Cove Lake State Park brings peace and beauty to developed environment
Photographs courtesy of Cove Lake State Park
While many of Tennessee’s state parks are located in rural areas surrounded by forests or farmland, that is not always the case. Cove Lake State Park in Caryville is an example of a beautiful pocket of nature coexisting with modern development.
“What makes Cove Lake different from other parks is that although we are surrounded by residential, commercial, interstate and highway properties, we have an abundance of wildlife and local history nestled into our small park,” says Park Manager Casey Hatmaker. “Although we are near all those distractions, visitors can experience a sense of connecting with nature and the relaxation of the outdoors.”
Park history
Cove Lake is one of the oldest state parks in Tennessee. The land was first established in 1937 as a Tennessee Valley Authority recreation demonstration area and later designated as one of the first Tennessee State Parks in 1940. Along with Norris Dam and Big Ridge state parks, Cove Lake was created by TVA’s Norris Dam project completed in 1936. TVA then constructed the Cove Lake Dam (a small auxiliary dam to maintain constant water levels), creating Cove Lake.
Like other areas across the state, the construction of Norris Dam served the dual purpose of controlling flooding and providing electricity through hydropower during TVA’s big dam-building era in the 1930s and 1940s.
All that construction also led to the creation of nearby parks and recreational areas, Cove Lake among them. Today the park covers 606 valley acres on the eastern side of the Cumberland Plateau.
Camping
Understandably, campers like to set up at sites that offer a lot of natural beauty. At Cove Lake, there are just over 100 such sites available for tent or RV camping. Each site has water and electric hookups, and most also have grills and picnic tables for a fun and relaxing camping stay.
According to Hatmaker, the Cove Lake Campground is a focal point of the Cove Lake experience.
“We are currently undergoing an exciting campground renovation capital project,” he says. “The work is set to be complete in late 2025 and includes new bathhouses, larger campsites and new campsite amenities.”
Hiking
Two natural-surface trails and one paved trail provide easy to moderate levels of hiking difficulty. The Dam Trail is a 1-mile in-and-out trail, while the Volunteer and Paved trails are loops—1.55 and 3.8 miles long, respectively. The Volunteer Trail also provides access to an 11-mile section of the Cumberland Trail, Tennessee’s first linear state park, which connects Cove Lake State Park with Tank Springs in LaFollette.
Birding
Spring and fall are prime times to visit Cove Lake if you enjoy seeing migrating birds. With both woodlands and a lake, you’re likely to spot a wide variety of feathered friends.
“Something that many might not be aware of is that Cove Lake is an excellent park for birders,” Hatmaker says. “Our 200-acre lake is home to several species of waterfowl, a variety of songbirds, owls, eagles and osprey.”
Water recreation
Whether you enjoy fishing or just going for a soothing paddle across the water, 210-acre Cove Lake is a perfect destination.
Jon boats are rented at the park year-round, but boaters must provide their own electric trolling motors. Personal hard-structured canoes and kayaks can be used on the lake for a small $8 daily launch fee. Kayaks are row boats can also be rented at the park.
Special events
The park hosts two 5K races sponsored by the Friends of Cove Lake State Park — the Cove Lake 5K in June and a Christmas Dash in December. Both races help raise funds to support the park via the Friends group.
Cove Lake also partners with the Campbell Culture Coalition to host the Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival in the fall, scheduled for Sept. 20 this year. This event consists of three music stages, a quilt show, food and craft vendors, and judged exhibits for youth art and photography. Visit louiebluie.org to find out more about the festival.
You can host your own special event at the park. The beauty of the park makes it popular for weddings. An indoor pavilion that can accommodate up to 130 people is great for receptions, rehearsal dinners or other kinds of gatherings such as anniversary parties or family reunions.
A dream come true
You might have wondered while visiting any of Tennessee’s state parks what it must be like to work in such pretty spots on a daily basis. For Hatmaker, it’s a dream come true, especially since he’s an area local. He’s been with Cove Lake since 1997, when he started as a seasonal maintenance employee. He’s been the park’s manager since 2018.
He credits the park’s employees, who he calls his second family, with Cove Lake’s success. Interacting with park visitors is Hatmaker’s favorite part of his job, whether it is a regular visitor or someone who has never been to the park.
With so many years at Cove Lake, Hatmaker has made a lot of memories and collected lots of stories. “It is a running joke with most park rangers that we all ‘could write a book’ with the vast amounts of odd and unusual stories from our careers,” Hatmaker says. “Unusual visitor conversations, off-the-wall questions and unique wildlife encounters are just a few of the interactions that a park ranger might experience. While I don’t have a specific story, I can say that each interaction I have encountered has enriched my career.”
Cove Lake State Park
For more information, visit the park’s website at tnstateparks.com/parks/cove-lake or call 423-566-9701.
