Center Hill Lake is an 18,000-acre reservoir on the Caney Fork River in DeKalb, Putnam, White, and Warren counties in Middle Tennessee, about 60 miles east of Nashville. It was completed for flood control in 1948 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, with hydropower generation later integrated into the Cumberland River basin system. The project stores floodwaters from the Caney Fork watershed, generates electricity, and supports one of Middle Tennessee's most scenic recreation lakes.

With about 415 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth near 190 feet at the dam, Center Hill is a deep, clear storage reservoir set among steep wooded hills and limestone bluffs. Long creek arms, rocky points, submerged timber, and a well-defined river channel create varied habitat for fish and boaters. The Caney Fork tailwaters below the dam are a premier cold-water trout fishery, while the lake itself is known for clear water, scenic overlooks, and a mix of protected coves and open main-lake basins.

Center Hill draws anglers and boaters year-round for smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Corps parks, campgrounds, marinas, and public boat ramps ring the reservoir, and the lake is a regional destination for weekend recreation as well as tournament fishing. Shoreline camping and day-use areas make it easy to combine boating with hiking and scenic drives through the surrounding hills.

Water levels on Center Hill Lake are managed by the Corps of Engineers around a normal full pool of 648 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with a flood pool extending to about 685 feet. Elevations can change substantially with rainfall, flood storage, and power generation, and the lake sits in the same Cumberland basin network as Dale Hollow Lake and Great Falls Reservoir on the Caney Fork system. Monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing success, dock access, and shoreline activities throughout the year.

Center Hill Lake Boat Ramps, Recreation Areas & Places to Visit

DockTalk

Ask about Center Hill Lake

Dock
Talk