Shoreline Miles: 550 miles | Surface Area: 30,400 acres
Douglas Lake is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, attracting more than 1.7 million visitors a year. Surrounded by mountains and rolling hills, Douglas Lake offers a variety of activities year round such as boating, fishing, camping, and swimming. The area of Rankins Bottom is one of the best birding areas in East Tennessee.
The major towns around the lake are Sevierville, Dandridge, Newport, and White Pine. The major tourist towns of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg are located within a short drive of the lake along less trafficked, scenic roads.
Douglas Lake has become the premier crappie lake in East Tennessee and is rated one of the top five crappie fishing lakes in the nation. It is also in the top 10 in the nation for largemouth bass and hosts many professional tournaments in the spring and fall. The lake is fed by 3 rivers and two of those the French Broad River and Nolichucky River, which offer great fly fishing.
For the adventurists, the Pigeon River offers Class III and IV white water rapids and is home to a dozen rafting outfitters. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding also draw visitors to this lake region. Don’t miss a stop in downtown Dandridge or at Bush Beans where you will experience true Southern Hospitality or visit Newport to learn about the history of moonshining. Newport is also home to one of the remaining Rosenwald Schools built during segregation in the South, and a national legacy to the citizen who came together to preserve the structure.
