Cheatham Lock and Dam, completed in 1951, provides flood control and river navigation on the Cumberland River in Cheatham County, Tennessee, about 10 miles northwest of Ashland City, Tennessee. Owned and operated by the Nashville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the dam provides flood control. It also creates a 67-mile long reservoir, Cheatham Lake, that provides a stable water supply and creates a navigation channel on the river that is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The lock chamber is 800 feet long and 100 feet wide and can lift a boat 26 feet from the river below the dam to the lake above, releasing 17 million gallons of water each time it is emptied.
Besides navigation and water control, the reservoir, Cheatham Lake, provides numerous recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy each year. Camping, hunting, fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking, and hiking are just some of the activities RVers can experience while in the area.
There are 24 recreation areas on Cheatham Lake, many of which are Corps of Engineers managed sites. COE sites where boat launches, playgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms are available include Cheatham Dam Right Bank and Left Bank Recreation Areas, Pardue, Johnson Creek Recreation Area, Bluff Creek Recreation Area, Brush Creek Recreation Area, and Sycamore Creek Recreation Area. Cheatham Dam Right Bank Area also has a swim area and sandy beach, volleyball courts, and a softball field. Cheatham Dam Left Bank has a tailwater fishing trail and fishing platform. There are also boat launches available at Clees Ferry landing, on both the right and left bank. Overnight camping is available at Harpeth River Bridge Campground and Lock A Campground, where boat launches, playgrounds, and restrooms are also available.
Nearby state parks are within easy traveling distance of the COE sites. While RVing in the region, you can check out Montgomery Bell State Park or Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park. For nearby RVs, go to Top RV Rentals Harpeth River State Park to start your RVing adventure in the Cheatham Lock and Dam Region.
Multiple recreation areas are located at Cheatham Lock and Dam and the reservoir lake, Cheatham Lake. Highways in the area are well paved and provide reliable access for RVs and tow vehicles, with most access roads being paved and parking lots at recreational areas able to accommodate larger vehicles.
The Cheatham Dam Left Bank Recreation Area is located in Dickinson County, 30 miles from Ashland City, and 15 miles from Charlotte. You can reach this area by following State Route 49 to Jackson’s Chapel, and turn onto Bowker Road. There are signs directing you to the recreation area. The Cheatham Dam Right Bank Recreation Area is 11 miles northwest of Ashland City. Take Route 12 and then head west on Cheatham Dam Road to reach the site. Brush Creek Recreation Area is 3.5 miles south of Ashland City. Use River Road to assess the day-use area. Bluff Creek Recreation area is just two miles west of Ashland City on State Route 49. Johnson Creek Recreation Area is situated on the Old Lock A Road, which can be accessed from State Route 49. It's about 18 miles from Ashland City and 15 miles from Charlotte. Sycamore Creek Recreation Area is 4 miles southwest of Ashland City on Chapmansboro Road.
For overnight camping at Lock A, take US Route 12 from Ashland City, 8 miles to Cheap Hill, and turn left on Cheatham Dam Road, heading west for 4 miles, then turn left into the campground. Overnight camping at the Harpeth River Bridge campground can be accessed from Ashland City by heading west on Route 49 for five miles. The campground is on the right just before the Harpeth River Bridge. Nashville is only a 30-minute drive away from this COE campground.
Road conditions in Tennessee are usually good with a temperate climate. However, icy conditions can occur in winter. To check current road conditions, see Tennessee Road Conditions.
The Lock A Campground is located on the right bank of the lake, just upstream from the Cheatham Lock and Dam. The campground has 45 sites, some with water and electric hookups, and seven are tent-only sites.
Amenities at the campground include hot showers, laundry facilities, flush toilets, trash facilities, an RV dump station, boat launch ramps, courtesy floats, a nature trail, playground, and picnic shelter. A swim beach and another playground are available at the adjacent Cheatham Dam Right Bank Recreation Area.
The Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail ends at Lock A and will take hikers to Ashland City on a 6.5-mile long trail that crosses Sycamore Creek on a historic abandoned railroad trestle. There are also horseshoe pits and volleyball courts nearby for added fun. Campsites are located along the river and are paved, with some trees at sites providing shade and privacy, but relatively open access to campsites.
This small riverside campground has 14 sites along the river. There are beautiful large trees that provide shade at sites. They give some privacy to campers, but allow for relatively open sightlines, offering views of the river and accessibility to sites. Harpeth River Bridge Campground sits on the river's right bank, and the water wraps around the campground, so all sites are on or near the water.
The campground sites all have water and electric hookups and are suitable for RVs or tents. A potable water supply is available at the campground, and there is a restroom and shower facility, RV dump station, picnic shelter, launch ramp, courtesy float, and a playground. Sites are suitable for RVs up to 50 feet in length with paved sites. Picnic tables, lantern poles, and grills/fire rings are available at each site.
The waterway provides plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, and wildlife watching in the surrounding natural areas.
Cheatham Dam Right Bank Recreation area has four group picnic shelters available for advanced reservation. Shelters have BBQs, water, and garbage services, as well as parking areas. Two shelters have fire pits, and one also has a fireplace. The recreation area also has a softball field so you can organize a game with a group and volleyball courts.
Cheatham Dam Left Bank, Brush Creek, and Sycamore Creek Recreation Area have reservable group picnic shelters. Bluff Creek Recreation Area and Johnson Creek Recreation Areas also have picnic areas with individual sites.
Playgrounds and restrooms are located at most of the recreation areas, and there is access to the river or lake with boat launches and fishing piers. Enjoy an outdoor meal, and take in the natural areas near the river and the wildlife in the area.
Watercraft navigation on the Cheatham Lake, and the river below the dam, is made possible by the Cheatham Lock at the dam site. The lake is ideal for recreational activities, and watersports, fishing, and sightseeing are all popular activities on the water. There are even riverboats that traverse the lake on occasion. COE sites with boat launches include Clees Landing right and left banks, Cheatham Dam Right Bank, Cheatham Dam Left Bank, Bluff Creek, Brush Creek, Harpeth River Bridge, Johnson Creek, Lock A, Pardue, and Sycamore Creek.
Cheatham Dam Right Bank Recreation Area has a designated swimming area and sandy beach for visitors to use. There is a $5 per car day-use fee. The swimming area is off-limits to boaters and marked by yellow buoys. There are restrooms available nearby for changing. No lifeguard is on duty, so it is important you do not swim alone. Stick to areas appropriate to your ability and keep children within arms reach. You can wear a PDF or life preserver for added safety if necessary.
The lake and river offer excellent fishing spots, and there is a fishing pier available at Cheatham Dam Left Bank for shore fishing. Largemouth bass can be caught with a wide variety of lures on the lake, and sauger and white bass are caught in the tailwaters below the dam with spinners, jigs, or minnows.
There are also panfish, including bream and crappie, that are plentiful in the lake and tailwaters. The tailwaters are also a good place to try your luck at rockfish (striped bass), which can be upwards of 30 pounds. Large catfish are available both above and below the dam.
Be sure to have a valid state fishing license. Fishing in the spring or fall, when less recreational traffic and activity disturbs fish populations, may result in better catch rates.
Hunting is permitted on the public lands surrounding Cheatham Lock and Dam and Cheatham Lake, with the exclusion of marinas, designated safety zones, and recreation areas. Hunting in the area is subject to state laws and regulations.
The nearby Cheatham Lake Wildlife Management area provides the best opportunity for public hunting, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has management of the 2796 acres of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands around Cheatham Lake where they oversee public hunting in the areas.
Species available for hunting in the area include deer, opossum, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, waterfowl, and woodcock. Both bow and rifle hunting is permitted in the appropriate season, as is dog training when duck season is not in effect.
Cooler temperatures offseason, and fewer bugs make for better hiking conditions. Also, you can enjoy spring flowers, frost-covered trees, or fall colors on your trek.
The Lock A Nature Trail, located at the campground, takes you through historical sites such as the remnants of old buildings, roads, and water depth markets along the river by the lock and dam, providing insight into the area's history. The Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail goes between Ashland City and the Lock A campground and is a multi-use trail open to cyclists, hikers, and horseback riders.
There is also an interpretive trail at Cheatham Lake, by the TSU Farm near Sams Creek off of River Road. These trails provide wildlife watching opportunities and magnificent scenery, with overlooks of the river and lake.
