High Rock Lake: 7 Spots to Launch Your SUP

With tranquil waters and a beautiful wooded shoreline, High Rock Lake is one of the premier destinations for stand up paddle boarders. The comfortable Carolina climate is perfect for SUP enthusiasts of all walks of life and makes an ideal destination for newbies and experienced paddle boarders alike. With over 365 miles of shoreline and 15,900 acres of water, High Rock Lake is host to many idyllic parks, spacious campgrounds, and trendy restaurants where stand up paddle boarders, boaters, water skiers, and kayakers can launch off and start their adventures on the water. 

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Here is a list of our favorite access points and secret spots:

Tamarac Marina

Located at 9120 Bringle Ferry Road in Salisbury, the campground also provides rental equipment, a convenience store, and the After Dock restaurant, serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7am to 8:30pm. Free parking is available and a public launch site can be found nearby for getting your stand up paddle board in the water and your SUP experience started! They also have a spacious campground with a beautiful view of the lake at affordable rates. So what are you waiting for? Pack up your paddle board and check them out!

North Carolina Wildlife Access Ramp

This cozy little ramp is located right off of Highway 8 on a small road called Wildlife Recreation Access Rd. across the train tracks at the corner of Mazatlan Family Mexican Restaurant. So if you’re looking for a great place to launch your paddle boarding session, this is the place to be. Sometimes also called the Southmont Abbots Creek Access, this landing is a great place to start your adventure on the water. And after a great day on the water, stop back around by the restaurant for a bite of High Rock Lake cuisine before you go!

Pebble Beach

As one of High Rock lakes most popular spots during the spring and summer months, Pebble Beach is a great place to bring your family for a day of stand up paddleboarding. The swimming area is surrounded by a buoy fence the keep swimmer traffic and boater traffic separated, so if you’d like to paddle on the greater portion of the lake, there is an area just south of the beach called Flat Swamp Public Access that is great for launching a paddleboarding adventure.

High Rock Marina and Campground

Otherwise known as one of the hosts of the BASS Master’s Classic, this shady shoal is the ultimate destination for a paddle boarding vacation, with tons of amenities like air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Whether you’d like to bring your RV or rent an authentic log cabin at a reasonable price, High Rock Marina and Campground has everything you need for a great experience. So break out your SUP and ride the waves like a champion.

Buddle Creek Access

Buddle Creek is a quaint little shore tucked away just off of Holloway Church Rd in Lexington, NC and is a fantastic getaway spot for you and the family! With a spacious parking lot available and a small beach on the southern edge filled with fellow lake-goers, you’re sure to enjoy your day there. Just south of the access point is a small wooded island known as Buddle Beach that you can paddle to for a little quiet time spot on the lake. What are you waiting for? Break out your boards and get paddling!

TJ’s High Rock Lake Restaurant & Lounge

Not only can you access the river here, but you can grab a bite to eat too at this private membership club. Enjoy the beyond casual atmosphere where everybody knows your name, membership is only $5 per year, and you can arrive by car or boat! Enjoy an entire day of stand up paddleboard fun on the water, and retire for the evening with their menu full of delicious steaks, wings, shrimp, and more! TJ’s High Rock Lake Restaurant & Lounge is the place to go after hours for lakeside food, fun, and entertainment. Boating access from this location requires you be a member of their club and an additional $50 a year.

York Hill Landing

Just above the 85 bridge on the Yadkin river just above what may be considered the lake, a nice place to drop in. Though it may not look like much, this gravel lot offers lots of space for parking. The boat ramp faces southwest so that you can launch easily with a gentle sloping gravel bed that is out of the way of most boat traffic. Great for kayaking, canoeing, or any other boating recreation! There is more work underway being done for additional parking. Careful though, this access point may sometimes flood.

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