Pleasant Grove Park
Celina, Tennessee · on Obey River · Dale Hollow Recreation Area
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Pleasant Grove Park
Pleasant Grove Recreation Area is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use site on Dale Hollow Lake near Celina, Tennessee, about 4 miles northeast of town off Route 53. The Corps' own recreation.gov listing designates the site for swimming alongside boating, fishing, and picnicking, making this swimming hole on the reservoir formed by damming the Obey River one of the official places to swim on Dale Hollow Lake.
The site sits on the shoreline of Dale Hollow Lake, a large reservoir in the hills of north-central Tennessee created in 1943 by Dale Hollow Dam and managed by the USACE Nashville District. It is a developed day-use area with a boat ramp giving direct lake access, near the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery adjacent to the dam.
Swimming at Pleasant Grove Park
The recreation.gov facility page lists Swimming as one of the designated activities at Pleasant Grove alongside boating, water skiing, and fishing, indicating open-water lake swimming from the shoreline/day-use area rather than a roped-off beach; no further detail on depth, bottom composition, or water clarity was found in official sources.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Celina, Tennessee, take Route 53 northeast for about 4 miles to reach the recreation area; the official listing notes GPS navigation is not recommended for the final approach.
Parking: On-site vehicle access at the day-use area, subject to the per-vehicle day-use fee collected at an automated pay station.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up day-use recreation area; no trail is listed on the official facility page. The swim area sits within the developed site near the parking lot and boat ramp, reachable on foot in a couple of minutes.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
This is open lake swimming from a shoreline day-use area, not a roped-off beach; the official recreation.gov listing does not mention lifeguards, and an on-site boat ramp puts motorboat/ski traffic near the same shoreline, so supervise children given boat traffic and the unmarked, potentially uneven drop-offs typical of reservoir shorelines.
Parking
Paid, $5 per vehicle day-use fee; $2 per walk-in visitor
On-site parking at the developed day-use area; fee collected at an automated pay station (credit/debit card only). Recreation.gov advises against relying on GPS/Mapquest for the final approach, from Celina take Route 53 northeast about 4 miles, then turn right on Old Route 53 at the Cedar Hill/Pleasant Grove exit and follow signs.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and drinking water are provided on-site at the day-use area (per recreation.gov facility listing).
Water clarity
Clear
Dale Hollow Lake is regionally known for exceptional clarity, its Wikipedia entry notes that scuba diving is popular on the lake specifically because of the water's high clarity. No clarity report specific to the Pleasant Grove shoreline itself was located.
On the water
Restrictions: Only licensed/registered vessels permitted; alcohol is prohibited in the day-use area.
A boat ramp at the site gives direct access to Dale Hollow Lake. Boating and water skiing are listed as popular lake-wide activities on the official facility page alongside swimming; no swim-area-specific watercraft exclusion (e.g., no-wake zone) was found in official sources.
Rentals nearby
Pontoon boats and fishing boats for rent, plus cabins/motel rooms and houseboats
705 Cedar Hill Rd, Celina, TN 38551, about 0.6 mi from Pleasant Grove (same access road/peninsula per RIDB facility data)
Pontoon boats and fishing boats for rent, plus houseboats, cabins/motel rooms
440 Dale Hollow Boat Dock Road, Celina, TN 38551, about 1.2 mi from Pleasant Grove per RIDB facility data
Tritoon (14-person tritoon) rentals; site also references paddle boards, kayaks, and inner tubes though pricing/availability for those wasn't confirmed on the page fetched
1260 Livingston Boat Dock Rd, Allons, TN 38541, a different arm of Dale Hollow Lake; exact driving distance from Pleasant Grove was not confirmed (likely well beyond the ~1-mile Celina-side marinas) · Monday-Sunday 8am-4pm
Backstory
Dale Hollow Lake was created in 1943 by the construction of Dale Hollow Dam, damming the Obey River about 7.3 miles above its confluence with the Cumberland River; the lake is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District and draws over 3 million visitors annually across the reservoir system. Pleasant Grove sits near the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, the largest federal trout hatchery east of the Mississippi.
Pleasant Grove Park: FAQ
Does Pleasant Grove Park charge a fee?
$5 per vehicle day-use fee; $2 per walk-in visitor; automated pay station accepts credit/debit card only.
Is Pleasant Grove Park kid friendly?
This is open lake swimming from a shoreline day-use area, not a roped-off beach; the official recreation.gov listing does not mention lifeguards, and an on-site boat ramp puts motorboat/ski traffic near the same shoreline, so supervise children given boat traffic and the unmarked, potentially uneven drop-offs typical of reservoir shorelines.
Do I need to hike to reach Pleasant Grove Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Pleasant Grove Park?
On-site parking at the developed day-use area; fee collected at an automated pay station (credit/debit card only). Recreation.gov advises against relying on GPS/Mapquest for the final approach, from Celina take Route 53 northeast about 4 miles, then turn right on Old Route 53 at the Cedar Hill/Pleasant Grove exit and follow signs.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Pleasant Grove Park?
A boat ramp at the site gives direct access to Dale Hollow Lake. Boating and water skiing are listed as popular lake-wide activities on the official facility page alongside swimming; no swim-area-specific watercraft exclusion (e.g., no-wake zone) was found in official sources.
What are the rules at Pleasant Grove Park?
Day-use only (no overnight camping); alcohol prohibited; pets permitted on leash; only licensed vehicles allowed; certified heat-treated firewood required for any fires.
What water body is Pleasant Grove Park on?
Pleasant Grove Park is on Obey River, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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