Tennessee Valley Authority
Recreation
Millions of people enjoy recreational activities on TVA lakes each year. The lakes and the 293,000 acres of land surrounding them offer nearly limitless opportunities for fun-filled activities, including water skiing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, swimming, hiking, nature photography, picnicking, birdwatching and camping.
TVA Recreation Map
Our map viewer provides three distinct views for lake recreation areas, as well as GPS coordinates and directions to recreation areas and facilities across the Tennessee Valley.
Camping and recreation areas
TVA operates 80 public recreation areas throughout the Tennessee Valley, including campgrounds, day-use areas and boat launching ramps. Get information here about campground fees and amenities as well as picnic pavilion reservations.
Recreation release schedules
Go fishing or experience the excitement of canoeing, kayaking or rafting on the many stretches of river below TVA dams.
The Ocoee River Gorge
The Ocoee River has both an Olympic whitewater course and a four-and-a-half-mile rafting area. The area also offers lots of other recreational opportunities, including swimming, boating and picknicking.
Reservoir information
A handy resource for fishermen and boaters, these pages track water levels on an hourly basis in TVA lakes across the Tennessee Valley, give water release schedules at the dams, and more.
Reservoir ratings
TVA operates one of the most comprehensive river-system monitoring programs in the United States. Get information about water quality at TVA lakes, including advisories on swimming at various recreation areas and eating fish caught in the reservoirs.
Sport fishing ratings
To help anglers decide where they have the best chance of catching their favorite types of fish, TVA and state fisheries agencies rate fishing quality for different species in the TVA lakes.
Tracking water temperatures on the Elk River
TVA monitors water temperatures in the Elk River closely so that it can adjust the operation of Tims Ford Dam to protect the variety of life in the river, including a cold-water trout fishery and endangered species and sport fish that require warm water.
Spring Sport Fish Survey
TVA conducts an annual survey to determine the number, age and general health of black bass in lakes throughout the Tennessee Valley. Read about the survey and check the results for individual lakes. See 2010 Sport Fish Survey Schedule
TVA Reservoir Map
Our interactive map of TVA facilities gives the location of all TVA lakes and links to general information on each, including descriptions of recreation opportunities and conditions.
Clean Marinas and Clean Boating
Boating is one of the most popular recreational uses of TVA lakes. TVA's Clean Marina Initiative certifies marinas that are in compliance with pollution-control standards. And the national Clean Boating Campaign helps educate boating enthusiasts and marina operators in practices that reduce pollution and erosion on the waterways. Find out more here.
Metal detecting
Metal detecting as a recreational activity is allowed on certain TVA fee-owned lands. All metal detecting activities require a TVA-issued permit. Get the complete guidelines and download a permit application here.
Commercial recreation use of TVA lands
On behalf of the United States, TVA controls approximately 293,000 acres of public lands for multiple uses, including public use and enjoyment of the reservoir systems. Commercial recreation facilities play a key role in meeting river system recreation customer needs and have a positive impact on the region's economy.
As of January 2010, approximately 224 marinas and 262 campgrounds operate on and along the Tennessee River and its tributaries. Of these, 177 marinas and 138 campgrounds operate on or over TVA land, and therefore require a land agreement from TVA to operate using public lands.
In February of 2010, TVA implemented new guidelines to achieve consistency in its management of new and existing commercial recreation agreements, particularly campgrounds and marinas.
View general information regarding these guidelines.
