A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Center Hill Lake, DeKalb County, Tennessee. 543 feet. 8.1 miles from Gordonsville.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Center Hill Lake
Elevation
543 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
21 21 tent only non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
DeKalb County

Overview

Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping is a unique camping experience at designated areas across Center Hill's 415 miles of shoreline. 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 road.

Campers are advised that these areas are remote, primitive sites. Cellular service may be non-existant or limited. Water or electric including restroom facilities of any kind are not availabile. 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

Primitive camping

Center Hill Lake is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise filled with camping, fishing, boating, and hiking experiences. Center Hill Lake is known for its fishing opportunities and host a lot of fishing tournaments.

Facilities

No water, electric, or restroom facilities. Sites have signage and a fire pit.

Natural Features

Lake view rustic camping experience surrounded by mature hardwood trees. Fishing and boating only a few steps from your designated camping site.

Nearby Attractions

Edgar Evins State Park, minutes from Center Hill Dam, sits on the shores of the lake. An observation tower at the Visitor Center offers a spectacular view of Center Hill Lake and the surrounding hillsides.

Burgess Falls State Park is a 35-minute drive from the dam. Here, the Falling Water River drops approximately 250 feet, creating numerous breathtaking waterfalls. Hiking trails and overlooks help visitors enjoy the scenery. The large Native Butterfly Garden is a popular attraction within the park.

Rock Island State Park is approximately one hour from the dam. Rock Island is located near the confluences of three rivers that make up Center Hill Lake; the Caney Fork, the Collins, and Rocky Rivers.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • backpacking
  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • jet skiing
  • kayaking
  • motor boat
  • paddling
  • picnicking
  • star gazing
  • water access
  • water activities
  • water skiing
  • water sports
  • wilderness

The land around Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.