Cliffside Lake Shelters
Highlands, North Carolina · 3,438 ft · In National Forests in North Carolina
Photos: Forest Service
At a glance
4 of 8 facts known · recreation.gov, checked Sep 24, 2026
- Elevation
- 3,438 ft (1,048 m)3,438 ft1,048 m
Sites2
Cliffside Lake Shelters lists no loops, so its sites are listed here. Pick a site to see its details.
All 2 shown · by site number
From recreation.gov's site list, Oct 10, 2026.
Amenities
From Recreation.gov, Recreation.gov — campground rate cards · Correct
- ADA accessible
- Campfires allowed
- Drinking water
- Fishing
- Toilets
From Recreation.gov, Recreation.gov — campground rate cards
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About
Overview
Cliffside Lake Recreation Area is a large Day Use area outside of Highlands, NC in Nantahala National Forest. The site offers access to Cliffside Lake where visitors can fish and swim. Cliffside is also home to several trailheads, including the popular Ranger Falls Trail. A $5 per car parking fee is charged for all visitors. Picnic shelters are available for reservation and are the perfect venue for a family reunion, school group, or church outing.
Recreation
Cliffside Lake Recreation Area offers six hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate, as well as trout fishing, picnicking and swimming. Boating is not permitted. Cliffside is a short drive from Dry Falls, Whitewater Falls, and Rainbow Falls. Cliffside is also adjacent to the well maintained and secluded Van Hook Glade Campground. The nearby Cashiers Valley offers recreationalists a plethora of activities such as hiking, cycling, fishing, rock climbing, and whitewater. Nearby Whiteside Mountain is the perfect hike for an adventurous family with young children.
From Recreation.gov and Recreation.gov — campground rate cards · · Edit
Cell service
Report signal- VerizonNo coverage on FCC map
- AT&T4G LTE
- T-MobileNo coverage on FCC map
Cell service at Cliffside Lake Shelters: FCC map Dec 2025
Weather
National Weather Service
- WedSunny80°57°
- ThuSunny, 1% chance of rain80°57°
- FriSunny, 1% chance of rain74°39°
- SatSunny, 1% chance of rain58°35°
- SunSunny57°38°
Nearby camping
SeeSee all on the map
Van Hook Glade
Public Land · 0.5 mi · Highlands
Camp site (US Forest Service)
Dispersed · 3.5 mi · Highlands
Blue Valley Dispersed Camping
Public Land · 4.6 mi · Highlands
3 more within 25 mi
4 OpenStreetMap entries in Highlands share one park. They may be individual sites of a single campground. Suggest a merge
Dispersed camping nearby
Free dispersed camping within 19 mi, on public land.
- 3.5 mi
Camp site (US Forest Service)
Highlands, NC · On U.S. Forest Service land · Nantahala National Forest
- 6.5 mi
Camp site
Franklin, NC · On U.S. Forest Service land · Nantahala National Forest
- 7.0 mi
Camp site
Sky Valley, GA · On U.S. Forest Service land · Chattahoochee National Forest
- 7.6 mi
Campground
Sky Valley, GA · On U.S. Forest Service land · Chattahoochee National Forest
- 7.8 mi
Campground
Sky Valley, GA · On U.S. Forest Service land · Chattahoochee National Forest
- 8.2 mi
Campground
Sky Valley, GA · On U.S. Forest Service land · Chattahoochee National Forest
Location and contact
Data from Recreation Information Database (RIDB) / Recreation.gov, Recreation.gov — campground rate cards
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