Edgar Evins State Park

Found on the shores of Center Hill Lake in southern Tennessee, Edgar Evins State Park is a massive 6000-acre park that offers a myriad of recreational opportunities for sportspeople and families alike. If you are looking to take a hike with your dog, Edgar Evins State Park has 11 miles of trails for you guys to enjoy. 

These trails run the gamut from easy to strenuous, the hardest of which is the Merritt Ridge Trail. This 5.5-mile loop offers some challenging climbs and should only be attempted by the physically fit and capable. There are 11 trails that are all interconnected here, so it's quite easy to create a custom route for yourselves to walk through. 

Make sure to come during the springtime to see the wildflowers blooming. Canines must be on a 6-foot leash or shorter if they're going to accompany their owners on a hike. Center Hill Lake is an 18,000-acre reservoir that offers some genuinely epic fishing. The rocky shorelines are a perfect place to set up a base and try your hand at catching crappie, walleye, catfish, and even the occasional trout. 

If you are more of a specialty fisherman, bass fishing happens here in the spring and fall. If you decide you'd like to visit during the warmer months, you may catch one of many fishing competitions that occur here annually. A license is required to fish here and can be acquired at the Tennesee State Fishing offices. Canines are allowed to accompany guests on fishing trips, provided they stay leashed up at all times. 

Boating is also popular on the reservoir, due to the beautiful Edgar Evins Marina and restaurant that are open year round. This marina provides boat rentals, slip rentals, fishing and boating supplies, and even contains a mechanic's shop if your watercraft is acting up. Individuals are allowed to bring their canines out on the water but should remember that dogs are prohibited from all indoor structures on park grounds.