Boone Reservoir features a swimming area above the dam and a boat ramp including a courtesy pier for safe, convenient boat launching and retrieval. Water skiing and fishing are popular pastimes at Boone.

The reservoir is operated for a number of purposes, including power production, flood control, water supply, water quality, and aquatic ecology. Compared with similar reservoirs on tributaries of the Tennessee, Boone generally maintains more stable water levels through the summer season.