(This article first appeared in the November print edition of the Hendersonian.)
We headed into unfamiliar territory seeking outdoor adventure, but after a few hours on the road the weather turned rough.
A late-spring storm was fierce, noisy with nearby lightning strikes, and brought an impressive deluge with it, and there we were hunkered down in a rustic cabin with no electricity or cell service, feeling a little exposed.
The next morning with the light of daybreak as we sought somewhere, anywhere, that could brew the coffee we couldn’t manage, we saw that in addition to knocking out the electricity, the storm took down numerous trees and filled roadside ditches to the brim and overflowed them.
But outdoor adventure we found.
The light of day also revealed the captivating and wild waters of Reelfoot Lake, framed by an abundance of bald cypress trees that gave the landscape just a bit of a prehistoric feel.
Fueled by the coffee we eventually found, we set out to pursue the reason we came: To explore the area in and around the lake during the spring bird migration in the Mississippi Flyway.
We were rewarded with a great day of bird-watching, wildlife viewing, wetlands scenery and photography.
We watched a local fisherman pull in fish after fish, mirroring the success of a snowy egret also doing his own angling at the edge of the great lake.
Reelfoot Lake is in far-western Tennessee, not far over the Kentucky border and near the Mississippi River. It’s a paradise for lovers of bird watching, wildlife and the great outdoors. It is home to many shorebird species in addition to both golden and American bald eagles, ospreys and other birds of prey. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency successfully introduced nesting eagles to the park in the 1980s, and they have flourished just as they have in Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes area.
Reelfoot is a major stopover and wintering point for many birds on the Mississippi Flyway, which makes it a great place to visit from now through late spring. It is also a major hunting and fishing preserve and the many species of flowering and non-flowering plants attract botany enthusiasts from near and far.
The lake is part of a 25,000-acre wildlife refuge, of which 15,000 acres are water. The area has a very interesting history.
History
Before 1811, this area was forest. But in both 1811 and 1812, a series of earthquakes along the New Madrid seismic area caused a portion of this area of northwest Tennessee to subside and the Mississippi River to flow backward for a short period of time. The water rushed into the sunken forested area, creating a new lake, according to the Reelfoot Lake State Park website.
By 1925, the state of Tennessee had purchased the land surrounding the lake for both the state park and preservation efforts. Lake Isom, a similar but smaller lake to the south created by the same seismic event, is also designated as a National Wildlife Refuge. In 1966, Reelfoot Lake was named as a national natural landmark by the National Park Service.
What can I do there?
In addition to stellar bird watching, activities at Reelfoot Lake State Park include boating, fishing, hiking, visiting the museum and nature center, picnicking, planned programs and events.
Boating. The lake is open for boating year-round and there are access ramps located at various places around the lake.
Fishing. Anglers can also try their luck at the lake year-round with bass, crappie and catfish being the most common species sought after. A Tennessee fishing license and lake permits are required.
Hiking. The state park offers several easy to moderate trails allowing access to the unique wetland areas.
Picnicking. There are approximately 200 picnic sites, most of them with grills, drinking water outlets, restrooms and playgrounds. There are five picnic pavilions for large groups.
Museum and Visitors Center. The R.C. Donaldson Memorial Museum has a variety of exhibits on the ecology, history and culture of the area. A nature center at the museum contains various non-releasable raptors, several snakes and other wildlife.
Wildlife. In addition to an abundance of birds on this major flyway, the park has many turtles, snakes and frogs. Turtle species include the pond slider, painted and map turtles. Snake species include the banded and diamondback water snakes, the venomous cottonmouth and the thick and corn snakes. Frogs include the green frog, and the gray and green tree frogs, which create the night music of Reelfoot during the summer months.
Programs. Rangers offer a variety of programs throughout the year. From January through mid-March, the park offers a bald eagle tour around the lake. Scenic boat tours are offered from May through September.
Where can I stay?
The state park has seven cabins (two- and three-bedroom) on the shoreline of the lake. All have spacious living room, dining room and full-size kitchens, two bathrooms, outdoor charcoal grills and patios. The cabins are pet-friendly and have WiFi.
The park also has two campgrounds that include more than RV and tent camping sites. Both have bathhouses, and one has a laundry.
You can also find a variety of lodging opportunities in and around nearby Tiptonville, Tennessee.
On the web: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/reelfoot-lake
