Home Care In Glenville, NC

Inside: A local mom takes a boat ride on the highest Lake East of the Mississippi River at Lake Glenville, NC, and shares all the best tips to plan a trip there!

You can explore Lake Glenville, the highest elevation lake in the Eastern US, in Jackson County, North Carolina by boat with Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruises. We did the beautiful boat tour and will tell you all you need to know to enjoy the scenic lake.

All You Need To Know About Lake Glenville

Thanks to Jackson County, North Carolina for hosting us and providing the opportunity to take the boat tour.

There’s something really special about mountain lakes. Maybe it’s that crisp mountain air, the ancient hills that loom in the distance, that clear water – whatever it is, that’s where I want to be. So when I had the opportunity to take a boat tour with Captain Mark and his scenic boat cruise on Lake Glenville – the only boat tour company that operates on the lake – I was all in. We got to see waterfalls, a bald eagle nest, and enjoy the beauty of the lake. Plus, it’s only a short drive from Cashiers, so you can add it to your itinerary when visiting the area.

History, Biodiversity, and a Sandy Beach: Lake Glenville

Lake Glenville was formed by the damming of a portion of the Tuskegee River in 1941 and served as a power source to make B17 bombers under President Franklin Roosevelt’s direction. Not only that but it also served as the power source for our nuclear operations under the Manhattan Project. It also brought electricity to the Cashiers/Highlands area for the first time.

When the lake was created, it flooded the local town of Hamburg and many structures still remain under the water except for the gravesites, which were moved to a hill overlooking the lake. The lake bottom plunges quickly, to depths of over 130 feet in some places.

The lake sits at 3,494 feet above sea level and is clean and cool. The lake has 26 miles of shoreline, a couple of public boat ramps, and a pretty sandy beach swim area accessible at the Pines Recreation Area. It’s also part of the only temperate rainforest in this part of the country. There are only three in the country. If you’ve been to Lake Jocassee, that is also part of this same temperate rainforest.

Why is this so cool? Because it provides exceptional microclimates for thousands of species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. It’s a desired place for research for botanists, ecologists, geologists, and many other sciences.

Also, because of the diversity of flora and fauna, the fall colors on Lake Glenville are spectacular because there are so many different kinds of trees that change color. Captain Mark told us that astronauts have said they can see the colors of the leaves from space some seasons – that’s how magnificent and bright they are.

About the Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Tour

Captain Mark Wise is a licensed sea captain with more than 40 years of boating experience. The boat is fully insured and very safe with plenty of lifejackets and other protective safety measures. He’s been doing cruises on Lake Glenville for the past five years and is currently rated on TripAdvisor as the number one outdoor attraction in the area.

Captain Mark is also a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Lake Glenville, which makes the boat tour even more interesting. The boat is a luxury pontoon boat that is very comfortable. It can hold up to 14 guests and cruises are two hours. The boat is available for private charter cruises.

While you’ll see waterfalls and a lot of cool things on Lake Glenville, you won’t be getting out to swim.

Things You’ll See on the Boat Tour

There are three waterfalls you’ll get to see on Lake Glenville and you can only get to them by boat because they are on private property. Hurricane Falls was my favorite because it’s multitiered and easy to see the whole thing. It’s tucked away in a little cove that I would have never found otherwise!

A pair of bald eagles live on Lake Glenville and Captain Mark will show you where the nest is and tell you all about it. We learned all sorts of neat information about the bald eagle and got to see the enormous nest, which is bigger than any other bird’s nest and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds!

You’ll also get to see the dam that is used for hydroelectricity and admire all the beautiful lake houses, which we learned cost an average of around $2 million. You can dream, right?

We saw lots of birds, including the Kingfisher. And my kids fed geese and ducks as they landed by water skiing next to the boat. So cute.

Literally, anyone will enjoy this boat tour. Any age and ability are welcome. The boat is handicap accessible.

Captain Mark told us about a family he had on a tour recently where one of the teenagers was in a wheelchair. He had said that the kid felt like he was always holding his family back from doing things. Well, he enjoyed the boat tour immensely and was so happy. His mom came up afterward and started crying, telling Captain Mark that he had no idea what the experience meant for her family and her son. It was so special.

The pontoon boat is very comfortable and spacious and Captain Mark allows you to bring food and drink on the boat, which is awesome because kids always need snacks. So don’t forget the water and snacks. We ended up bringing our lunch on the boat since the tour lasted for two hours and was at lunchtime.

Bring a jacket. Even in warmer weather, the wind from the speed of the boat will be cool.

Bring sunglasses, a secure hat, and sunscreen. While the boat is covered, sunscreen is never a bad idea while doing outdoor activities.

Go to the bathroom beforehand. There’s no bathroom on the boat and you won’t be stopping anywhere on the lake to do so.

Leave your dog, cat, or baby goat at home. No pets are allowed on the boat.

Booking Your Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruise

Boat tours run from March through November 1 and you can either book a ticket on the regular group tours or charter a private tour. Since Captain Mark’s boat tours are the only ones that operate on the lake, it’s best to book your spot when you figure out the dates that you’ll be on the lake, especially during the busier seasons of summer and fall foliage in October. Cruises operate March-November.

Tickets are $85/person plus a 3% service fee and you can book a Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruise. Gratuity is always appreciated.

You’ll park at Pine Creek Access Area (2799 Pine Creek Road), drop off your party, and then Captain Mark will help you move your car to a small lot a minute down the road. Be sure to arrive early! Cruises happen rain or shine unless there is thunder and lightning.

Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruises Website2799 Pine Creek Road, Cullowhee, NC 828.526.6300

When you visit North Carolina, you could stick to the cities. Sure, there are plenty of enticing options, such as Wilmington, the state's cleanest city and popular beachy portside gem. However, you'd be missing out on one of NC's most enduring charms: its mountain towns tucked away in pristine nature. Glenville in Jackson County is the perfect example of why it pays to venture outside the cities and lose yourself amongst the lesser-known towns. About 70 miles from Asheville, it's a proper mountain retreat sitting on the county's largest lake about 3,500 feet above sea level.

Sharing the town's name, Lake Glenville is the main reason people head here during the warmer months. Boating, swimming, fishing, and water sports are all on the menu for sunseekers and lake lovers alike. During the season, you can rent pontoon and tritoon boats of varying sizes from Signal Ridge Marina. These are great for a leisurely day out on the water with a cooler full of cold drinks, a boat full of good company, and some fishing rods on the back.

Speaking of fishing, Lake Glenville is well-stocked with a variety of game fish, thanks to its location on the Tuckaseegee River. Depending on the time of year, you can reel in largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, sunfish, blueback herring, bream, and crawfish. Favored local fishing spots like Cedar Point, Hurricane Falls, Eagle Island, and Pine Creek are renowned for providing consistently good hauls. It's the ideal starting point for a getaway that blends serene lake days with waterfall adventures and the easygoing spirit of a true mountain town.

Mountain hiking and waterfalls around Glenville, North Carolina

Glenville is located in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, so it's a great base for exploring various hiking trails. One of the most popular trails is the Panthertown Backcountry Loop, which takes you down into the Panthertown Valley, or as it's better known, the "Yosemite of the East." The valley is only a 20-minute drive from Glenville and is a treasure trove of natural splendors, including waterfalls, creeks, forested gorges, granite cliffs, and breathless mountains. The main 7.8-mile loop trail takes just over 3.5 hours to complete. Just remember to bring proper hiking footwear and a map for any unmarked sections.

You don't have to walk so far to chase waterfalls in Glenville. The 1.3-mile High Falls Trail is far more accessible, taking just over one hour to get out and back. It heads off from Ralph J Andrews Park, which is about 3 miles from the center of town. That's not to say these beautiful cascades don't make you work to see them. The trail is steep and rocky with a few up-and-down sections before you reach High Falls.

If hiking isn't your thing, you can admire waterfalls from the water instead. In fact, a few of the area's waterfalls are only accessible from Lake Glenville. You can book a scenic waterfall cruise with a tour company for about $85 per person (at time of writing). These cruises coast along the lake's 26-mile-long shoreline, stopping off at multiple waterfalls, including the Norton, Hurricane, and Mill Creek cascades.

Glenville's charming mountain town hospitality

The town's center is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it affair, with a handful of businesses and homes spread out along a main road. The Glenville Thrift Shop is a diamond in the rough with its collection of clothing, homeware, and trinkets. Locals love popping in to hunt for treasures at very agreeable prices. Some people complain about the unclear pricing, but there's also something endearing about how laid-back this no-frills approach feels.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat, drive slightly north of the town center to Happ's Place. This welcoming restaurant is rated highly on Google, with people raving about the buffalo wings and beer, friendly atmosphere, and various activities for families. Happ's has its own putting green and cornhole set up for game time. They also host live music some evenings, which tends to draw a decent crowd.

Glenville is a relatively straightforward 1.5-hour drive from Asheville, where you can fly into Asheville Regional Airport from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and some other cities. Asheville also has Woodfin, a cozy suburb with Smoky Mountain views and outdoor thrills that's worth checking out. If you live in Florida, you could fly from Orlando to Wilmington with Avelo, a lesser-known airline that will save you tons of money, and drive to Glenville in about six hours. Glenville has a boutique inn near the lake, but there are various hotels and camping cabins scattered along the shoreline, so you have options.