🏖️ Lake / Reservoir
🟢 Easy Free Entry
🌊 About Wildcat Lake (Banner Elk)
A popular Banner Elk summer swimming spot with a white sandy beach, swimming pier, and fishing dock, next to Tufts Memorial Park.
📋 Visit Details
Water Temperature
💧 Warm lake water
Water Type
Community lake with sandy beach
Managed By
Town of Banner Elk / community-managed
County
Avery County, North Carolina
🗺️ Getting There
Address / Access Point:
Wildcat Lake, Banner Elk, NC 28604
Access Notes:
Easy access; adjacent Tufts Memorial Park has bathhouse and picnic tables
✅ Before You Go — Checklist
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Check current water conditions — especially after recent rain
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Save GPS coordinates offline before leaving — cell service may be limited
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Pack reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag, water shoes and plenty of drinking water
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Tell someone where you are going before heading to a remote location
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Pack out everything you bring in — leave no trace