Lake Hickory

Catawba River, bordering Hickory & Granite Falls, NC, USA

It is a scenic Catawba River reservoir in western North Carolina known for its calm waters, fishing, and year-round outdoor recreation.

4,223 acres

Surface Area

100 ft

Max Depth

105 miles

Shoreline

1927

Created

Adriano & Katie Lamboglia

Broker | Owner | Sales Manager - True North Realty

With 17+ years serving the Catawba Valley, Katie and Adriano Lamboglia know every cove and community around Lake Hickory. Their True North Realty team delivers trusted guidance, local insight, and results that exceed expectations.

704-674-0302

katie@nctruenorthrealty.com

www.nctruenorthrealty.com

Find Your Lake Home

About Lake Hickory

Lake Hickory is a 4,200-acre Catawba River reservoir created by Oxford Dam, stretching along the northern edge of the City of Hickory in North Carolina’s foothills. With 105 miles of shoreline, clear open coves, and well-managed water levels, it’s a favorite for boating, fishing, and waterside trails. Access is excellent thanks to multiple Duke Energy/NC Wildlife public areas and city parks that meet the water.

Completed in 1927 with the Oxford Dam, Lake Hickory serves hydropower, water supply, and recreation. At full pond elevation of 935 ft, it covers roughly 4,223 acres and offers ~105 shoreline miles, with numerous long coves ideal for skiing at first light and protected paddling later in the day.

Duke Energy operates the lake within the Catawba-Wateree system, coordinating flows through Oxford Dam and maintaining multiple public access areas in partnership with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). Day-use parks such as Rotary-Geitner Park and the Hickory Riverwalk bring paved trails, fishing piers, and a boat ramp right to the water’s edge, while nearby Riverbend Park adds nearly 20 miles of natural-surface trails along the river corridor.

Key Features

Swimming Areas

Boating & Water Sports

Fishing (Diverse Species)

Marinas & Boat Services

Riverbend Park

Picnic Areas & Outdoor Leisure

Minimal Water Level Fluctuation

Wildlife Viewing

Quick facts (at-a-glance)

Location: Catawba River, bordering Hickory & Granite Falls, NC.
Created: 1927 (Oxford Dam).
Size: ~4,223 acres; ~105 miles shoreline.
Full Pond Elevation: ~935 ft above sea level.
Managing Entity: Duke Energy (Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project).
Primary Uses: Hydropower, municipal water supply, recreation.
Nearest City Access: Hickory’s Rotary-Geitner Park & Riverwalk on the lakeshore.

Lake Hickory Vacation Homes For Rent

📅

Lake Hickory EVENT GUIDE

Coming Soon

🍽️

Lake Hickory DINING GUIDE

Coming Soon

What you can do there

Swim & relax at designated areas — Use signed swim zones at public access sites and city parks; expect seasonal lifeguard-free swimming, so bring PFDs for kids and check posted conditions.

Launch boats, paddle, or ski — Public ramps at Wittenburg, Dusty Ridge, Gunpowder, Lovelady, and Oxford offer trailer launches; quiet coves are excellent for wake sports at daybreak and paddling when winds are light.

Fish year-round — Target Largemouth/Alabama Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Hybrid/Striped Bass, and seasonal Walleye; NCWRC manages bass and stocks hybrids/stripers in the Catawba system. Night fishing for catfish and crappie is popular in summer.

Bike, hike, and bird along the shoreline — Walk the Hickory Riverwalk and paved connectors from Geitner Park, or explore Riverbend Park’s 19+ miles of trails with river overlooks and wildlife-rich grasslands.

Picnic & play — Shelters, green lawns, and waterfront gazebos at city/county parks make easy family meetups with access to restrooms and playgrounds.

Access, marinas & ramps

Public Ramps (Duke Energy/NCWRC) — Wittenburg Access Area (175 Wildlife Access Rd, Hickory), Dusty Ridge (Taylorsville), Gunpowder, Lovelady, and Oxford provide paved ramps, parking, and seasonal restrooms. Check NCWRC’s BAA Locator for ramp status and accessibility notes.

City/County Waterfront — Rotary-Geitner Park features a small-boat launch, fishing pier, paved lakefront trail, and connections to the Hickory Riverwalk over-water bridge; Riverbend Park adds paddle access and long scenic trail loops along Lake Hickory’s main stem.

Full-Service Marinas (fuel, slips, rentals) — Lake Hickory Pub & Marina (Hickory), River’s Edge Marina (Granite Falls), Lake Hickory Marina (Hickory), Lakeside Marina (Hickory), and Taylorsville Beach Marina serve different basins of the lake (call ahead for rentals/seasonal hours).

Safety & regulations

No-wake / restricted zones — NCWRC enforces speed-restricted and no-entry areas including near the Rink Dam Rd bridge and marinas, plus a restricted area at Wittenburg Access; watch for official buoys and markers.
Water level awareness — Levels are usually managed within a narrow band, but Duke Energy may draw down or hold higher pools during maintenance or after major rain events. Always check current lake levels and alerts.
Boating & fishing rules — Carry required PFDs, lights, registration, and a valid NC fishing license. Use NCWRC’s Boating Access Area guidelines and observe posted signage around dams, bridges, and docks.

Gallery

Nearby highlights & suggested day trips

Hickory Riverwalk + Downtown Arts (10–15 min) — Start on the over-water Riverwalk from Rotary-Geitner Park, then head into downtown for the SALT Block: the Hickory Museum of Art and Catawba Science Center (hands-on exhibits, aquarium) make an easy family half-day. Check current hours/events before you go.
Hickory Furniture Mart (15–20 min) — A regional destination for home design with dozens of showrooms under one roof; good rainy-day option between lake sessions. Daily hours and address: 2220 Hwy 70 SE, Hickory.
Riverbend Park (15–25 min) — 19+ miles of trails along the Catawba River with bluffs, wetlands, birding, fishing spots, and picnic nooks—quiet, nature-forward complement to a busy lake day.
Bakers Mountain Park (20–25 min) — Summit Catawba County’s highest point (≈1,780 ft) on well-marked loops through oak forest; bring a lunch for ridge-top overlooks.
Henry River Mill Village (25–30 min) — Historic mill town & “District 12” film site from The Hunger Games offering guided tours, events, and photo ops—easy I-40 hop from the lake.
South Mountains State Park (40–50 min) — Waterfall hikes, backcountry feel, and nearly 50 miles of trails for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers; verify area openings if there have been storm impacts.
Wilson Creek (Pisgah National Forest) & Gorge pull-outs (60–75 min) — Classic wild-and-scenic swimming holes, boulder hopping, and trout water north of Morganton. Check current access notices and practice Leave No Trace—parking fills fast on summer weekends.
Linville Gorge Wilderness (75–90 min) — “The Grand Canyon of the East” for serious views and rugged hiking (permits required on peak weekends/holidays in season; some facilities may be partially closed after storms).

Events & community

Local clubs and shops host seasonal bass/crappie tournaments (often launching at Wittenburg Access), marina music nights, and family paddle meetups. City Parks & Recreation and Catawba County Parks publish rotating calendars for guided hikes and volunteer trail days, making it easy to plug into the lake community even if you’re visiting for the first time.