REELFOOT LAKE STATE PARK
Reelfoot Lake State Park, located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, is one of the greatest hunting and fishing preserves in the nation. The lake encompasses 25,000 acres (15,000 of which are water) and harbors almost every kind of shore and wading bird, as well as the golden and American bald eagles. Other animals are also diverse and abundant here. Its many species of flowering and non-flowering plants attract botany enthusiasts from all over the country. Cypress dominates the margins of the lake, but many other trees and shrubs are also present.
Campgrounds, bathrooms, boardwalk, fishing piers and picnic areas are wheelchair accessible.
Reelfoot's 400-seat, air conditioned auditorium with kitchen facilities is perfect for banquets and conventions. It is available year-round, and rental cost is small. The adjacent Visitor Center houses interesting exhibits pertaining to the natural and cultural history of Reelfoot, including an earthquake simulator and a variety of audio-visual programs. Admission is free. Behind the Visitor Center is the cypress boardwalk nature trail.
There is also a 1600 sq. ft. meeting room that can accommodate up to 125 people for small banquets. Contact the park for more information.
Phone: 731-253-7756
Reelfoot Lake State Park operates two campgrounds on Reelfoot Lake. All sites have 30 amp electric service, water, picnic tables and grills; all are level. These sites are rented on a first-come, first-served basis; no reservations. Stay is limited to two weeks. Both campgrounds have a small number of primitive sites with water accessible and picnic tables only. Park Rangers patrol area frequently. No alcoholic beverages allowed. Pets must be on a leash.
MAIN CAMPGROUND
Campground Location: Tennessee Highway 21-22, on southend of Reelfoot Lake
Sites: 86 (68 Paved, 18 Gravel)
-Campground Host available 24 Hours
-Camper Check-in Station with pay phones, vending, and ice nearby
-Boat Launching Ramp Area
-Fish Cleaning House with electricity, water and disposal
-Two bathhouses with showers, sinks, toilets, vending machines, washer, dryer, and dish washing area
-Dumping Station located at entrance/exit
-Bait - 2 mile (privately owned bait shops with fishing supplies)
-Boat ? Available for rent from private facilities (within 1 to 5 miles)Pavilion
-Interpretive Programs during the summer months
**Please Note: Reelfoot Lake State Park?s main campground is extremely busy during April and May**
AIRPARK CAMPGROUND ? OPEN ALL YEAR
Location: Off Tennessee Highway 213 on northend of Reelfoot Lake. Adjacent to Reelfoot Lake State Park?s Airpark Inn
Sites: 14 (Gravel)
-Boat Launching Ramp on property
-Fish Cleaning table with water on property near campground
-Pay phones on Airpark Complex Pier
-Dumping Station
-Boats and bait within 1 mile
-3500? Lighted Airstrip
-Nature Trail
**The Airpark Campground is ideal for group camping and scouts**
The Airpark Inn's 20 rooms are available 7 days a week. Rates are $40.00 for rooms and $60.00 for suites. Inn rooms are equipped with mini-refrigerators and microwaves. A continental breakfast is available in addition to vending machines with lunch and snack items.
The five Spillway units are currently open seven days a week, with rates ranging from $40.00 to $60.00. Three of the five units have kitchen facilities.
Reelfoot Lake is a flooded forest ? full of submerged cypress stumps. While boating on Reelfoot , expect to hit some of the stumps. You will be okay unless you are running at full throttle. People boat on this lake using 40 horsepower motors and up, but they go slow, no water skiing or jet skiing is done on Reelfoot Lake. Canoes can be used on Reelfoot Lake. Jon boats are used the most.
Fishing at Reelfoot Lake can be a year-round thing. Crappie fishing is best toward the end of March through the first part of May. Crappie will slow down during the hot summer months and will start getting active again around October when the water temperature cools down. Fishing for Crappie can be good throughout the winter. Bream and Bluegill fishing usually starts getting active around May and will continue through early July. They will become active again in September. Largemouth Bass fishing is good from March through late October. Yellow Bass or Striped Jack as the locals call them is the fish you can catch from July through September. Catfishing is done during the spring and summer months using yo-yos, limb lines and trot lines.
Reelfoot Lake State Park is located near Union City
Picnicking is very popular at Reelfoot Lake State Park. The park has five large group shelters that will accommodate large family reunions. Four of the shelters have large grills. We also have six smaller shelters with two tables each and grills. Numerous picnic tables and grills are available throughout park areas for family or visitor use. All picnic areas are located on the lakeshore and three of the areas have fishing piers. Three areas have playground units for the amusement of children in the groups. Restrooms are available in all areas.
Reelfoot Lake State Park has three hiking trails that are very popular and an auto tour that circles the lake.
The Airpark Trail is a 45 minute walk through old cypress forest and second growth vegetation. The Keystone Trail winds along the shoreline of Reelfoot Lake for 1.5 miles and is the only lakeshore trail. The Black Bayou Trail goes along the old bayou for approximately 2 miles and is an excellent bird watching and wildlife observation walk. The Auto Tour visits 12 points of interest and circles Reelfoot Lake.
The Eagles are Soaring! Make your Eagle Tour reservations now for the 2004 season!!! Beginning January 2, 2004 and continuing into March, the park provides two-hour bus tours to observe bald eagles and other waterfowl.
Tours are offered at 10 a.m. Monday through Sunday with additional tours at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Buses leave from the Airpark Inn. Reservations are required for tours and there is a $5.00 charge. To make eagle tour reservations, please call 731-253-7756 or 800-250-8617.
Eagle Brochure 2004 (.pdf format)
During the winter months Reelfoot Lake is called home by approximately 200 American Bald Eagles. Bus tours to observe the eagles and waterfowl are offered daily. Experienced naturalist provide telescopes for viewing and discuss eagle ecology and lake history. It is not uncommon to see a large number of eagles and to get extremely close views. Eagles can be seen perching, flying/soaring and often snatching fish from the lake. A wide variety of programs are offered during the winter months.
We invite guest speakers to provide a program every Saturday night during the winter eagle season. They cover a wide variety of topics from live birds of prey, photography, history and of course Bald Eagles as well as other interesting topics.
One of the more popular programs features a number of live birds of prey. A park Naturalist explains the importance of these beautiful birds and visitors experience a close up and personal view of these majestic birds. This program is scheduled several times per month and can be booked for your group with advance reservations.
Pontoon Boat Cruises: Naturalists offer Pontoon Boat Cruises from May through September. These trips allow visitors to experience the beauty of Reelfoot Lake and learn about this unique area. Three-hour cruises depart daily at 9:00 a.m. and short cruises are offered on weekends and holiday afternoons. Sunset cruises are offered several times per month and moonlight cruises are offered during the full moon. The full moon rising through Cypress Trees is an awesome sight. Special cruises can be scheduled for groups. Reservations are required.
Reelfoot Lake is a photographers paradise. Special photography workshops and tours are offered by professional photographers for scheduled camera clubs or other interested groups. Our most unusual program is a Heron Rookery Swamp Tromp. We take a wet walk through the cypress swamp to a large heron rookery. Hundreds of nesting birds, large cypress trees and water knee deep make this a trip for those who like to experience nature at it?s wildest. This trip is usually offered in the spring and reservation are required for individuals or groups.
Enjoy our Wetland Canoe Trips!
Birdwatchers can spot over 200 species, including bald eagles and golden eagles. The park hosts annual eagle tours in winter. Other birds include owls, waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. Birding is best during migration seasons: spring (March-May) and fall (September-November).
Bruce's Place
115 Harrell St
Ridgely, TN
(731) 264-5060
Hamilton's Resort
4992 Hamilton Rd
Hornbeak, TN
(731) 538-2325
Southshore Resort
Lake View Dr
Samburg, TN
(731) 538-2467
Blue Bank Marina
813 Lake Dr
Hornbeak, TN
(731) 538-2112
White's Landing
1605 State Route 21 E
Tiptonville, TN
(731) 253-3100
Sonny's Boys Resort
3060 State Route 21 E
Tiptonville, TN
(731) 253-0055
Sportsman Resort
100 Sportsmans Resort LN
Tiptonville, TN
(731) 253-6581
Blue Basin Cove Bed & Breakfast
100 Blue Basin Rd
Tiptonville, TN
(731) 253-9064
Gray's Camp
40 Grays Camp Ln
Tiptonville, TN
(731) 253-7813
Reelfoot Lake State Park is located in Lake and Obion counties. The park's 280 acres are broken into 10 segments located along 22 miles of the Reelfoot Lake shoreline. The Airpark Inn is located on State Highway 78, ten miles north of Tiptonville. The other sections of the park - including the visitor and interpretive center with its auditorium, picnic and camping areas - are located along State Highways 21 and 22.
New Cabins
We will be building new cabins at the south end of Reelfoot Lake. This project is currently in the planning phase and the construction schedule has yet to be determined.
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