REELFOOT LAKE STATE PARK
Reelfoot Lake State Park is located on the highest Western point of the state of Tennessee. It is truly so unique and different than the other state parks of Tennessee. We decided to go for a night of camping and a morning of exploring this month. Word to the wise - it was hot. So hot. Maybe don’t go to camp in July, but in the Spring or Autumn, it would be lovely.
When we first arrived, we made our way to the campground. We chose site 19, and the view was breathtaking. We set up camp right before sunset, and then spent the evening staring at the beautiful oranges and pinks changing in the sky while listening to the frogs.
The large bases of the Cypress trees are really just too cool. You will see a ton of wildlife - herons, dragonflies, frogs, turtles, etc. The mosquitoes were out in abundance, so beware if you are going in the summer!
We spent so much time watching the sunset, that we forgot to eat, so we got settled in the tent, ate dinner, played a board game, and tried to get some rest. Unfortunately, a little mosquito friend snuck past us while we were getting into the tent, and we just couldn’t seem to catch him. We had a lot of trouble sleeping.. from the heat.. to being a mosquito’s feast all night - it was rough! We got up at sunrise, around 5:45am. It was so peaceful. The water was still. A heron was hunting fish. It was lovely!
We decided to go ahead and pack up our tent and begin exploring. We headed back to the State Park office. Right behind the office is the boardwalk. It is lovely! If you are with children or elderly, you will want to be a bit careful, as there are some boards and things that need repair on the boardwalk. Early morning is the perfect time to experience the boardwalk in my opinion! The beginning of the walk has info plaques, explaining the history of the Native Americans on this land.
I believe they offer some little boat tours. We went too early to experience that, but it looked like they are still currently offering those if you’re interested! This boardwalk very much has the same vibe as Congaree National Park, if you’ve ever been!
As you follow the boardwalk, you’ll come to the lake. There will be a little pavilion overlooking the water. It is so beautiful and peaceful! PS - watch out for spiders!
After the pavilion, the walkway continues along the lake for a bit.
Eventually, you will round a corner and head back toward the parking lot. At this point, the environment becomes a bit more “marshy” with moss and flowers. We heard so many herons among the tall grass!
Reelfoot Lake State Park is a hidden gem in Tennessee. It is definitely, in our opinion, one of the most underrated parks. If you get a chance to visit, leave us a message in the comment section and tell us how it was!