David Crockett State Park

David Crockett State Park is an ideal getaway that offers you scenic vistas of nature in its utmost beauty. In this Tennessee state park, you will get to swim in the pool, fish in the river, take a hike and have a delicious meal at its infamous restaurant. If you love history, the park has a museum detailing all of David Crockett’s life. It’s all you need when you are looking for a great time outdoors.

David Crockett State Park is a 1,319 acres park located on U.S. Highway 64 in Lawrence County about a one-half mile west of the city of Lawrenceburg. The park was dedicated to David Crockett, one of Tennessee’s most famous native sons, in May 1959.

Park History

David Crockett was a pioneer, soldier, politician, and industrialist. He was born in 1786 in northeast Tennessee, near a little town of Limestone. He moved to Lawrence County in 1817 to serve as a justice of the peace. He went on to serve as a colonel of the militia and later on became a state representative. His industrial nature led him to establish a powder mill, a gristmill, and a distillery along the banks of Shoal Creek. This legendary diversified industry operated until September 1821 when a flood washed away all three operations.

The loss of his businesses led to financial difficulties forcing Crockett to move to West Tennessee where luck and good graces earned him a seat in Congress. Crockett used his time in Washington to valiantly fight for his people’s right to keep the land they had settled in on the new frontier of West Tennessee. He never stopped fighting for justice until his last moments in 1836 at the Alamo Mission while helping Texans gain independence from Mexico. The David Crockett State Park has a museum that depicts his life and has a water-powered grist mill.

This park has lots of activities to fill your itinerary and make your time here worthwhile and refreshing. If you need to de-stress mentally, you should visit this park. If you love to bike, the park has a paved bike trail at your disposal. There are also more than ten miles of hiking trails whose routes offer you magnificent vistas of Shoal Creek and Crockett Falls, serene forests, abundant wildlife, and limestone bluffs.

Summer months at David Crockett State Park are all about swimming and boating. Lake Lindsey’s large expanse is an ideal place for swimming and watercraft rentals. There are canoes, pedal boats, fishing boats, and paddle boats available for rental.

What makes David Crockett State Park a perfect place for a getaway is the presence of cabins. The park has seven cabins near the picturesque Lake Lindsey. Each cabin is completely furnished with two bedrooms, two baths, a full kitchen, and a covered patio. To make it even better, these cabins were built with energy efficiency and conservation in mind. They are certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). If you ever dreamt of staying in a cabin in the woods near a lake, David Crockett State Park is the destination for you.

For camping enthusiasts, the park has two campgrounds which contain 97 sites that are all equipped with a table and a fire ring and grill combo. Campground number 1 has water and 30-amp electrical hookups while campground number has 20-, 30-, and 50-amp electrical and water hookups. There are 10 primitive campsites at campground number one.

A gem of David Crockett State Park is the onsite restaurant that overlooks the beautiful Lake Lindsey. The restaurant has exceptional menu items with many local favorites. You can dine in or take out. In the morning on weekends, the restaurant serves all-you-care-to-eat breakfast family style.

Activities

There are a ton of activities to keep you entertained for days in this park. Lake Lindsey looks like it was made for paddling and boating with its beautiful waters reflecting the sky and forest. There are many trails available for hiking and you can take a swim after to chase away the exhaustion. Birding lovers have plenty to see with the tall pine-oak-hickory forest covering the park. You can bring along your bike since the park has paved biking trails for your exploration.

Paddling

Lake Lindsey is 40 acres making it perfect for paddling. If you didn’t bring your own boat, worry not. The park has several boats available for rent. Below are the rates:

• Canoe: $8 hourly. $28 daily
• Kayak: $8 hourly
• Paddleboard: $8 hourly
• Pedal boat: $10 – $12 hourly

Birding

David Crockett State Park is mainly covered in pine-oak-hickory forest which many birds have made their home. There are over 100 species of birds to be spotted in the park. The park has six miles of trails that would help you easily spot woodland birds such as migrants in the spring and fall. For the non-forested part of the park, mainly around the office, there are plenty of eastern bluebirds, great-crested flycatchers, sparrows, and eastern phoebe.

You can also catch incredible views of the lake at the boat dock and dam. Here you can try spotting mallards, great blue, Canada goose, green herons, swallows, and belted kingfishers. In the winter, you can spot red-breasted nuthatches in the pines.

Hiking

Hiking at David Crockett State Park is for everyone from beginners to experts. There are easy trails to start you off. You aren’t looking for anything too challenging. Moderate trails are plenty for anyone looking for some strenuous routes. All the trails offer magnificent views, good exercise, the thrill of a challenge, and most importantly, beautiful nature.

Below are the main trails in the David Crockett State Park:

Shoal Creek Trail: This is 1.7 miles of natural surface. The trail is classified as moderate and offers scenic views of Shoal Creek.

Overlook Trail: This is a 1.6 miles moderate trail made mainly of natural surface. The overlook has excellent views of Shoal Creek and Lake Lindsey.

Waterfall Trail: It’s 0.2 miles of natural surface. This is a moderate trail that takes you to the Crockett waterfall in the lake.

Crockett Cabins Trail: This is an easy trail of about 0.2 miles. The trail is natural and takes you to the seven cabins on the banks of Lake Lindsey.

Outdoor classroom Trail: This is a 0.6 miles trail made of natural surface. It is classified as a moderate trail.

Fitness Trail: It’s a 0.4 miles long easy trail made of natural surface.

Biking

The biking trail is paved and is about 3 miles. Its rating is intermediate. When you take this trail, you can return by the same route or keep riding to the main park road that leads in front of the restaurant.

Fishing/Boating

The 35-acre Lake Lindsey has plenty of fish for your fishing pleasure. There are rowboats at the lake for rent year-round. The fish variety available here includes crappie, catfish, Bluegill, and bass.

Educational Programs

Are you looking to try something new with your students outdoors? Visit David Crockett State Park and learn with a Park Ranger. The park has programs that are accessible and experiential. The programs have been designed to be engaging and educational for your students.

There are many programs to choose from or you can curate your own with a Ranger to fit the academic standards of your classroom.

Below are the types of educational programs at David Crockett State Park:

• Field trips to the park
• Ranger classroom or school yard visits
• Custom programs

David Crockett State Park offers programs that cover topics such as:

• State and Regional History
• Folk Traditions
• Agriculture
• Technology
• Park Career Options

Park Location

David Crockett State Park
1400 West Gaines
Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Phone: 931.903.2323

Website

Map

Video

Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at David Crockett State Park: