Panther Creek State Park

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Cherokee Lake is a popular spot for paddling. Paddling rental services at Panther Creek are managed by River Sports Outfitters. For more information about rental availability, pricing and hours, please contact (865) 523-0066.

Photo Credit: TennesseePhotographs.com

The playground at Panther Creek, located near the pool, is a great place for kids to burn off their energy during a trip to the park.

Panther Creek State Park is home to a beautiful 18-hole, championship disc golf course with wooded and open fairways, and concrete tees.

Cherokee Lake is a beautiful lake for boating. The park provides a boat ramp for visitors to launch from mid-April to late September. Nearby commercial marinas provide boat launching and rental boats and motors, as well as a bait shop that supplies fishing and picnicking needs.

The pool at Panther Creek State Park will remain closed for the 2020 summer season. The decision was made to keep this facility closed 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.

Panther Creek has over 30 miles of hiking trails at all levels of diffiuclty.

Panther Creek has several miles of biking trails with an intermediate rating.

Cherokee Lake is a 30,000 acre impoundment on the Holston River and provides great fishing, boating, skiing and other water recreation activities.

The shores and islands of Cherokee Lake at Panther Creek State Park offer great opportunities for seeing wintering waterfowl, osprey, and eagles. The forest has a good resident population of songbirds as well. For more park and nearby birding locations, view flyer.

Panther Creek offers seven miles of horseback riding trails including Hunt Knob and Maple Arch trails. Horse riders can access both of these trails from the parking area located past the boat ramp.