Beautiful Percy Priest Lake is the big, blue gem in the heart of Rutherford County fun. With 265 miles of shoreline and more than 14,000 acres to play, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for boating, swimming, floating and sunbathing.
If you prefer a little time on land, we have miles and miles of trails and greenways to keep you outdoors.
Dive Into Fun at Percy Priest Lake
Want to beat the summer heat? Fate Sanders Marina is the place to start, whether you’re looking for an active day in the water or just a place to kick back and enjoy the view.
Is boating is your jam, bring your boat and dock in one of their state-of-the-art rental slips. With both open slips and covered ones up to 60 feet long, as well as 40-foot slips with extended height to accommodate almost any flying bridge, Fate Sanders can make sure you’re in the right spot.
If you don’t own a boat, you can rent one there for a day, a weekend or a week. Check out the 25- and 30-foot (with slide) pontoon boats, complete with life jackets, a map for finding the perfect cove and an anchor to keep you where you want to be for a day on the water, swimming, water skiing or just soaking up the sun and the view.
Be sure to stop by Hoppy’s Harbor Grill (by car or by boat) and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with a great view of the water. Sit inside or relax on the large covered deck. Have some fried brownies with ice cream or a slice of key lime pie and watch a beautiful sunset over the water.
Gone Fishing
Ready to drop a line in the water and see what bites? You’ll find a fully equipped tackle shop inside Hoppy’s, with lots of accessories, live bait and a complete line of Hoppy’s lures for a great catch. Percy Priest fishing is known for crappie, several kinds of bass and channel catfish.
If you want to try bank fishing, TWRA maintains two enhanced public sites, at Stewart Creek in Smyrna and Vivrette Creek, south of the Old Hickory and Mt. Juliet I-40 exits in Nashville.
Stewart Creek has a full-size pier and five large fishing platforms, all connected by a paved greenway that is part of the Smyrna Parks and Recreation greenway system. The Vivrette Creek site also has a full-size pier, a fishing jetty and four smaller platforms. Both sites have a diversity of fish attractors and excellent bank fishing.
Land + Water = Fun
If you’re looking for a way to extend your time near the water, consider a day—or overnight camping—at Long Hunter State Park.
With 2,600 acres, Long Hunter State Park has plenty of things to do to keep you entertained. There’s a designated swimming beach in the Bryant Grove section of the park. Two boat launch ramps, sites for bank fishing and almost 25 miles of trails for hiking and biking will keep you outside, enjoying nature. A paved, self-guided trail takes you around the 110-acre Couchville Lake and through the state-certified arboretum.
Other trails, ranging from easy to moderate, allow you to explore the shores of Percy Priest Lake, mature forests and desert-like cedar glades. You’ll see interesting flora and fauna, including some endangered species of plants, abundant wildflowers and fascinating shore birds and other wildlife.
The short Reading Ranger Story Trail is great for both kids and adults, with several well-known features, such as sinkholes, limestone glades, and oak-hickory forests. The trail is dotted with enlarged pages from children’s books to encourage kids to read and explore.
There are sites for group and backcountry camping, a meeting facility, and a visitor center. If you’re visiting with a group, you can rent the 50-foot-tall Alpine Tower, designed with rock climbing and high ropes course elements. In addition to being lots of fun, the certified instructors at the tower experience also address teamwork, trust, and other objectives.
More Outdoor Fun
There’s so much to do in Rutherford County, you can spend days exploring your other outdoor options. From parks and gardens to trails and greenways, from paddling to water parks, and festivals and events, we’ve got summer fun covered!
Come for a day, a weekend, or forever. We’ll keep you busy in Rutherford County.