Santeetlah Lake is surrounded by the Cheoah District of the Nantahala Forest. While the lake surface and land below the high water level is owned and managed by Tapoco, Inc., almost 80 percent of the shoreline is public land managed by the Forest Service.

Santeetlah Lake has a wide variety of fish. The most popular being smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye. Until recently Santeetlah Lake was home to 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 the local marina.

More than 50 primitive campsites are scattered around the lake for overnight camping, picnicing, or for your own private beach. These sites have few facilities: no toilets, no water faucets, no fire grills, and best of all no fee or permit.