Douglas Lake helicopter tour: Fly over the dam and water

See Douglas Lake and the dam from the air instead of the shore

An 8-minute helicopter flight over Douglas Lake and Douglas Dam near Douglas, where you climb to almost 1,000 feet to see the water, the French Broad River and mountain ridges in the distance. The flight includes a professional pilot and covers 16 miles of lake views. Minimum of 2 guests per booking. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter flight over Douglas Lake

• Climb to almost 1000 feet
• View French Broad River
• See Douglas Lake from above
• Enjoy mountain views in distance

The experience

What does Douglas Lake look like from 1,000 feet up? The helicopter lifts off and banks over the water, and you get the answer in minutes. The flight covers 16 miles and passes directly over Douglas Dam, then sweeps across the lake itself. In summer, the sun hits the water and you see swimmers and boats scattered across it. In winter, the water level drops and exposes islands and coves that stay hidden the rest of the year: the same lake, two completely different views depending on when you go.

You climb aboard with a professional pilot who flies the route and narrates what you're seeing. The flight lasts 8 minutes total, which is short enough that the whole thing stays vivid, long enough that you see the French Broad River winding through the valley and the mountains rising in the distance. Minimum of 2 guests per booking, and children from age 1 can come along.

What’s included

• Professional pilot and guide.
• 8-minute helicopter flight covering 16 miles of Douglas Lake and Douglas Dam views.

Information

Lasts 8m, runs every day, 16 start times, from US$ 75 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00 and 17:30

GroupUp to 61 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Scenic Helicopter Tours

Is this one for you?Book this flight if you want to see Douglas Lake and the dam from above without spending an hour in the air. The 8 minutes gets you high enough to see the whole geography at once, and the route over the dam and across the water shows you the landscape you can't piece together from the ground.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What will I see on the Douglas Lake helicopter flight?

The flight passes directly over Douglas Dam and then sweeps across Douglas Lake itself, climbing to almost 1,000 feet. You'll see the French Broad River, mountain views in the distance, and depending on the season, either sun-glinting water with people enjoying the lake or exposed islands and coves when the water level is lower in winter.

How long is the helicopter flight over Douglas Lake?

The flight is 8 minutes and covers 16 miles of lake views, including the dam and the surrounding water and landscape.

What's included in the Douglas Lake helicopter tour?

The tour includes the 8-minute helicopter flight with a professional pilot and guide. You pay nothing extra for the flight itself, though souvenir photos are available to purchase if you want them.

How many people do I need to book this helicopter flight?

A minimum of 2 guests is required per booking, so you can't book a solo flight.