Kayaking Santeetlah and Fontana Lakes, Camping Rattler Ford. Hikes

 Tuesday, October 8-Friday October 11 – Kayaking Santeetlah and Fontana Lakes. Hiking.  Camping at Rattler Ford Group Camp, Robbinsville, NC.  Register early with Joan Hartvigsen, jhartvigs@comcast.net,  931-636-2914 to secure a spot.  Santeetlah Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country.  It is surrounded by blue mountains and the Nantahala National Forest and has 76 miles of shoreline.  Gorgeous Fontana Lake forms part of the southern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the northern border of part of the Nantahala National Forest.   It is the largest lake in western North Carolina.  The 480 ft tall Fontana Dam is the highest dam east of the Rockies. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Dam.    Possible hikes include an AT hike from Fontana Dam to Shuckstack Fire Tower and return, 9 miles total, elevation change about 2,400 ft.  Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and hikes along the Cherohala Skyway are near our campground.  Rattler Ford Group Camp sits near the swift moving Santeetlah Creek in the Nantahala National Forest.  The camp is wooded and has flush toilets and hot showers.