Tennessee's Best Lakes and Waterfronts

Tennessee is a landlocked state, but it has an extraordinary amount of freshwater — the Tennessee Valley Authority built a system of dams that created a chain of large reservoirs. Tennessee has more miles of shoreline than the entire US Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined.

Reelfoot Lake (Northwest Tennessee)
Reelfoot Lake was created in 1811–1812 by the New Madrid earthquakes — the most powerful earthquake series in recorded American history. The shallow cypress-filled lake dropped 15–20 feet below the surrounding land, and the Mississippi River briefly ran backwards to fill it. Today, Reelfoot is a wildlife refuge and state park known for its bald eagle concentration (100+ eagles winter here), cypress tupelo forest, and excellent fishing. The eerie beauty of dead cypress trees rising from the dark water is unlike any other lake in Tennessee.

Norris Lake (Anderson County)
Created by Norris Dam in 1936 — the first dam built by the TVA — Norris Lake has 800 miles of shoreline winding through steep forested ridges in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province. The water is exceptionally clear; swimming, waterskiing, and bass fishing are the primary attractions. The Museum of Appalachia on the lake's south shore is one of the finest folk and Appalachian history museums in the country.

Tennessee River Gorge (Chattanooga)
The Tennessee River cuts through the Cumberland Plateau and the Ridge and Valley to create a dramatic gorge as it sweeps around Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga. The Chattanooga waterfront has been transformed by the Tennessee Riverpark — a 22-mile riverwalk — and the Tennessee Aquarium, which sits on the river's edge.

Percy Priest Lake (Nashville)
A large reservoir on the Stones River east of Nashville, Percy Priest Lake is Nashville's primary outdoor recreation destination. Marinas, swimming beaches, and motorboat rentals are concentrated near the dam; coves further north offer quiet kayaking. The Cook Recreation Area on the west shore has the best public beach.