Bledsoe Creek State Park, Recreation site at Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee
Bledsoe Creek State Park is a Tennessee state park situated on the shore of Old Hickory Lake, surrounded by hardwood forest and rolling hills. A creek runs through the property and gives the park its name before emptying into the lake.
The land changed shape in the 1950s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Cumberland River to create Old Hickory Lake. The park opened officially in 1973, turning the newly formed shoreline into a public recreation area.
Archaeologists have found traces of Native American presence throughout this land, pointing to thousands of years of use before European settlement. Visitors walking the trails may notice informational signs that explain what earlier peoples left behind here.
The park works well for a day visit or a longer stay at the campground near the water. Boat ramps are available for those arriving by water, while walkers can follow the trails through the forested hills around the creek.
A wildlife observation deck along Raccoon Creek Lane is one of the least visited spots in the park, even though it offers close views of animals near the water. Early morning is when the deck tends to be most rewarding, as many species are active just after dawn.
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