By:
Submission
Prentice Cooper State Forest is located in southeastern Tennessee, in Marion County. The forest is approximately 10 miles west of Chattanooga and is heavily utilized by the public. It is situated on the scenic Tennessee River Gorge. The property for Prentice Cooper was acquired by simple purchase between 1938 and 1944. The site was proclaimed a State Forest in 1945. Sixty-nine percent of the forest is in multiple-use regulated forests and the remainder is in conservation areas.
Camping is permitted at the Davis Pond Camping area on a first-come, first-served basis. These primitive campsites have no sanitation facilities.
Campers at the Davis Pond Camping area are required to be in the campsite by sunset and must remain in the campsite until sunrise. No in-or-out privileges with the exception of emergency purposes.
A nice campground, back away from the traffic and the noise. No definitive campsites set up, except for where others have already made fire pits, so you're kind of on your own with that, and don't try to drive down the road to get here unless you've got something with good ground clearance. It can get a bit busy in the spring and summer, but you'll still have plenty of space for yourself, and you may meet some awesome people there too. Snooper's Rock is right around the corner by vehicle, or you can take the very scenic trail through the woods to get to it, there's two massive firewood deposits further up to collect from, and the only thing you can hear at night is the sounds of nature
Great free site. Be sure to check if it’s hunting season as this could make it unsafe to camp here. Outhouse needs work.
What a wonderful surprise! 10 miles up a dusty gravel road is a real gem. A beautiful grassy campground with about 5 tent sites. The parking area is separate from the campsites. The cute little fishing pond is below the parking area and it is surrounded by cat tails and greenery. There are many very nice walking trails around the edges of the campground. My experience was exceptional with quiet evenings by the fire and lots of hiking and exploring during the day. I saw several wild turkeys with a few deer sightings.
