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Tennessee › Clay County › Byrdstown › Dale Hollow Lake

Dale Hollow Lake

Byrdstown, Tennessee — Clay County.

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25,511Surface acres (whole lake)
15Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120023102); shared with Kentucky, acreage is the whole lake.

Location & fast facts

Where Dale Hollow Lake is in Tennessee

The red circle marks Dale Hollow Lake.

Fast facts

About Dale Hollow Lake

  • Counties: Clay, Pickett, Overton
  • Nearest city: Byrdstown (about 1.0 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Shared with: Kentucky. The surface acreage shown is the whole lake; about 83% of the mapped water is in Tennessee.
  • Distance: about 83 mi from Nashville and 92 mi from Knoxville, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Tennessee: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Tennessee

Official TWRA pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 15 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 8 campgrounds within 15 mi, 2 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil and Wandering hydrilla recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Dale Hollow Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Obey River Park (campground)Willow Grove Campground (campground)Dale Hollow Damsite Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Cove Creek (Boat launch)4Gunnels Camp (Boat launch)5Holly Creek Dock (Boat launch)6Horse Creek Resort (Boat launch)7Lillydale Boat Ramp (Boat launch)8Lilydale (Boat launch)9Obey River Day Use (Boat launch)10Plank Yard (Boat launch)11Pleasant Grove Day Use Area (Boat launch)12Pleasant Grove Recreation Area (Boat launch)13Sunset Dock (Boat launch)14Willow Grove Campground Ramp (Boat launch)151 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Cove Creek
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  5. 5Gunnels Camp
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  6. 6Holly Creek Dock
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  7. 7Horse Creek Resort
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  8. 8Lillydale Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  9. 9Lilydale
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  10. 10Obey River Day Use
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  11. 11Plank Yard
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  12. 12Pleasant Grove Day Use Area
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  13. 13Pleasant Grove Recreation Area
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  14. 14Sunset Dock
    Boat launch · Byrdstown
  15. 15Willow Grove Campground Ramp
    Boat launch · Byrdstown

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120023102), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: TWRA boating and fishing access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Dale Hollow Lake

We found 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Dale Hollow Lake, 5 of them within 5 miles. 2 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

2 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Tennessee

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Dale Hollow Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (36.5762, -85.3767). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Dale Hollow Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Dale Hollow Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    15 public access sites listed, 15 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.5842, -85.3421
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.6263, -85.2939
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.5442, -85.4370
    Cove CreekByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.5469, -85.2127
    Gunnels CampByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.6098, -85.1487
    Holly Creek DockByrdstownMarinaBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.5874, -85.3983
    Horse Creek ResortByrdstownMarinaBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.5101, -85.4518
    Lillydale Boat RampByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.6008, -85.2985
    LilydaleByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.6055, -85.2994
    Obey River Day UseByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.5328, -85.1637
    Plank YardByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.5387, -85.1735
    Pleasant Grove Day Use AreaByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.5388, -85.4395
    Pleasant Grove Recreation AreaByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.5384, -85.4400
    Sunset DockByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.5327, -85.1642
    Willow Grove Campground RampByrdstownUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.5857, -85.3450

    TWRA boating and fishing access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Dale Hollow Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Dale Hollow Lake

    How big is Dale Hollow Lake?

    Dale Hollow Lake covers about 25,511 acres in Byrdstown, Tennessee (Clay County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Dale Hollow Lake?

    Yes. 15 public trailer launches are listed: Plank Yard, Gunnels Camp and Obey River Day Use. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Dale Hollow Lake?

    Yes. We list 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 5 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Dale Hollow Lake?

    Dale Hollow Lake touches Byrdstown in Clay County, Pickett County and Overton County, Tennessee.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Dale Hollow Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Tennessee lakes & ponds · All waters in Byrdstown