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Submission
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. 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. Facilities 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, Plank Yard, 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. 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. Charges & 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. ADA Access: N
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.
I'm getting tired of campers being allowed to being big movie screens and watching their movie outdoors. It is loud, disruptive, and bright at night. I'm not camping to watch a movie at the surrounding camper. Stop allowing this new trend in selfishness to occur!!!
We have camped here three times and absolutely love it. Clean bathhouses and great camp host! Trout fishing is great and the hiking trail is paved and very nice. Highly recommend Dale Hollow Dam campground.
Love this campground! The bicycle trail is perfect for a nice morning run and the kids can take advantage of the flat roads to ride their bikes and play on.
Words couldn't describe the beauty, solitude, and fun we had !!! Went hiking around the island where we swim under the bridge, take the path to the LEFT 👈 to see the caves! They had picnic tables inside the caves and not once saw another soul! Our only regret was not being able to stay longer! The water and banks are CLEAN! THE CAMPGROUND WAS CLEAN! SHOWERS WERE HOT! BATHROOMS WERE CLEAN EVERYDAY! The last night there they had a live band for us! It was epic! And I definitely plan to go back and even taking more friends next time! Thanks for the wonderful memories. And for everyone who works there, you ALL SHOULD BE VERY PROUD! THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL! I wish I could add ALL MY PICS
Very nice campground between the Obey river and National Fish Hatchery. WiFi is available near the entrance, but it doesn't reach to the other end of the campground. There is a nice shaded paved walking trail (about 1/2 mi) that goes near the hatchery and fishing spots. There is a narrow bridge where the trail exits at the parking lot between site 35 and the river. Wheelchair users might want to start at that end and know that the path is very bumpy in spots due to root under the pavement. The trail is also accessible from a small parking area on Rt 53 just west (Celina side) of the campground turn. There are a variety of sites (slightly uphill / riverside, closer vs wider spaced). Most sites are shaded.
The rest of my review is about biking in the area. I generally prefer 7-20 mi. "mostly flat" routes as Google maps calls them. I have been riding toward Celina on Rt 53.
I tried Neely Creek Rd once, but it gets hilly pretty quick and there were loose dogs not far from 53.
Going on into Celina there are a few options. Turning left on River Rd just after the bridge is a nice ride but is only about 1.5 mi.
Turning right after the bridge on E Lake Rd takes you up into town. The road has a good shoulder most of the way and the speed limit is low. Donaldson Park is nearby. There are also neighborhoods in town to ride through, but I ran into more dogs in spots, they were generally friendly. After making a right to get over to Dow Ave I headed out of town across the large bridge. Nice view from the bridge on both sides.
Turning left near the gas station onto Moss Arcot Rd takes you beside the Clay County Fairgrounds. I have continued on through the open farm land area for about 1.5 mi before turning back.
Little Proctor Creek Rd on the right after the bridge looks like another potential good riding area, but I haven't tried there yet.
When returning to camp, the Dale Hollow Dam Rd has no shoulder and is uphill so I've been returning to camp via the trail by entering from the entrance on 53. I turn right since the path that direction is smoother.
