Price Lake

Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Managed by MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper

Headwaters of Boone Fork Creek which is a major tributary of the Watauga River. Excellent fly fishing in Boone Fork Creek. Catch and release.

Price Lake is a memorable walk in spring, summer or fall and also a wonderful place to paddle-just rent a canoe, rowboat, or a kayak, at the on-site rental facility that also sells bait and rents fishing tackle for anglers!

In winter under deep snow, Price Lake makes a wonderful cross country ski tour (for beginners too). The ski tour winds through the lakeshore. The Price Lake Campground is easily one of the premier places on the Parkway to set up a tent (closed in winter) making this the perfect place to fish, hike, and camp!

Get directions to this beach
Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time

  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on September 27th, 2019. MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on September 29th, 2019 at 4:00 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

Price Lake is sampled weekly from May 1st from September 30th.

Source Information

The Watauga Riverkeeper, housed at the MountainTrue, monitors the Watauga River Watershed for E. coli, a bacteria found in the waste (feces) of most warm-blooded animals, including humans. High levels of E. coli can pose a health risk for people swimming in the water.

Participating volunteers take weekly water samples, and sites are listed as failing to meet water quality standards if they exceed the EPA's recommended safe level for E. coli of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 ml of water. Volunteers take samples early each week, and results are posted on Thursday or Friday. This sample data provides a general guide to the health of the waterway and should only be used for informational purposes. This data does not guarantee the sampled area is safe for swimming at all times. Overall, E. coli levels in the Watauga River are low, and the river is typically safe for swimming. However, E. coli levels can change at any time and frequently increase after rain events. As a general rule, if the water is clear, then E. coli levels are likely to be low. Please contact the Watauga Riverkeeper at andy@mountaintrue.org if you have questions. Please also contact us if you would like to volunteer to take water samples.

Water Quality Graph

Price Lake

Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Managed by MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper
Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on September 27th, 2019. MountainTrue Watauga Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on September 29th, 2019 at 4:00 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  

Headwaters of Boone Fork Creek which is a major tributary of the Watauga River. Excellent fly fishing in Boone Fork Creek. Catch and release.

Price Lake is a memorable walk in spring, summer or fall and also a wonderful place to paddle-just rent a canoe, rowboat, or a kayak, at the on-site rental facility that also sells bait and rents fishing tackle for anglers!

In winter under deep snow, Price Lake makes a wonderful cross country ski tour (for beginners too). The ski tour winds through the lakeshore. The Price Lake Campground is easily one of the premier places on the Parkway to set up a tent (closed in winter) making this the perfect place to fish, hike, and camp!

Get directions to this beach
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

Price Lake is sampled weekly from May 1st from September 30th.

Source Information

The Watauga Riverkeeper, housed at the MountainTrue, monitors the Watauga River Watershed for E. coli, a bacteria found in the waste (feces) of most warm-blooded animals, including humans. High levels of E. coli can pose a health risk for people swimming in the water.

Participating volunteers take weekly water samples, and sites are listed as failing to meet water quality standards if they exceed the EPA's recommended safe level for E. coli of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 ml of water. Volunteers take samples early each week, and results are posted on Thursday or Friday. This sample data provides a general guide to the health of the waterway and should only be used for informational purposes. This data does not guarantee the sampled area is safe for swimming at all times. Overall, E. coli levels in the Watauga River are low, and the river is typically safe for swimming. However, E. coli levels can change at any time and frequently increase after rain events. As a general rule, if the water is clear, then E. coli levels are likely to be low. Please contact the Watauga Riverkeeper at andy@mountaintrue.org if you have questions. Please also contact us if you would like to volunteer to take water samples.

Water Quality Graph

  Beach Location Water Quality
Banner Elk, North Carolina
Foscoe, North Carolina
Banner Elk, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Swim Guide
is supported by
* The RBC Foundation

Swim Guide shares the best information we have at the moment you ask for it. Always obey signs at the beach or advisories from official government agencies. Stay alert and check for other swimming hazards such as dangerous currents and tides. Please report your pollution concerns so Affiliates can help keep other beach-goers safe.

Swim Guide, "Swim Drink Fish icons," and associated trademarks are owned by SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA. See Legal.

© SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA, 2011 - 2020