COVID-19 UPDATES: Keeping Visitors Healthy

Cove Lake State Park

Tennessee State Parks are open for day-use visitors and overnight guests. We do provide travel tips and FAQs for those wishing to visit our parks. Availability of inventory for online booking may be lower than normal as the park pursues social distancing. 

Certain parks or areas of parks may close if they reach capacity. Events may have limited capacity. Park hours may vary from normal operations in response to COVID-19.

Please Note: Masks are required inside all state park facilities. For more information about this and other guidelines, please see our Keeping Visitors Healthy page to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Statewide Alert (effective August 10, 2020): Visitors are required to wear a mask in any state park facility staffed by employees or where the general public may congregate.  This includes park offices, visitor centers, stores, nature centers, restrooms or while touring any indoor facility being considered for rent.  If visitors do not have a mask, parks will maintain a small amount of paper masks to provide to a visitor for their use. Any park rental facility- including cabins, Lodge rooms, campsites, picnic shelters, group facilities, etc. - are considered as having “restricted use” and will be the responsibility of the party renting that facility.  It is recommended that they follow all CDC recommendations and guidelines regarding social distancing and mask wearing.

Visitors are required to follow the mask ordinances of the county they are in, or the park rules listed above, whichever are more stringent.

Activities

Paddling - no rentals

Located in a beautiful mountain valley, Cove Lake (210 acre) is a great park for a peaceful paddle.

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Swimming

The pool at Cove Lake State Park will remain closed for the 2020 summer season, in the interest of public health and staff safety. COVID-19 presents unique challenges for managing pools. Pools are confined spaces not conducive to social distancing. The very nature of lifeguarding requires close contact with pool users and creates the potential for unnecessary risk in life-saving situations. We apologize for this inconvenience and look forward to the next opportunity we have to reopen the pool for your enjoyment.

Our park remains open and is still a great place for you to enjoy water-based recreation this summer. Find other activities at the park here.

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Hiking

We have more than seven miles of trails ranging from easy to moderate, of which over 3 miles are paved for multi-use, including jogging and biking.

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Biking

The paved bike trail is great for beginners! The path meanders its way through the park and overlooks the lake.

Trail Length: 3.5 miles
Trail Rating: Beginner

Fishing

Cove Lake (210 acre) provides a beautiful mountain valley setting on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau and good habitat for bass, Bluegill, and crappie. 

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Birding

The lake serves as a magnet for migrating birds. In the winter there are hundreds of geese and other waterfowl.

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