Center Hill Lake

Center Hill Lake was completed in 1948 when the Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Caney Fork River near Lancaster. The result is a long, winding reservoir that stretches through DeKalb and Smith counties, with forested bluffs and limestone cliffs dropping into clear green water. It is the most accessible major lake for Cookeville residents - a 30-minute drive south gets you to multiple boat ramps and marinas.

The lake is known for striped bass and largemouth bass fishing, and it has a devoted community of anglers who fish it year-round. The Corps manages multiple campgrounds along the shoreline, from full hookup RV sites to primitive tent areas, and summer reservations fill fast. Long Branch Campground and Ragland Bottom are among the most popular and best-situated.

Several marinas operate on Center Hill, offering boat rentals, fuel, and supplies. Edgar Evins State Park sits on the western arm of the lake and provides access to hiking trails, a marina, and cabins that book months in advance for summer. The park's views across the lake from the ridgeline trails are some of the quieter, underrated scenic experiences in the region.

Center Hill is a working family lake - pontoon boats and fishing rigs mix with the occasional ski boat, and the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. If Dale Hollow is the destination lake for Upper Cumberland visitors, Center Hill is the local lake, the one people go to on a Tuesday evening after work to wet a line or watch the sun set over the water from a dock.