Encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water in northern Mississippi, Arkabutla Lake is a premier destination for outdoor recreation. The whole family will love to swim, hike, cycle, fish, and picnic during a visit to this Army Corps of Engineers lake.
Arkabutla Lake was created in 1940 as a result of the construction of the Arkabutla Dam on the Coldwater River. Its primary focus is to control flooding, and the abundant recreation opportunities are a bonus. The lake is located in both DeSoto and Tate counties and is a mere 30-minute drive from Memphis, Tennessee. Don't let the convenient location fool you; the lake is set among lush grasses and trees providing a natural wilderness setting. If you want to tour around the area while visiting Arkabutla Lake, you can easily get to both Holly Springs National Forest and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest within about an hour and a half.
The three COE campgrounds at Arkabutla Lake are the perfect home away from home during your stay. The hookups and facilities are convenient, and you are right in the middle of the action. The campgrounds are all located within or close to recreation areas for easy access to all the activities that make this lake so popular.
Driving to Arkabutla Lake takes only 30-45 minutes from Memphis and the roads are generally in good condition and wide enough to accommodate larger rigs. There are many trees in the area as you approach the lake so watch out for road debris and low hanging branches; especially in times of windy weather.
Parking is available at the recreation areas and campgrounds.
Shaded, lakefront campsites are common at Hernando Point Campground. Open all year, this location with 83 campsites with paved parking pads is ideal for all your water-based pursuits. Sites are provided with both water and electric hookups and rigs up to 100 feet in length can call this place home.
There are amenities such as showers, flush toilets, and a dump station. The Hernando Point Day Use Area is located just around the corner so campers can make use of the facilities here too. Within an easy walk, you'll find a playground, picnic facilities, a swimming beach, and a boat ramp.
This pet-friendly campground also has access to drinking water and each site has at least one private picnic table and afire pit/ring.
Open all year, the Dub Patton Campground at Arkabutla Lake features 66 total campsites, 22 of which you can reserve in advance. Trailers and RVs up to 54 feet will find they have enough space to park here at some of the sites. The sites are pet-friendly so your furry pals are welcome and each one has its own fire pit and picnic table.
The amenities at this COE campground are fairly standard. There are showers, flush toilets, and access to drinking water. The pine forests at Dub Patton provide shade and lakefront sites have excellent water views.
The South Abutment Campground has a nice amount of shade and lovely lakefront campsites. There are 78 reservable sites and access to both electric and water hookups. The large, paved sites have their own picnic tables and fires pits and can accommodate RVs up to 80 feet in length.
Fishing is a convenient endeavor from this COE campground. You can head out on a boat via a ramp at a nearby recreation area or just cast your line in directly from the shore. The banks of South Abutment provide direct access to coves where fish like to hang out.
Flush toilets and showers are available for campers to use and there are taps with drinking water here too. Bring your pets to have a comfortable stay a the South Abutment Campground.
There are many hiking trails to explore at Arkabutla Lake that allow walking, cycling, and horseback riding.
The Coldwater River Nature Trail System has two standard trails - one is three miles and the other is five miles long. This system also has the Big Oak interpretive trail which is self-guided. These trails take you through forests of hardwood and pine and you're likely to run into some wildlife along the way.
Visitors with horses can use the Sunfish Bay Equestrian Trail which runs 4.5 miles and is accessed via the Bayou Point Recreation Area. Also in the area is the Swinging Bridge Nature Trail. It's a self-guided trail within the South Outlet Channel Recreation Area.
No matter which trail you choose you will be surrounded by oak, pine, hickory, beech, or birch trees and some will offer views of the Coldwater River and Arkabutla Lake.
If you love to fish for crappie, Arkabutla Lake is not going to disappoint. Renowned for consistently producing large crappie, this COE lake has set some Mississippi state records. If crappie isn't your cup of tea, there are many other types of fish that will interest you. The lake and the Coldwater River are home to largemouth bass, catfish, and bream as well.
There are multiple ways to enjoy this popular pass time at Arkabutla Lake. The eight boat ramps provide convenient lake access, the banks and shores are easily accessible, as is the fishing pier at Outlet Channel.
The Army Corps of Engineers has set aside approximately 30,000 acres of public land that can be used for hunting. The most popular game animals here are white-tailed deer, waterfowl, wild turkey, and quail.
There are over 20 access areas open to hunters so finding a suitable location won't be a problem. The animals are abundant but all hunting must be done in accordance with all federal and state hunting laws. Information can be obtained from Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The Army Corps also imposes certain rules and regulation for hunting on Arkabutla Lake lands. Stop in at the Visitor Center for a brochure listing these rules.
Arkabutla Lake offers swimming beaches at two of its day-use areas: Hernando Point and South Abutment. Swimming is very convenient if you happen to be staying at one of the two recreation area's campgrounds.
Pets are not allowed on the beaches or in swimming areas and swimming is unsupervised. The beaches are great places to spend the day swimming, sunbathing, and beach combing. The water access has a gentle slope which makes it suitable for smaller children.
The Army Corps of Engineers posts rules at the beaches for visitors to follow. Some of these include prohibiting alcohol, cans or bottles, and beach fires.
If you're heading to Arkabutla Lake, chances are you'll want to do some boating. The lake allows both motorized and non-motorized boats so jump in a kayak and paddle the intriguing shoreline or pick up speed in your speed boat for some waterskiing.
One of the more unique features of Arkabutla Lake is its sailing conditions. Among all the boats on the lake, you're bound to see a number of sailboats enjoying the consistent wind speeds. This lake has even become the best sailing lake east of the Mississippi River.
For safety, the US Army Corps of Engineers provides wind warning devices visible from the water on large structures like the dam and boat ramps. These lights start flashing when wind speeds reach 18 knots which is when white capping starts to occur and boating becomes dangerous.
There are a total of ten recreation/day-use areas around Arkabutla Lake for visitors to take advantage of. Scattered throughout these areas you'll find large and small picnic shelters, picnic tables, and grills. The COE park also provides restrooms and playgrounds close to the picnic areas.
If you are planning a large gathering, it may be worthwhile to rent one of the larger picnic shelters for your event. This can be done in advance by contacting the Arkabutla Lake Field Office. Alternatively, if you arrive at the lake and the shelter is available, you can use it on a first-come, first-served basis.
The extensive banks of Arkabutla Lake also make great quiet picnic spots. If you don't need a table or grill, you can set up almost anywhere for lunch. Just keep in mind that alcohol, cans, and glass bottles are not allowed on any of the beaches.
