Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (Brownsville)
Hatchie NWR includes 11, 556 acres along the Scenic Hatchie River and is located about four miles south of Brownsville, Tennessee.
Center Hill Lake (Lancaster)
Located in the Cumberland Mountains of middle Tennessee, this lake offers excellent smallmouth bass, walleye, and white bass fishing. Deep, clear water provides recreationists a beautifull setting for nearly any activity. Fancher and Burgess Falls provide beautiful scenic views. Bluffs and steep, forested hillsides enrich the natural beauty of the lake.
Cordell Hull Dam And Reservoir (Carthage)
Located at the base of the Highland Rim of middle Tennessee, the lake boasts modern campgrounds and day use areas, opportunities for hunters and fisherman, and trails for hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders. Canoeing is excellent on the Roaring River section of the lake. There is excellent small game and deer hunting in season.
J Percy Priest Dam And Reservoir (Nashville)
Located near metropolitan Nashville, good fishing is enhanced by rockfish stocked by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, providing anglers with excellent opportunity. Multipurpose recreation areas dot the shoreline, offering good access and recreational enjoyment. A panoramic view of the lake can be enjoyed from the visitor center near the dam.
Old Hickory Lock And Dam (Hendersonville)
This extensively developed lake is located northeast of Nashville. Sailing and yachting are popular and numerous regattas are held on the lake. The Old Hickory Nature Trail, a part of the National Trails System, provides interesting features for all age groups.
Cherokee National Forest (Cleveland)
Tennessee's only National Forest, the Cherokee, covers nearly 630, 000 acres in ten East Tennessee counties. It is the largest tract of public land in the State. The forest is separated into two parts by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Because of the Cherokee's majestic moutains, tumbling streams, and diverse vegetation, recreation opportunities are plentiful.
Fort Patrick Henry Lake (Gray)
Named for the four-time governor of Virginia, Fort Patrick Henry Dam impounds the South Fork of the Holston River. This small lake, which is 10 miles long and covers 872 acres, is located just east of Kingsport, Tennessee and is easily accessible from Interstate 81. Favorite game fish are rainbow trout, bluegill, smallmouth and largemouth bass, and crappie.
Boone Lake (Gray)
Surrounded by Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol, the 4, 300-acre Boone Lake is in Sullivan and Washington Counties in northeast Tennessee. Named for the pioneer explorer Daniel Boone, Boone Dam impounds the South Fork Holston River. The lake was created in 1952 with the completion of the 1, 640-foot long, 160-foot high Boone Dam. There are several privately owned commercial marinas or docks on the lake and a visitor reception building at the Boone Dam Reservation.
Cherokee Lake (Morristown)
Cherokee Lake is 54 miles long with a shoreline of nearly 400 miles and a surface area at summer water level of 30, 300 acres. It collects the rainfall from a 3, 428-square- mile watershed. Nearby communities include Morristown, Jefferson City, and Rogersville, Tennessee. White bass, smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, and striped bass are the primary sport fish in Cherokee Lake.
Norris Lake (Norris)
Nestled between East Tennessee ridges, Norris Lake points the way to Cumberland Gap and the historic Wilderness Trail marked by Daniel Boone. From Norris Dam the lake extends 73 miles up the Clinch River and 56 miles up the Powell River and encompasses 34, 200 aces of surface water at summer water elevations. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are caught throughout the lake, and striped bass fishing has also become popular. Catches occasionally reach 50 pounds.
Watts Bar Lake (Lenoir City)
Watts Bar Lake is on the main Tennessee River in Loudon, Roane, Rhea, and Meigs counties. Nearby towns include Oak Ridge, Kingston, Spring City, Loudon, Lenoir City, and Rockwood. Knoxville is to the north and Chattanooga is to the south. The lake is 95 miles long with 771 miles of shoreline and a surface area of 39, 000 acres. Smallmouth and largemouth bass and white bass are favorite among anglers on Watts Bar Lake.
Tellico Lake (Lenoir City)
Located on the Little Tennessee River near its confluence with the Tennessee River, Tellico Lake is about 30 miles southwest of Knoxville. From the dam, the clear waters of this 16, 500 acre lake back up into the narrow valleys of the Great Smoky Mountain foothills and the Cherokee National Forest. Near the dam, a canal links Tellico to Fort Loudoun Lake, which further enhances recreation opportunities.
Nickajack Lake (Chattanooga)
Nickajack is the newest main river lake of TVA. Completed in 1967, Nickajack Dam replaced Hales Bar Dam, built in 1913 by the Chattanooga and Tennessee Power Company. From historic Chattanooga, Nickajack waters flow through what is referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Tennessee, " a 24-mile-long steep-walled gorge with an array of rare plant and animal species. Bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie are among the sport fish in Nickajack Lake.
Cherohala Skyway - Tennessee (Madisonville)
Cultural heritage and historic sites of the Cherokee tribe and early settlers are offered throughout the skyway in a grand forest environment in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Fort Loudoun Lake (Lenoir City)
First in a chain of lakes along the 650-mile-long Tennessee River, Fort Loudoun Lake extends 60 miles from the confluence of the French Broad and Holston rivers downstream to Fort Loudoun Dam. This lake, which has 14, 600 acres of surface water, is also linked to Tellico Lake by a canal. Fort Loudoun is convenient to Knoxville, Lenoir City, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and is easily accessible from Interstates 40 and 75.
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (Greeneville)
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site honors the life and work of the nation's 17th President and preserves his two homes, tailor shop, and grave site. Andrew Johnson's life exemplifies many struggles faced by Americans today. He worked his way from tailor to President. He stood strong for his ideals and beliefs.
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (Oneida)
The free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries pass through 90 miles of scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide range of natural and historic features. The area offers a broad range of recreational opportunities including camping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. The U.S.
Obed Wild & Scenic River (Wartburg)
The Obed Wild and Scenic River is located in Morgan and Cumberland Counties in East Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau. The park includes parts of the Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddys Creek and the Emory River. Over 45 miles of creeks and rivers are included in the wild and scenic river area. These waterways have cut rugged gorges with bluffs as high as 500 feet above the whitewater in the streams.
Shiloh National Military Park (Shiloh)
Shiloh National Military Park was established in 1894 to preserve the scene of the first major battle in the Western theater of the Civil War. The two-day battle, April 6 and 7, 1862, involved about 65, 000 Union and 44, 000 Confederate troops. This battle resulted in nearly 24, 000 killed, wounded, and missing. It proved to be a decisive victory for the federal forces when they advanced on and seized control of the Confederate railway system at Corinth, Mississippi.
Stones River National Cemetery (Murfreesboro)
In July 1862, Congress passed legislation giving the President of the United States the authority to purchase land for the establishment of cemeteries "for the soldiers who shall die in the service of their country." This legislation effectively began the National Cemetery system. Stones River National Cemetery was established in 1865 and has more than 6, 000 Union graves. In 1933 responsibility of the cemetery was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service.
Cheatham Lock And Dam (Ashland City)
This project passes through Middle Tennessee and features a 2, 700-acre waterfowl refuge and game management area. Cheatham is a "run-of-the-river" water resource project. The project meanders through Nashville and past Opryland. Lock Two and Riverfront Parks overlook the river in downtown Nashville. Excellent waterfowl hunting and lunker bass await the sportsman. Other activities available include camping, picnicking and water sports (swimming, water skiing).
Dale Hollow Lake (Celina)
Located in the Highland Rim section of northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky, Dale Hollow's crystalline waters are ideal for virtually all water sports, including scuba diving. The Corps provides 4 modern developed campgrounds. Fifteen commercial marinas are available. Houseboaters also find a haven in the clear waters and secluded coves. A Federal Fish Hatchery is nearby.
Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge (Ripley)
Established August 5, 1985, Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Lower Mississippi River floodplain along the Chickasaw Bluff in western Tennessee. Eight miles of the western boundary abut the Mississippi River along the only stretch without a mainline levee in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. As a result, the refuge is subject to the natural process of backwater flooding by the river.
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge (Dover)
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Cross Creeks NWR is located four miles east of Dover, in Stewart County, Tennessee and approximately seventy-five miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee. The refuge was established in 1962 as a result of mitigation proceedings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when portion of the Kentucky Woodlands NWR was inundated with the creation of the Lake Barkely Project.
Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge (Union City)
During the winter of 1811-12 a series of some 1, 874 recorded tremors within the New Madrid fault dramatically altered the landscape on some 30-50, 000 square miles of land creating Lake Isom in extreme northwest Tennessee. A miniature version of the much larger Reelfoot Lake located approximately 3 miles to the north, Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 1, 850 acres. Set aside as an inviolate sanctuary for waterfowl in 1938. Lake Isom NWR is the oldest refuge in Tennessee.
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (Henning)
Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the nation's wetland treasures. It is managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Lower Hatchie NWR is one of more than 540 National Wildlife Refuges and is one of 4 National Wildlife Refuges managed from the West Tennessee complex office in Dyersburg. The refuge currently encompasses 9, 107 acres and is located approximately 3 miles southwest of Henning, Tennessee.
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge (Union City)
During the winter of 1811-12, a series of some 1, 874 recorded tremors within the New Madrid fault dramatically altered the landscape on some 30-50, 000 square miles of land ceating Reelfoot Lake in extreme northwest Tennessee. Reelfoot NWR was established in 1941 to manage the northern third of the lake under a 75-year lease agreement with the State of Tennessee. Additional lands acquired in Southwestern KY extended the refuge to its current 10, 428 acres.
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (Paris)
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, encompasing over 51, 000 acres, is located on Kentucky Lake in northwest Tennessee. The refuge*s three units: Big Sandy, Duck River and Busseltown stretch for 65 miles along the Tennessee River. Established in 1945, the refuge is one of the older refuges in the country. It is managed as an important resting and feeding area for wintering waterfowl. The refuge also provides habitat for numerous resident wildlife species and other migratory birds.
South Holston Lake (Kingsport)
South Holston Lake was named for the river that bears the name of Steven Holston, an early settler of the Tennessee Valley. Situated on the western edge of the Appalachian Mountains, the deep, clear waters of the 7, 580-acre lake extend from northeastern Tennessee into Virginia. About 60 percent of the shoreline is bordered by the Cherokee National Forest, which further enhances the recreation appeal of the area.
Watauga Lake (Kingsport)
With its cool, clear water reflecting the surrounding mountains, Watauga Lake is one of the most beautiful in the entire TVA system. The word "Watauga" is a Native American term meaning beautiful waters. The lake is located in Carter and Johnson counties in upper East Tennessee. Nearby communities include Mountain City, Butler, Hampton, and Elizabethton. Thirteen species of game fish including rainbow and brown trout, walleye, and smallmouth and largemouth bass inhabit the waters of the lake.
Wilbur Lake (Kingsport)
Located in Carter County, Tennessee, this scenic lake is small -- only 72 acres surface area and 1.8 miles long -- and is situated just below Watauga Dam. The Watauga Power Company built the 375-foot-long, 77-foot-high Wilbur Dam on the Watauga River in 1912. TVA purchased the dam and lake in 1945, rehabilitated the dam, and placed it back into service generating power in 1950. It is the second oldest dam in the TVA system.
Douglas Lake (Morristown)
Douglas Lake is located on the French Broad River. The lake is about 43 miles long and has 555 miles of shoreline and more than 30, 000 acres of surface water at summer water levels. Located near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Douglas Lake is close to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and easily accessible from Interstate 40. Popular sport fish species in Douglas Lake include largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, and bluegill.
Melton Hill Lake (Lenoir City)
Melton Hill Lake is on the Clinch River and is a relatively long, narrow lake with 173 miles of shoreline and 5, 690 acres of surface water. Melton Hill Dam features a navigation lock that allows boat passage to Watts Bar and other TVA lakes on the Tennessee River. Melton Hill is located near Knoxville and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and is easily accessible from Interstate 40.
Fontana Lake (Lenoir City)
The 480-foot-high Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River is the tallest dam in the TVA system. The lake is located in Graham and Swain counties in western North Carolina. Fontana Lake is a 29-mile-long scenic mountain lake with more than 280 miles of shoreline and nearly 11, 000 acres of water at normal summer pool elevations. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park borders the northern shoreline of the lake while the Nantahala National Forest borders the southern shore.
Chickamauga Lake (Chattanooga)
This large lake is one of nine TVA projects on the Tennessee River. Chickamauga has 810 miles of shoreline and more than 35, 000 surface acres. Located in Meigs, Rhea, Bradley, McMinn, and Hamilton counties, the lake is composed of two major bodies of water, a 59-mile stretch of the Tennessee River and a 30-mile section of the Hiwassee River. Chattanooga is located on Chickamauga Lake.
Kentucky Lake (Paris)
Kentucky Lake is the largest lake in the Tennessee River system and the last before the river flows into the Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky. Spanning the western portion of Tennessee and southwest Kentucky, the lake is 184 miles long, has 2, 380 miles of shoreline, and 160, 300 surface acres of water at summer water levels. It collects rainfall from a 40, 200-square-mile watershed.
Beech River Watershed Lakes (Paris)
Located in the Beech River watershed in Henderson County, Tennessee, the Beech River projects consist of eight dams and seven small lakes that range in size from 140 to 875 acres of surface area. A variety of sport fish including bass and crappie inhabit these lakes. Nearby towns include Lexington and Jackson.
Great Falls Lake (Lenoir City)
This 3, 080 acre lake is located in Warren County, Tennessee. Constructed in 1915 by the Tennessee Electric Power Company and later acquired by TVA, Great Falls is one of the oldest dams in the TVA system. A scenic waterfall and whitewater boating opportunities make the waters below Great Falls powerhouse a popular spot for recreation.
Stones River National Battlefield (Murfreesboro)
A fierce battle took place at Stones River between December 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863. General Bragg's Confederates withdrew after the battle, allowing General Rosecrans and the Union army to control middle Tennessee. Although the battle was tactically indecisive, it provided a much-needed boost to the North after the defeat at Fredericksburg. Lincoln later wrote to General Rosecrans, "I can never forget [...
Fort Donelson National Battlefield (Dover)
Unconditional Surrender of Fort Donelson created jubilation throughout the North and silence in Dixie. It was the North?s first major victory of the Civil War, opening the way into the very heart of the Confederacy. Days earlier Grant?s plan to capture Forts Henry and Heiman on the Tennessee River succeeded. Upon taking possession of the forts the Union army stepped out briskly as Grant focuses his sights on Fort Donelson. February 14th, 1862 dawned cold and quiet.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Gatlinburg)
Ridge upon ridge of endless forest straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern United States. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of its wilderness sanctuary, the park attracts over nine million visitors each year.