Mountain Island Lake, NC

Gaston County, NC

About Mountain Island Lake, NC

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    Mountain Island Lake is located in the state of , in the Gaston County, NC. 

    This lake has a surface area of about 3281 acres.

     

    A Guide to Mountain Island Lake, NC

    If you’re considering a trip to Mountain Island Lake, NC, then you’ve come to the right place. This lake is not only a recreational lake, but it also has a bird sanctuary, a powerboat ramp, and a county park. Learn about what you can expect from your trip with a guide to Mountain Island Lake.

    Mountain Island Lake is a recreational lake

    Located in Gaston County, North Carolina, Mountain Island Lake is a popular recreational lake. It offers a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, and paddle boarding. The lake is public and has boat launch areas. The lake is great for fishing, paddle boarding, and wakeboarding. The lake used to be a coal ash pond, but was removed in 2012. Today, Mountain Island Lake is the only recreational lake in the area without a coal-ash disposal facility.

    The lake was created in 1924 after the Catawba River was dammed. It covers 3,281 acres and has 60 miles of shoreline. It is named after the Mountain Island mountain on the western end of the lake. It is a popular destination for Charlotte area homeowners and is a half-hour drive from the city center. This location has a variety of family-friendly attractions and is close to shopping, restaurants, markets, and schools. The area also has four hospitals within 20 miles of the lake.

    Mountain Island Lake is a giant squiggly lake with a horseshoe bend near the middle. Its west peninsula has residential development. It is also home to a large sandbar and a bend under the NC Highway 16. The lake has plenty of places to swim, fish, and kayak.

    It is a bird sanctuary

    Mountain Island Lake is a designated Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. It offers habitat for migratory songbirds, nesting birds, wintering waterfowl, and threatened bottom land hardwood forests. The area is also known for its bird watching opportunities, including the Carolina Raptor Center.

    The lake is surrounded by nature preserves, including Stephens Road Nature Preserve and Rural Hill Nature Preserve. Also located nearby is the Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge, managed by Mecklenburg County. The area is convenient to both Charlotte and Mount Holly. Housing along the lakefront is set back from the lake, allowing visitors to enjoy the lake without disturbing other residents. During the week, the lake is fairly empty, but it is much busier on weekends.

    The Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge is 850 acres in size and is located on the eastern side of Mountain Island Lake. It contains a large peninsula, created by the Catawba River. It provides significant protection for the water quality of Mecklenburg County. The refuge also contains two state-listed animal species. The Duck Cove area contains high-quality wetland habitat and a bottomland hardwood forest. The region contains a mixture of flora and fauna that is not found elsewhere in Mecklenburg County.

    The terrain within Mountain Island Preserve is mostly gently sloping. It varies from a low elevation of 690 feet at the west end to a high elevation of 760 feet along the utility line ROW near the center of the site. Most slopes are less than 8 percent. The preserve is primarily made up of wooded terrain.

    It has a powerboat ramp

    Mountain Island Lake is a relatively small lake with 61 miles of shoreline in southwest North Carolina. It is home to a variety of species of fish, including bass, perch, crappie and catfish. Many of the lake’s finger channels are lined with boat docks and have plenty of food for the fish. If you have a powerboat, there is a powerboat ramp at the neck road access area.

    To get to Mountain Island Lake, drive SR-1912 from the city of Huntersville. The ramp is about half a mile away. The lake has a lot of natural beauty and is popular with locals. Several custom homes have beautiful docks and second level viewing decks. Because of the low boat traffic, it’s a great place for a peaceful weekend.

    The boat ramp at Mountain Island Lake provides easy access to the water, which is great for fishing, tubing and swimming. It also has a fishing platform. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission maintains the site, and they monitor all of the fish species in the lake. You’ll find a wide variety of watercraft here, from large to small.

    There are also several public access points. One is located in Lincoln County and another is in Gaston County. Both were recently reopened with a number of improvements. The Highway 73 Access Area offers boat ramps and gravel parking lots. The Lucia Access Area is another option. The Lucia Access Area offers non-motorized boat access, a wildlife viewing platform and a kiosk.

    It has a county park

    Mountain Island Lake is a beautiful lake in Charlotte, North Carolina that offers recreational, environmental, and educational opportunities. The lake is home to many different fish species and there are several places to fish in the area. It also features many recreational opportunities, such as water sports, hiking, and camping.

    Mountain Island Lake is a large, squiggly body of water with a horseshoe bend near the center. The Horseshoe Bend peninsula lies west of Latta Plantation. The peninsula is home to several residential areas and includes a large sandbar. The bend under NC Highway 16 is another landmark on the peninsula.

    The lake is a popular area for boating and fishing. It also has several public recreation areas, such as Hornets Nest Park and Latta Plantation Park. The lake is split between Gaston and Lincoln counties. You can choose to fish in Gaston or Lincoln county. For example, if you enjoy trout fishing, you can try out the new fishing area on the other side of the lake.

    Another attraction is the historic Latta Plantation. The plantation was once a cotton plantation, and now serves as a public park and living history farm. You can take guided tours of the plantation or explore the grounds on your own. You can also see a variety of farm animals at the park. There are donkeys, horses, cows, and sheep, as well as a beekeeping operation.

    It has a camping area

    Mountain Island Lake is a large, recreational area in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. It’s home to the Carolina Raptor Center, which is dedicated to educating the public about the birds of prey and preserving their habitats. This center offers educational programs, conservation efforts, and the rehabilitation of injured raptors. Located on Mountain Island Lake, the center’s 23 acres are home to many different species of raptors.

    The lake offers a number of activities and recreational opportunities, including kayaking, paddle boarding, and stand-up paddle boarding. It’s also a popular fishing location, with many species of birds inhabiting the water. The lake also features a number of public boat docks, making it easy to explore by boat.

    The area also has plenty of accommodations. A few guest rentals are located right on the lake, but most are private homes. Otherwise, regular hotel lodgings can be found along nearby highways. There are also several campgrounds located near the Catawba River and upstream at Lake Norman. The area is convenient to Charlotte, which has a number of other amenities.

    Mountain Island Lake has a lot of recreational opportunities. Its shoreline is extensive, and the lake is surrounded by many natural preserves, including Stephens Road Nature Preserve, Rural Hill Nature Preserve, and the Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge. Despite being located close to the Charlotte area, Mountain Island Lake is often quieter during the week, although it can be busier during the weekends.

    It has a marina

    Mountain Island Lake is located on the Catawba River, and offers a variety of recreational, educational, and environmental opportunities. Visitors can go fishing, paddle boarding, and kayaking. This lake is also home to a marina and offers many services and amenities for boaters. There are also many boating options, including fishing, boat rentals, and private boat rentals.

    Mountain Island Lake was created in 1924 by damming the Catawba River. It covers three hundred and twenty-five acres, and has over 60 miles of shoreline. The lake also supports the Riverbend Steam Station, which uses the lake to cool the steam used to power its turbines. This lake provides a stable and dependable supply of water to Mount Holly, North Carolina. It is also home to the Mountain Island Hydroelectric Station, which generates electric power and supplies drinking water to over one million residents in Mecklenburg and Gaston counties.

    One of the most attractive features of Mountain Island Lake is the consistent water level. The water is clean, and the shoreline is natural and picturesque. Some communities use the lake for drinking water, so its water quality is excellent. Another plus is that the lake is close to Charlotte and is only twenty minutes away.

    The lake has many public access points, including boat launch areas for small boats. There are also numerous coves that provide ample opportunities for fishing. Several species of fish can be found in the lake, including largemouth and smallmouth bass. There are also white perch and other small panfish. Bank fishing is also available in many areas of the lake’s shoreline. One of the most convenient places to do so is at the Tailrace site, which is operated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

    Can you swim in Mountain Island Lake?

    Mountain Island Lake offers Fishing, Watersports, Sailing, Canoeing, Kayaking, SUP

    View some other lakes in the state

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    Map of Mountain Island Lake, NC

    Mountain Island Lake Lake Activities:

    • Fishing
    • Watersports
    • Sailing
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • SUP

    Mountain Island Lake Lake Access:

    • public-lake

    Lake Acreage:

    3281 Acres

    Miles of shoreline:

    60 Miles