Lake Santeetlah has a wide variety of fish. The most popular being smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye. Until recently Lake Santeetlah boasted the state record largemouth and walleye. Santeetlah also has a good population of crappie, bream and lake trout. Fishing licenses are required and can be purchased at local marinas, bait stores, and other businesses.

More than 50 primitive campsites are scattered around the lake. These sites have few facilities: no toilets, no water faucets, no fire grills, and best of all no fee or permit. The only campground with facilities located directly on the lake is Cheoah Point with 26 camp sites, 4 picnic tables, toilets, and no showers ($8.00 a day/open April to November/first come first served).

Nearby Forest Service Campgrounds are Horse Cove located on Big Santeetlah Creek with 17 camp sites, toilets, and no showers ($8.00 a day/open winter with no fees/first come first served) and the group camp at Rattler Ford which has four sites (up to 50 people each site), showers, and toilets ($25.00 each site by reservation). For more information contact the Cheoah District Office at VOICE 828-479-6431 or FAX 828-479-6784.

Take the kids to Cheoah Point Recreation Area complete with white sand beach, picnic tables, protected swim area, and restrooms.

Visitors can rent boats at several locations on the lake. Take a leiserly pontoon ride or try skiing on the glassy smooth surface. Or paddle a canoe into one of the secluded prongs. Whatever your choice, the serenity experienced by a day on Lake Santeetlah is almost impossible to find anywhere else.