Tellico Lake is a 15,560-acre Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir located in Blount, Loudon, and Monroe counties, Tennessee. Created in 1979 with the completion of Tellico Dam, the lake stretches 33 miles along the former Little Tennessee River channel and offers 357 miles of shoreline. Known as one of the cleanest lakes in East Tennessee, Tellico provides exceptional conditions for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding.

The lake's character varies significantly along its length. The upper reaches near the Tellico River arm feature narrower channels, protected coves, and stump-filled backwaters ideal for flatwater paddling. The Tellico Blueway, an 11-mile designated water trail, showcases this area beautifully, winding through scenic terrain where wild roses, cattails, and limestone bluffs create a natural corridor. This section is largely free from large motorboat traffic due to submerged hazards, making it perfect for human-powered craft.

Multiple public access points serve paddlers, including Big Creek Ramp, Ballplay Creek Ramp, Toqua Boat Ramp, and the specialized kayak/canoe launch at Fort Loudoun State Historic Park. The park's Island Loop Water Trail offers an excellent paddling route that circumnavigates an island at the confluence of the Little Tennessee and Tellico rivers, passing historic sites including Fort Loudoun and the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.

Paddlers should be aware of prevailing wind patterns, particularly on the lake's broader sections where afternoon winds can create choppy conditions. Early morning and late afternoon typically offer the calmest water. The lake has a gentle current unlike most TVA impoundments, and depths reach approximately 80 feet at the deepest point.

Wildlife viewing is excellent, with frequent sightings of great blue herons, ospreys, bald eagles, Canada geese, beavers, and white-tailed deer along the shoreline. Spring brings the best paddling conditions with higher, more stable water levels, though the lake remains navigable year-round with proper preparation and awareness of seasonal fluctuations.