake James covers about 5,965 acres in Glen Alpine, North Carolina (Burke County).
Yes. 5 public trailer launches are listed: Linville River Boating Access Area, Black Bear Boating Access Area and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.
OpenStreetMap shows 4 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 46 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 8 of them within 5 miles.
Lake James touches Glen Alpine in Burke County and McDowell County, North Carolina.
Know Lake James? 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 Glen Alpine