Center Hill Lake

About Center Hill Lake

Center Hill Lake is almost entirely surrounded by wooded hardwood hills and has the largest lake in the state of Tennessee and the second largest in Tennessee. With 20 boat moorings and seven marinas, it is a jewel of outdoor leisure. These three state parks offer a variety of activities, from fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing and fishing to fishing and boating.

Three very picturesque waterfalls complete the picture of this wonderful holiday hotel. Only 60 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, Center Hill Lake is the perfect place to visit the country music capital and see all the sights.

The construction of Center Hill Dam was completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1948 and created this wonderful recreational lake. The construction of the dam cemented the Caney Fork River as an important protection against flooding between Carthage and Nashville. It was approved primarily for flood protection and power generation, but the dam construction was part of a larger project by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Tennessee Department of Natural Resources.

Center Hill Lake is a popular fishing spot, and a number of fishing tournaments held there have proven the lake's appeal to fishing enthusiasts. Three 45,000-kilowatt turbines will produce clean electricity for Tennessee residents and power the Center Hill Dam power plant.

The lake is open and used year-round, and the 415-mile coastline offers scenic views of the Tennessee River Valley, Tennessee Valley Parkway and the Tennessee State University campus.

At the beginning of the 20th century, before the construction of dams, many rivers along the Caney River were home to freshwater mussels, which produced freshwater pearls of great beauty and durability. In 1979, the pearl was named the "official jewel" of Tennessee by the Tennessee Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Tennessee State University.

Boating and water sports are popular pastimes at Center Hill Lake, and there are numerous marinas. Many families spend a few days at the lake to find a quiet place to swim, swim or just relax. Hundreds of tents and cabins are available in the three state parks and marina. Houseboat rentals are also popular, as are a variety of small boats and small boat rentals for $5 per day.

Hiking is an outdoor activity in most areas, but Center Hill Lake has something for everyone. For geocaching lovers, there are over 15 caches that can be found and recorded, and some that need to be found. Get your GPS out and for a Tennessee adventure you just have to do it for the pure nature experience.