McKamy Lake

Facility · Tennessee ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Cherokee National Forest (NF) · Open Access

1,885 ft
Elevation

Visitors to Chilhowee Recreation Area are drawn to McKamy Lake for swimming, fishing picnicking, sunbathing and canoeing. The seven-acre lake was built in the late 1930s to early 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Chilhowee Lake Trail skirts the banks of the lake and connects to picnic, bathhouse and campground facilities.

Getting there

35.14943, -84.60936 · 35°8'57.9"N 84°36'33.7"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 89°F in Jul, down to 50°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F505563728086898883736153
Low °F293339475664686760483732
Precip in5.24.95.65.04.64.95.13.84.73.54.85.5

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 11.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about McKamy Lake

Can you reserve a site at McKamy Lake?
No. McKamy Lake is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near McKamy Lake

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.