Dale Hollow Lake - Primitive Camping
Dale Hollow Lake
Dale Hollow Lake Primitive Camping is a unique series of 32 locations with a total of over 70 individually designated family campsites dispersed over 620 miles of shoreline. Campsites are located in both the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Primitive camping offers a unique rustic lake front camping experience. Remote locations along the shoreline offer campers a peaceful nature experience. Most designated tent sites are accessible only by boat; while a few can be reached by country road.
Campers are advised that these areas are remote, primitive sites. Toilets are vault/pit type outhouses. Campers desiring on-site attendant, security and law enforcement services are encouraged to use developed campgrounds where such services are provided. These services are not provided for primitive camping.
Primitive camping sites are remote and accessible by boat; a few have vehicle access. Each location is designated and marked. Each area has a vault or pit type toilet and a ground grill or fire circle. Tent camping is permissible within the designated areas. Cove Creek, Eagle Creek Ferry, Gunnel's Camp, Jones Chapel, Red Oak Ridge A, and Taylors Ford are the only locations which provide for vehicle access. All areas are considered pack-it-in, pack-it-out locations with minimal services. Campers are expected to bring plenty of water and garbage bags. Cove Creek is the only location with drinking water.
Camping is limited to a 14-day stay within a 30-consecutive day period.
Need to Know
Firewood Policy – Campers may only burn certified heat treated firewood, commercial fire logs, kiln-dried, unpainted, unstained lumber that is free of any metal or foreign substance, or dead and downed branches in the area adjacent to the campsite. View the Nashville District Firewood Policy
Fires in designated areas only.
To access drive in sites, follow the directions or GPS information under the specific site info. Using GPS for Dale Hollow Lake Primitive Camping will direct to the Resource Manager's Comlex, not the camping site. Every site has the site GPS and/or driving directions listed under the specific site NEED TO KNOW tab.
- Reserved campsites should be occupied by check-out on the day following your scheduled arrival date. If not, the reservation will be marked as a no-show and the site made available for another reservation.
Post a printed copy of your confirmation letter to your tent or at the site. To protect your identity, mark out the address information. Ensure that the reservation name, site and dates are visible. Camping is limited to a 14-day stay within a 30-consecutive day period.
Multi-party areas include Cove Creek, First Island, Taylors Ford and Plankyard. Reserving more than one site at a multi-party area for the purpose of reserving the entire area is not allowed and customers doing so are subject to having all their reservations cancelled. Those who desire a more secluded primitive camping experience should consider reserving at a single party site.
- No water; please bring your own. Toilet facility consists of vault/pit type. You must bring your own toilet paper.
Pack out all your trash and camping items. Clean up the area before departure. No off-road vehicles allowed.
- Parking locations on the lake may charge a use fee for that area.
- Houseboats are permitted to tie up nearby the area.
- Alcohol is not permitted at Cove Creek, Sewell Bend A, B, C and Red Oak Ridge A, B, C.
Complete rules and regulations enforced are found in Title 36, Chapter III, Part 327 Code of Federal Regulations. For more information visit US Army Corps of Engineers Rules and Regulations for Water Resources Projects
WARNIING! The level of Dale Hollow Lake can rise or fall suddenly without warning.
Campsites accessible by roadways are subject to day users and sightseers accessing the area. THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH PRIMITIVE CAMPING ON DALE HOLLOW MAY WANT TO PHONE THE RESOURCE OFFICE TO CLARIFY THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMITIVE CAMPING.
- Campers are encouraged to use developed campgrounds where security and law enforcement services are provided. These services are not provided for primitive camping. Persons camping at primitive campsites do so at their own risk.
- Sheriff's Department Emergency Contacts: Clay County 931-243-3266 Overton County 931-823-5404 Pickett County 931-864-3210 Clinton County 606-387-5111 Cumberland County 270-864-4141
Natural Features
Dale Hollow Dam and Lake was completed in 1943. Although the dam was built for flood control and power generation, it has now become a recreational oasis for more than 3 million visitors each year. The dam is located on the Obey River, about three miles east of Celina, Tennessee. Surrounded by a thick expanse of forest, the clear blue lake creates a stunning scenic backdrop for a variety of water and land recreational activities. In the late fall through early spring, the American bald eagle can be spotted flying overhead or perched on low-lying limbs. Dale Hollow hosts the second-largest wintering eagle population in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky.
Recreation
Dale Hollow Lake, with its crystal clear water and forested hillsides, is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Dale Hollow is renowned for its fishing opportunities and holds the world record for smallmouth bass and is known as a trophy smallmouth lake. Boating and water skiing are popular activities, and with 27,700 surface acres of water and 620 miles of shoreline, there is plenty of space for campers to explore the lake.
Changes & Cancellations
Full rules and reservation policies for fees associated with changes and cancellations can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies
There is no fee to make a reservation.
- A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
- A $10 service fee may be charged to changes made to an existing reservation (see full policies for when this is applicable).
- A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation).
- No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee for a campsite.
- Applicable fees, including service/cancellation fees and change fees, are non-refundable and subject to change.
- No refunds for recreation use fees may be made locally at the lake.
Contact Information
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Resource Managers Office, Dale Hollow Lake, 540 Dale Hollow Dam Road Celina TN 38551
Physical Address
For the physical location of each site, check the site notes for GIS info or reference the map.
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: DALE HOLLOW LAKE RESOURCE MANAGERS OFFICE-931-243-3136. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY CONTACTS: CLAY COUNTY 931-243-3266 OVERTON COUNTY 931-823-5404 PICKETT COUNTY 931-864-3210 CLINTON COUNTY 606-387-5111 CUMBERLAND COUNTY 270-864-4141
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Camping locations are dispersed throughout Dale Hollow Lake. Reference primitive camping map or site details for information on how to get to the specific site. Mailing and contact information is for the Resource Manager's Office.
GPS Coordinates listed above is the location of the Resource Manager's Office in Celina, TN. It is NOT the location of the camping site.
Available Campsites
- Site 33C, Loop TAYLOR'S FORD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 18 Huffakre Branch , Loop HUFFAKRE BRANCH, Type Boat IN
- Site 20C State Line Island C (Kentucky Side), Loop STATE LINE ISLAND C (Kentucky Side), Type Boat IN
- Site 2A3, Loop RED OAK RIDGE A (Trail Head), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 33A, Loop TAYLOR'S FORD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 24C, Loop GUNNEL'S CAMP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 32 Eagle Creek Ferry Left Bank, Loop SITE 32 EAGLE CREEK FERRY LEFT BANK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 2B Red Oak Ridge B (Barn & Corral) , Loop RED OAK RIDGE B (Barn & Corral), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 4 First Island (Multiple Campsite Area-Boat In), Loop SITE 4 FIRST ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 31E, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 3C Sewell Bend C (3rd Finger Upstream from Dam) , Loop SEWELL BEND C (3rd Finger Upstream from Dam), Type Boat IN
- Site 10B, Loop ROBERT'S HOLLOW POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 16 Casey Creek Point , Loop CASEY CREEK POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 24A, Loop GUNNEL'S CAMP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 27 County Line Island , Loop COUNTY LINE ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 31D, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 31A, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 32A, Loop EAGLE CREEK FERRY LEFT BANK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 32C, Loop EAGLE CREEK FERRY LEFT BANK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 34C, Loop PLANKYARD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 31G, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 32B, Loop EAGLE CREEK FERRY LEFT BANK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 5A Kemper Flats A , Loop KEMPER FLATS A, Type Boat IN
- Site 24D, Loop GUNNEL'S CAMP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 19 Cactus Island , Loop CACTUS ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 13B Geiger Island (Island Point) , Loop GEIGER ISLAND (Island Point), Type Boat IN
- Site 30 Jackson Creek Island , Loop JACKSON CREEK ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 34A, Loop PLANKYARD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 26 Noel Island , Loop NOEL ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 9 Graveyard Island , Loop GRAVEYARD ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 2C Red Oak Ridge C (Storm Shelter), Loop RED OAK RIDGE C (Storm Shelter), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 31B, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 3A Sewell Bend A (1st Finger Upstream from Dam), Loop SEWELL BEND A (1st Finger Upstream from Dam), Type Boat IN
- Site 31C, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 2A Red Oak Ridge A (Trail Head), Loop SITE 2A RED OAK RIDGE A (Trail Head), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 2A2, Loop RED OAK RIDGE A (Trail Head), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 24B, Loop GUNNEL'S CAMP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 2A4, Loop RED OAK RIDGE A (Trail Head), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 10C, Loop ROBERT'S HOLLOW POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 4B , Loop FIRST ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 4A , Loop FIRST ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 31I, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 33B, Loop TAYLOR'S FORD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 31 Cove Creek (Multiple Campsite Area-Drive In), Loop SITE 31 COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 29 Jouett Creek Point , Loop JOUETT CREEK POINT , Type Boat IN
- Site 31F, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 13A Geiger Island (Hill Top) , Loop GEIGER ISLAND (Hill Top), Type Boat IN
- Site 31H, Loop COVE CREEK., Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 24 Gunnel's Camp (Multiple Campsite Area-Drive In), Loop SITE 24 GUNNEL'S CAMP, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 21 State Line Point , Loop STATE LINE POINT , Type Boat IN
- Site 31, Loop COVE CREEK (Walk-In), Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 17 Jarvis Point , Loop JARVIS POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 20B State Line Island B (Tennessee Side), Loop STATE LINE ISLAND B (Tennessee Side), Type Boat IN
- Site 15 Sherman Hollow , Loop SHERMAN HOLLOW, Type Boat IN
- Site 34B, Loop PLANKYARD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 10D, Loop ROBERT'S HOLLOW POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 1 Mitchell Creek , Loop MITCHELL CREEK, Type Boat IN
- Site 4D , Loop FIRST ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 28 West Fork Ashburn Creek , Loop WEST FORK ASHBURN CREEK, Type Boat IN
- Site 4 , Loop FIRST ISLAND (Walk-In), Type Boat IN
- Site 33 Taylor's Ford (Multiple Campsite Area-Drive In), Loop SITE 33 TAYLOR'S FORD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 33E, Loop TAYLOR'S FORD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 5B Kemper Flats B , Loop KEMPER FLATS B , Type Boat IN
- Site 3B Sewell Bend B (2nd Finger Upstream from Dam), Loop SEWELL BEND B (2nd Finger Upstream from Dam), Type Boat IN
- Site 23 Jones Chapel, Loop JONES CHAPEL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 10A, Loop ROBERT'S HOLLOW POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 2A1, Loop RED OAK RIDGE A (Trail Head), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 4C, Loop FIRST ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 25 Phillip's Island , Loop PHILLIP'S ISLAND, Type Boat IN
- Site 12 Anderson Point , Loop ANDERSON POINT, Type Boat IN
- Site 2A5, Loop RED OAK RIDGE A (Trail Head), Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site 20A State Line Island A (Tennessee Side), Loop STATE LINE ISLAND A (Tennessee Side), Type Boat IN
- Site 33D, Loop TAYLOR'S FORD, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 14 Moore Hollow Point , Loop MOORE HOLLOW POINT , Type Boat IN
- Site 11 Hendrick's Creek , Loop HENDRICK'S CREEK, Type Boat IN
- Site 22 Rayburn Point, Loop RAYBURN POINT, Type Boat IN
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