Hazel Creek Fly Fishing
PURPLE TOP RETREAT / HAZEL CREEK GUIDE
A legendary Smokies backcountry fishery where history, adventure, and wild trout come together.
If there is one trout stream in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that belongs on every fly angler’s bucket list, it’s Hazel Creek.
Long before it became one of the park’s premier fisheries, Hazel Creek was home to thriving Appalachian communities. Families farmed, logged, operated sawmills, and built schools and churches throughout the valley. Everything changed when Fontana Dam was constructed during World War II. Residents were promised a new road on the north shore of the lake in exchange for giving up their homes. That road was never completed, earning the nickname “The Road to Nowhere”—a promise that remains unfulfilled today. Old cemeteries, home sites, and stone foundations still tell the story of the people who once called Hazel Creek home.
Today Hazel Creek is known for something entirely different: one of the finest wild trout fisheries in the eastern United States.
Distance
90+ mins
Species
Wild Rainbow •Wild Brown •
Fishing Style
Dry Flies + Nymphs
Difficulty
Easy-Moderate
Feel & Vibe
Getting to Hazel Creek is part of the adventure.
Most anglers reach the creek by taking the shuttle boat across Fontana Lake from the Fontana Marina to the Hazel Creek landing. From there, plan on hiking roughly a mile before you begin fishing, although many anglers continue farther into the drainage to reach additional water. Another option is hiring a guide with Fly Fishing the Smokies, who can handle the logistics and help you maximize your day on one of the park’s most legendary streams. If you have your own boat, you can also access the creek directly from Fontana Lake.
This isn’t a casual afternoon outing—it’s an adventure. That’s exactly what makes Hazel Creek so special.
Worth the Effort
Hazel Creek holds healthy populations of wild rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout throughout its watershed. Most fish you’ll catch range from six to ten inches, but every cast carries the possibility of something much larger.
I’ve personally hooked what I still call “the one that got away” here—a wild rainbow well over twenty inches that snapped my 6X tippet after a long fight. That’s Hazel Creek. Most days you’re catching beautiful mountain trout, but every once in a while something extraordinary reminds you why anglers dream about this place.
Because reaching Hazel takes real effort, fishing pressure is surprisingly light compared to many of the park’s roadside streams. Once you make the hike from the landing, you’ll often find plenty of water to yourself.
Dry flies, nymphs, and dry-dropper rigs all produce fish here. And yes… I’ll admit it… I’ve absolutely had fantastic days with a pink Squirmy Wormy. Purists can judge all they want, but if I’m making the trip to Hazel Creek, I’m there to catch fish.
My Take
If you’re only going to make one true backcountry fly fishing adventure during your stay at Purple Top Retreat, make it Hazel Creek.
Everything about this place feels different. The boat ride across Fontana Lake, the history of the abandoned communities, the quiet hike into the valley, and the possibility of hooking the fish of a lifetime all combine to create an experience that’s bigger than just fishing.
My advice is simple: hire a guide the first time. Hazel Creek deserves to be experienced the right way, and a great guide will help you spend your time fishing instead of worrying about logistics. Once you’ve done it once, you’ll understand why so many anglers return year after year.