Wartrace Creek Park
Gainesboro, Tennessee · on Wartrace Creek · Cordell Hull Recreation Area
Verified · 5 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Wartrace Creek Park
Wartrace Creek Recreation Area is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use area on Cordell Hull Lake along the Cumberland River, about 9 miles from Gainesboro, Tennessee. Recreation.gov, the official federal booking and info site for the facility, lists a designated swimming site within the day-use area alongside a boat ramp, group picnic shelter, and playground, making this one of the sanctioned places to swim on Cordell Hull Lake rather than an informal swimming hole.
The site sits on the shoreline of the 12,000-acre Cordell Hull Lake reservoir, near where Wartrace Creek meets the lake, within a wooded day-use area operated by USACE as part of the broader Cordell Hull Lake recreation system (72 miles of impounded Cumberland River with 381 miles of shoreline).
Swimming at Wartrace Creek Park
Recreation.gov identifies a designated swimming site within the day-use area on the reservoir shoreline; no further detail on beach type, depth, or water clarity was found in official material, and no first-hand trip reports were located to corroborate specifics.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Carthage, TN: travel 4 miles west on SR-25, then north on Route 80, then east on Route 85 past Gladice; the park entrance is on the right.
Parking: On-site vehicle parking in the day-use area; a $5 per-vehicle day-use fee applies to access the beach/boat ramp area.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- No hike needed; short walk of roughly 1-2 minutes from the day-use parking lot to the beach.
This is a drive-up day-use beach, not a hike-in swimming hole. Bearwaller Gap Trail (~6 mi) exists nearby with its own trailhead at Defeated Creek Park, but it is a separate hiking trail, not a route to this swim site.
Confirms and does not change the prior enrichment pass's finding that no hike is required.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated swim site is a reservoir beach within a USACE day-use area, but no source documents lifeguards, depth markers, or a graded shallow entry; the beach sits near a boat ramp and the Wartrace Creek mouth (boat traffic and current potential), so adult supervision is advised rather than assuming a fully protected kids' beach.
Parking
Paid, $5 per vehicle
On-site day-use parking lot; a $5/vehicle fee is collected at an entrance booth for any vehicle continuing past it to use the beach, boat ramp, or shelter.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and drinking water available in the day-use area (per Recreation.gov facility page for Wartrace Creek Recreation Area).
Hours
Day-use area/group shelter usable dawn to dusk; it is day-use only, not available for overnight camping or stays.
On the water
Recreation.gov's facility page for the day-use area lists water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boating among lake activities, and the area includes an on-site boat ramp for launching personal watercraft. No spot-specific no-wake, horsepower, or electric-only restriction was found; general Tennessee/TWRA boating rules apply to Cordell Hull Lake as a whole.
Rentals nearby
Fishing kayaks, open kayaks, enclosed kayaks, junior kayaks, paddleboards, plus pontoon boat rentals/excursions and boat slip rentals; paddles and life jackets included with paddle-craft rentals
Prices: Half day (4 hrs) / full day (8 hrs): Fishing kayak $40/$60, Open kayak $30/$50, Enclosed kayak $30/$50, Junior kayak $20/$40, Paddleboard $30/$50
7316 Granville Highway, Granville, TN 38564, on the Cumberland River/Cordell Hull Lake, roughly 10-11 miles from Wartrace Creek Park · Concierge/rental desk: Sun-Wed 8am-5pm, Thu-Sat 8am-8pm
Wartrace Creek Park: FAQ
Does Wartrace Creek Park charge a fee?
$5 per vehicle for day use (covers shelter, beach, and boat ramp access).
Is Wartrace Creek Park kid friendly?
Designated swim site is a reservoir beach within a USACE day-use area, but no source documents lifeguards, depth markers, or a graded shallow entry; the beach sits near a boat ramp and the Wartrace Creek mouth (boat traffic and current potential), so adult supervision is advised rather than assuming a fully protected kids' beach.
Do I need to hike to reach Wartrace Creek Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Wartrace Creek Park?
On-site day-use parking lot; a $5/vehicle fee is collected at an entrance booth for any vehicle continuing past it to use the beach, boat ramp, or shelter.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Wartrace Creek Park?
Recreation.gov's facility page for the day-use area lists water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boating among lake activities, and the area includes an on-site boat ramp for launching personal watercraft. No spot-specific no-wake, horsepower, or electric-only restriction was found; general Tennessee/TWRA boating rules apply to Cordell Hull Lake as a whole.
What are the rules at Wartrace Creek Park?
Pets are prohibited in the day-use area due to health department restrictions. The group shelter operates dawn to dusk and is a day-use facility only (not reservable for overnight stays/camping).
What water body is Wartrace Creek Park on?
Wartrace Creek Park is on Wartrace Creek, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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