Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation
Area 465 Jackrabbit Road
Hayesville, NC 28904
828-837-5152 | 877-444-6777
Recreation Area Open May through September, Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area lies on a peninsula of Lake Chatuge – a TVA reservoir boasting more than 130 miles of shoreline. This destination recreation area offers a large campground and numerous day-use activities such as swimming, picnicking, mountain biking, and hiking trails, fishing, and motorized boating access to the lake.
At Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area, a designated swimming area & sandy beach are surrounded by picnic tables on a large grassy lawn. A picnic pavilion offers group picnicking with views of the lake. A short trail connects the campground & beach, and the lake is filled with a bounty of fish. Launch your boat and fish, or try the accessible fishing pier located near the swim beach.
Biking & Hiking For biking enthusiasts, the Jackrabbit Mountain trail system provides access to over 14 miles of trails through the Nantahala National Forest. The trails are well-suited for beginners or experienced riders and are mostly fast & flowing, with lots of rolling dips & berms. The trails take you along the shores and hills beside Lake Chatuge, to ridgetops and sandy beaches, and sunny openings in the forest. At the trailhead parking area, there is a short skills trail for the novice to brush up on technical skills before hitting the trail loops, bathroom facilities, maps & information, drinking water, and picnic tables & grills on the lake. Jackrabbit Mountain Hiking Trail is a 2.4-mile easy trail that loops through open woods and offers glimpses of Lake Chatuge. ALL trails are open to mountain biking and hiking.
Camping Jackrabbit Mountain Campground offers scenic lakeside camping in the beautiful Nantahala National Forest. Breathe the fresh air of the forest while enjoying numerous recreation activities including hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, fishing & water sports. Open May through September, the campground contains 3 separate camping loops with 99 sites for tents or trailers. Each site offers a picnic table, fire ring, tent platform & parking. Bathroom facilities, hot showers, drinking water, a boat ramp, and a large lakeside picnic pavilion are also on-site.
Whatever outdoor activities “float your boat,” you’ll be sure to find them here at Jackrabbit Mountain!
