Lake Powhatan Recreation Area and Campground is an awesome and popular area for hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and camping. It borders the 6,000-acre Bent Creek Experimental Forest (the oldest in the East, established in 1927) in the Pisgah National Forest. And the best news? It’s only 12 miles from downtown Asheville! 

It’s the perfect family-friendly spot to spend a day playing by the water, exploring the easy trails, or camping, making it the base of your Asheville trip. The seven-acre lake has a sandy swimming beach, a fishing pier, and forested areas hosting a campground with 97 sites for tents and RVs, with glamping options. 

Bent Creek Experimental Forest, at 2,200 feet, has an impressive trail system that’s very popular among cyclists, trail runners, and hikers. You can hike a loop around the lake, explore the Pisgah National Forest, or walk from the lake to the North Carolina Arboretum which is a beautiful 434-acre public garden recently named the #1 Best Botanical Garden in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards. 

I’ve compiled a list of the best things to do at Lake Powhatan. Have fun exploring one of the best family-friendly spots in Asheville!

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Complete Guide to Asheville’s Lake Powhatan

Camp on the Lake

The Lake Powhatan Campground is so peaceful that you won’t believe you are only 20 minutes away from the center of Asheville. It has 97 spacious sites surrounded by trees, offering plenty of shade and more privacy than most campgrounds. You’ll love how woody this area is; the fall colors are stunning!

The sites are organized in four loops, all within walking distance of the lake. Each one features a bathhouse with two single-stall hot showers. The flat gravel sites have picnic tables, campfire rings, grills, tent pads, and spots to hang lanterns. A few sites also have full RV hookups. Visitors can buy ice and firewood at the gatehouse, and there are shared water pumps.

The campground is open year-round with limited services from November to March, and reservations are highly recommended as this is a popular spot. Leashed dogs are welcome, although they’re not allowed on the beach. See the campground’s map here.

Lake Powhatan Campground has easy access to many hiking and mountain biking trails, and the lake is the perfect place to cool off during the summer, although it offers a serene option for outings year-round. Please keep in mind that cell phone service is poor throughout the area.

Or Opt for Glamping!

Pisgah Glamping at Lake Powhatan offers twelve 12×16-foot canvas platform tents equipped with everything you need for glamorous camping. They are waterproof and host up to four guests with a queen bed and a cot (bedding and towels are included). 

The tents have screened windows, a fan, electric lanterns, a cooler, and a coffee maker. There is some electricity (enough to recharge your devices), and the bathroom facilities are shared with the rest of the campground. There is a picnic table outdoors and a grill, and you’ll love to sip your coffee on the raised porch overlooking the forest. 

For those seeking a camping experience with an extra layer of comfort, glamping at Lake Powhatan is the perfect choice. Simply arrive, drive to your site, open the tent’s door, and start enjoying your stay!

Take a Dip in Lake Powhatan

The lake’s recreational area is not just a perfect spot for a family picnic; it’s a hub of fun activities. There are tables, restrooms, and plenty of geese that entertained my kids for hours. The swimming area is open from 10am to 8pm, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, although you can access it year-round. 

The day passes are very affordable, and you can get an even better deal by purchasing a season pass. Please remember that there are no kayaks, canoes, or boats allowed (which is perfect because it keeps the ambiance peaceful).   

The average water temperature during the summer is around 82-84°F, making it a favorite swimming hole for families with kids who are less tolerant to colder river temperatures. In the high season, you can expect lots of loud, happy play on the sandy beach!

There is a photogenic fishing pier on the other side of the lake. But keep in mind that you need a license to fish in inland waters.

Hike to the North Carolina Arboretum

The Bent Creek and Lake Powhatan area has about 32 trails, most interconnected with several loops. If you look at the map here, you’ll see how vast the trail system is. Most of the trails are beginner and intermediate-level and range from 141 to 1,912 feet in elevation gain. You get creative designing your perfect route for the day!

The 5.5-mile out-and-back trail from the lake to the North Carolina Arboretum is easy and a good option to do with kids who are used to hiking. Pack a picnic and have lunch in the 434-acre beautiful garden. Or you can start your hike there and snack by the lake!

Either way, you’ll walk alongside a peaceful creek and likely see lots of wildlife, even black bears and deer. You can mountain bike this trail, too. Remember that this area is popular for mountain biking, trail running, horseback riding, and hiking, so please follow the multi-use trail etiquette. 

Stroll Around the North Carolina Arboretum

Whether you arrive by hiking or by car, visiting the North Carolina Arboretum is a must-do thing in Asheville, NC. A favorite of local families, you’ll love their gardens, hiking and biking trails, exhibitions, and educational activities for kids. They also have special events like the Orchid Festival and Native Azalea Day, as well as plant sales. 

The garden was elected #1 Best Botanical Garden in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards for a reason – it offers fun and learning experiences year-round. They even have a holiday light display in December that’s one of the most beloved Christmas activities around Asheville.

And they host a fun Halloween dog parade and forest bathing experiences for everyone! There is an affordable entrance fee per car, or you can get free day passes at the local libraries.

Take a Nature Walk around Lake Powhatan

The Lake Powhatan Loop Trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes near Asheville and a go-to place for local families. It’s short and easy (no elevation change) and offers many chances to play by the lake and learn about its rich environment. 

The trail, a picturesque 1.6-mile loop, offers pretty views of the lake, especially when the fall colors reflect on the water. There are rhododendron tunnels and mossy areas that will keep you and your little ones entertained. Don’t miss the trail leading to the dam for a sight of the water cascading.

This is a pleasant walk that you can take with your family, fur babies included!

Go on a Guided Mountain Biking Tour

Mountain biking is one of the best things to do near Lake Powhatan as it’s an area with many interconnected trails and loops for endless exploration. For a hassle-free experience, especially if you’re new to mountain biking or visiting, contact The Bike Farm. They’ll organize a custom ride tailored to your preferences.

They offer half, full, and multi-day guided private rides for all ability levels (including kids) and will work around your budget. All the guides are Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified, and the ratio is usually six riders for every guide. You can rent their bikes or use some of the bike rental shops in town. 

This is an excellent option for those who couldn’t bring their bikes or want to try something new and exciting for the first time and do it like locals!

Try a Guided Forest Medicine Experience 

Yanina offers an enjoyable forest medicine experience in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest area (the meeting point is the Deerlake Lodge Trailhead), including diverse healing modalities, forest bathing, and a Mayan Letting Go Water Ritual.

You’ll love the opportunity to experience yourself as one with nature with Yanina’s intuitive, gentle guidance. She’s a certified North Carolina Environmental Educator, Naturalist, Herbalist, Shamanic Arts Practitioner, and a Certified Sivananda Yoga and Meditation Instructor.

If you want to heal an emotional wound or are simply looking for a more profound and instrospective way to connect with yourself through nature, try this experience!

Have a wonderful time exploring Lake Powhatan!