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Percy Priest Lake

Percy Priest Lake Dam impounds the Stones River to form the 42-mile-long Percy Priest Lake. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project was finalized in 1967, and today it provides ample opportunities for water recreation and sport fishing. Located near Nashville, this lake entertains over 5,000,000 visitors per year. Still, Percy Priest Lake is surrounded by 18,854 acres of public lands that offer activities such as camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Water sports include boating, canoeing, rowing, sailing, swimming, skiing, and fishing.

Fishing

A wide variety of fish species are available within the lake and in the East and West Forks of the Stones River. Anglers can catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, Cherokee bass and striped (white) bass, and crappie, catfish, bream, and bluegill. Record fish caught in this lake are numerous, including a 47.7-pound striped bass (rockfish) in 1998, a 5.13-pound Kentucky Bass in 2006, and a 62-pound bigmouth buffalo in 2010.

    

  Search Percy Priest Lake Resources
    Percy Priest Lake Tennessee Coordinates:
36.1569N -86.6175W
Map It:
Lake Type:
Reservoir
Surface Area:
14,200 acres
Maximum Depth:
100 ft
Elevation:
490 ft
Normal Water Clarity:
3 ft
Major City:
Nashville
Airport:
Nashville
Boating

Six marinas sit along the reservoir, and the lake sees a lot of activity from local organizations such as the Percy Priest Yacht Club and the Vanderbilt Sailing Club. Approximately 35 access points scattered along the lake's shorelines offer access from the populated region at the northern end of the lake to the less-populated southern shores. Three access points are located along Hobson Pike, which crosses the lake at midpoint. One of those boat ramps is located at Long Hunter State Park.



    
Lodging

Although the Corps operates and supervises the dam, lake, and public lands, the Natural Resource Management Office manages three campgrounds at Anderson Road, Seven Points, and Poole Knobs as well as eleven picnic areas and twelve boat launch ramps. Long Hunter State Park also is situated on the eastern shore of this lake, providing campers with backcountry and group sites. Cedars of Lebanon State Park, located in Lebanon, is about 30 miles from the lake and offers 117 camp sites with electric and water hookups.

The north end of Percey Priest Lake is located just 11 miles from the center of Nashville along I-40/24, and this location provides plenty of accommodations for visitors to the area. Short-term rentals, B&Bs, hotels and motels, and resorts all are available to rent.

Review the Lake Resource Guide for additional lodging.



Communities

Located just ten miles from Nashville near the Nashville International Airport, J. Percy Priest Lake can offer days of recreation for the entire family. The experiences can range from nightlife in the big city to backcountry camping along the lake. The lake extends into Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties, providing a wide range of places to stay and things to do. The more populated areas of the lake are located to the north and east, the shores that are closer to Nashville and neighboring suburbs.

Fun times at Percy Priest Lake  Percy Priest Lake

  Percy Priest Lake  Percy Priest Lake



 
Average Temperatures Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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Avg. Low  28 Avg. Low  32 Avg. Low  39 Avg. Low  48 Avg. Low  57 Avg. Low  65 Avg. Low  70 Avg. Low  68 Avg. Low  61 Avg. Low  49 Avg. Low  39 Avg. Low  31