Clean-up Day - July 6 at 10 a.m. CT
Our monthly "Park Cleanup Day" is organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park and is held on the first Saturday of each month and is open to everyone. Participants should meet at the park office at 10 a.m. CT. Participants are also welcome to arrive earlier and attend the monthly Friends of Long Hunter meeting at 9 a.m.; the meeting will be a great opportunity to learn about all the exciting things happening at the park and with the Friends group. Thanks to Friends member Mike Panesi for organizing our cleanup days. For more info, contact Mike at mpanesi@gmail.com.
Long
Hunter State Park is situated along the shore of J. Percy Priest
Lake. It consists of four units: Couchville, Baker's Grove, Bryant
Grove and Sellars Farm. Picnicking, swimming, hiking, backpacking,
boating, fishing, nature photography and wildlife observation
are among the activities available to park visitors. Planned activities
include interpretive and recreation programs for the general public
and environmental education programs for school and other interested
groups.
Biking
The Jones Mill mountain bike trail is located in the Bryant Grove Recreation Area. It features two loops: one two-mile loop and one four-mile loop. These trails offer a variety of challenges to mountain bikers and a great view of the lake from Bald Knob. Hikers are also welcome on the bike trail.
Boating
J. Percy Priest Lake
Pleasure boating and water-skiing are popular on the 14,000-acre J. Percy Priest Lake. Long Hunter offers two launch ramps on J. Percy Priest Lake.
Couchville Lake
Rental boats are available for Couchville Lake at the park during the summer-use season.
Small personal boats without gasoline or diesel motors are allowed year round on Couchville Lake. There is no launch ramp on Couchville Lake for private boats.
Life jackets are required to be worn by anyone on Couchville Lake, including individuals using park rentals or a personal craft.
Tennessee
Boating Regulations
Camping
Backcountry Camping
Long Hunter State Park has two backcountry camp sites that are located at the end of the 5.5 mile long Volunteer Trail. The trail head for the Volunteer trail is located just off of Hobson Pike at 1594 Bakers Grove Rd. There is a sign on Hobson Pike to indicate the location of the trail head. The Volunteer Trail is a linear trail so a hiker hikes in and out on the same trail without looping. The only naturally occurring water on the trail is Percy Priest Lake.
There is no charge for camping in the backcountry sites however we do ask that campers stop by the park office at 2910 Hobson Pike to fill out a camper registration form and pick up a trail map.
Group Camping
An area with adjacent lakeshore has been set aside for use
by scout, church, or other organized youth groups. There is
a small charge for overnight use and advance reservations must
be made. Adult supervision is required.
Events and Programs
June 2013- Programs and Activities including the popular Dancing in the Park with Ranger Ponda!
Sept - Dancing in the Park
Back by popular demand! The Civilian Conservation Corps was a major force in building state parks. For recreation, women were often bused in for local dances. Step back in time as you learn about the history of the park and how to swing dance like the stars - or how the locals did in the 20's, 30's & 40's. Naturalist and dance instructor Ponda Armstrong will begin the evening with a basic swing dance lesson - and then we'll open up the floor and let you dance the night away! Ages 10 and up. Sponsored by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park. Meet at the Couchville Lake shelter in Area 2 at 7 p.m. CT.
Oct - Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike
Join park staff and the Friends of Long Hunter once again as we attempt to hike all of Long Hunter's trails - 26 miles - in a single day. Whether you hike only a couple of miles or all 26 miles, the objective is to have fun, enjoy the fall foliage, and experience the wide variety of habitats Long Hunter has to offer. Please bring water, lunch, snacks, and good hiking shoes. Meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot in Area 2 at 7 a.m. CT. For more info call the park at 615-885-2422.
Oct - Annual Fall Festival and NAIA Pow-Wow
Long Hunter State Park and the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee are hosting this fun-filled event which includes Indian food, arts and crafts, live music, and dancing. This year's event will also include a special celebration of Tennessee State Parks' 75th Anniversary. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for seniors & children ages 6-12. Children 5 & under are admitted free. For more information, call 615-232-9179 or go to http://www.naiatn.org/powwow.
Oct - Halloween Hunt 5-Mile Run
This event is part of the 35th Annual Tennessee State Parks Running Tour. The race will include two laps around Couchville Lake. Awards will be presented in five age categories and there will also be a Halloween costume contest. Early registrants will receive a t-shirt. For more info, call 615-889-1306.
Self-guided Tree Trail Brochure
Butterfly Checklist
Dragonfly and Damselfly Checklist
Fishing
Fishing on the J. Percy Priest Lake is very popular at Long
Hunter. Catches include large- and small-mouth bass, rockfish,
stripe, crappie, bream and catfish. There is no charge for fishing;
however, all fishermen over 12 years of age must possess a valid
Tennessee fishing license.
Valid TN fishing license required
Tennessee
Fishing Regulations (exit TDEC)
Tennessee
State Parks fishing policies
Hiking
There are several hiking trails at Long Hunter designed to provide pleasant walking experiences for all. Among the more popular is the two-mile loop Lake Trail around Couchville Lake. It is also home to the Jason Allen Arboretum Trail at Couchville Lake that weaves its way through the first certified arboretum in a Tennessee State Park. Visitors along the Jason Allen Arboretum Trail will see 44 stenciled leaves on the barrier-free, hard surfaced path that signify where the different trees are marked. These stenciled leaves were created by Tina Turbeville, a Friend of Long Hunter, who worked with Jason and Fred Dickson, another Friend of Long Hunter, to carefully apply the leaf stencil to the Arboretum trail. Unlike most sites where trees are planted for the sole purpose of creating an arboretum, these trees were already occurring naturally around Couchville Lake. This provides a wild feel and makes the arboretum site even more special.
View the Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail Tree Guide.
The Nature Loop Trail and Inland Trail located at Couchville, are popular short walks. The mile-long Deer Trail begins at the park office and meanders through old field and young forest habitats. The longer Bryant Grove Trail connects Bryant Grove to Couchville.
For the more adventurous, the Bakers Grove Primitive Use Area offers longer day hikes on the Day Loop Trail, and day hiking and overnight camping on the Volunteer Trail. These trails wind along the shore of J. Percy Priest Lake, climb overlook bluffs, and wander through hardwood forest, cedar glades, and interesting rock outcroppings.
From The Tennessee Conservationist's Great Hikes With Fran Wallas:
Three Ways to Hike The Perfect Winter Trail at Long Hunter State Park
Detailed GIS Park Map
Meeting Facility
The park also features the Liana Dranes Nature Circle Room at the park office that can accommodate 25 people arranged classroom style or 40 people arranged conference room style. Contact the park office at (615) 885-2422 for more information on availability.
Picnic Facilities
The park provides two large picnic shelters. The Bryant Grove
site is situated around a central parking area and provides
lakeshore swim beach, a rustic playground and a volleyball court.
The Couchville site, located a short walk from the two parking
areas, is located on Couchville Lake near the barrier free Lake
Trail. Picnic shelters may be reserved for family reunions,
church groups, or other group outings. Each shelter is convenient
to restroom facilities. The park begins taking reservations
for the shelters on January 1.
Sellars Farm
Click here to learn more about the Sellars Farm state archaeological site at the Tennessee History for Kids Web site.
Swimming
Non-supervised swimming is permitted at Bryant Grove. Swimming
in Couchville Lake and in the area of boat ramps is prohibited.
CAUTION: The lake bottom is hazardous and you must swim at your
own risk!
Pet Policy
While Long Hunter is a pet-friendly state park, not all areas of the park are open to pets. Bryant Grove and Couchville Lake picnic areas do not allow dogs or other pets. Please note pet accessibility signs at various locations inside the park.
Please Remember
Long Hunter is a sanctuary. All area features including plants
and animals (living and non-living), rocks, minerals, artifacts,
and fossils are protected by State law. Violators are subject
to prosecution. Please be careful with fires and help us keep
your park neat and natural.
History
View the History
of Long Hunter State Park
Tour Buses
Tour buses are welcome to the park.
