Boat Launch · Grainger County

Grainger County Park, Cherokee Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes, canoe / kayak landing, restrooms. 6 miles from Jefferson City.

Get driving directions All Grainger County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Grainger County Park

Captains who run Cherokee Lake, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Capt. Skylar Hamilton · Dandridge

Skylar Hamilton Guide Service

Bassskylarhamiltonfishing.com

Capt. Nathan Mountain · Dandridge / Gatlinburg

Nathan Mountain Outdoors

Largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, troutCall 423-726-0240 nathanmountainoutdoors.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Cherokee Lake stripersCall 931-403-2501 striperfun.com

Every Tennessee guide by water

What to bring

Tackle for Grainger County Park

Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Full largemouth bass checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

Smallmouth Bass checklist Crappie checklist Bluegill and Panfish checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Grainger County Park

Grainger County Park is a public boat launch on Cherokee Lake in Grainger County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

12586 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 37861

Grainger County Park is 6.4 miles north of Jefferson City, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Greenlee Campground May Springs, a few hundred yards to the north-east on the same water. For bait, Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is about 5 miles away.

Coordinates 36.21340, -83.46780

Open in Google Maps See nearby spots on the map Fishing near Jefferson City

Aerial view of Grainger County Park — Grainger County Park from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Grainger County Park

Free to launch 4 out of 5 Facilities 4 of 5, scored from what TWRA records: ramp, docks, pier, restrooms, parking, lighting and hours.

Everything below comes from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s own public access record for Grainger County Park. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 2 lanes.

Canoe and kayak

A landing shallow enough to carry a paddle craft in and out.

Restrooms

Toilets on site, which is rarer than you would think.

Open 24 hours

TWRA records round the clock access, so early starts are fine.

Not recorded here: fishing pier, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Grainger County Park

Cherokee Lake holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.

largemouth bass smallmouth bass crappie bluegill striped bass white bass walleyesaugeyecatfish

TWRA notes fish densities here are greater than in most Tennessee reservoirs because of high fertility; the Hawkins end fishes more like a river than a lake.

Everything on Cherokee Lake Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Grainger County Park

What you can keep from Cherokee Lake at Grainger County Park. TWRA sets 6 rules just for Cherokee Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Largemouth bass	5 combined with smallmouth	15 in minimum	Reservoir rules run from Cherokee Dam upstream to John Sevier Dam
Smallmouth bass	1 (Jun 1–Oct 15); 5 (Oct 16–May 31)	18 in minimum Jun 1–Oct 15; 15 in minimum Oct 16–May 31	Within the 5 largemouth/smallmouth combined limit
Spotted bass	15	No length limit	Spotted/Alabama bass, separate from the largemouth/smallmouth limit
Walleye	10 walleye/sauger/saugeye combined	15 in minimum	Cherokee Lake rule
Sauger	10 walleye/sauger/saugeye combined	15 in minimum	Cherokee Lake rule
Paddlefish	1	No length limit	Season Apr 1–15. Culling prohibited. Holston River from Hwy 344 (Malinda Ferry Rd) bridge up to John Sevier Dam closed to snagging Mar 1–31 and Apr 16–May 31
Crappie	15	10 in minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Striped bass	2 striped and hybrid combined	15 in minimum	Statewide
White bass	15	No minimum	Statewide
Channel catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide

Other rules on Cherokee Lake

Jul 1–Sep 15: marked zone just above Cherokee Dam closed to fishing from boats (bank fishing and southeast-shore coves stay open)

From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.

Statewide limits and licenses

21 public boat launches in Grainger County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Cherokee Lake around Grainger County Park

What the water at Grainger County Park actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Cherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →TVA Web Team / CC BY 2.0

Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Holston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Cherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →Dwight Burdette / CC BY 3.0

Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Holston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Dacoshi / CC BY-SA 3.0

Next one along

More Cherokee Lake access near Grainger County Park

The closest other public access points on Cherokee Lake, measured straight line from Grainger County Park. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGreenlee Campground May Springsa few hundred yards north-eastFollow HWY 375 (Lakeshore Rd) approx 5 miles from HWY 92, right on Wa-Ni Village Rd, right onto May Springs Rd1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.21510, -83.46300 Launch fee3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandWA-NI Village Boat Dock1.1 miles north-eastTurn onto Wa-Ni Village Road1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.22190, -83.45160 Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGreenlee Campground2.5 miles north-east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.23450, -83.43210 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesAttention · TVATVA Lowe Drive2.5 miles south-eastTurn off of Cedar Hill Rd onto Lowe Drivecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.19181, -83.43105 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandCedar Hill2.6 miles south-east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.19174, -83.43090 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVALambdin Branch2.6 miles north-east10394 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.24070, -83.43700

All 47 access points on Cherokee Lake

Grainger County Park water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Grainger County Park

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Grainger County Park, including Holston River and Norris Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Cherokee Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVACherokee Dam TailwatersHolston River · 3.8 miles south-westUS 11E or US 11W to Cherokee Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.16746, -83.50401 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · Private LandIndian Cave ParkHolston River · 8.3 miles south-westTurn onto Indian Cave Rd off Indian Ridge, follow about 1 mile to end.canoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.15928, -83.60077 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyBridgeportNorris Lake · 10 miles northWest of Puncheon Creek on Bullen Valley Rd1 ramp, 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.35222, -83.51956 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABeech Grove (Winter Access Only)Norris Lake · 11 miles northBullen Valley Rd, Washburn, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.36800, -83.46374 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRANance’s FerryHolston River · 11 miles south-west1491 Nance Ferry Rd, Blaine, TN 377091 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.12776, -83.63887 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDOTIndian Creek BridgeNorris Lake · 11 miles northHwy 25 E at Indian CreekDirections and detail →36.37626, -83.44384

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Grainger County Park

The closest shops to Grainger County Park that this site has checked. Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is nearest, about 5 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Rutledge · about 5 milesGilmore Boat DockLakeside operation with a dock store, bait and often boat rental.Directions and phone →Rutledge · about 5 milesGreenlee Campground & MarineTackle and bait for Grainger County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Rutledge · about 5 milesGreenlee of May SpringsTackle and bait for Grainger County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Grainger County

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Common questions

Questions about Grainger County Park

Can you launch a boat at Grainger County Park?

Yes. TWRA records Grainger County Park as having a boat ramp. It has 2 lanes. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Grainger County Park?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence to fish here, and a trout supplemental on top of it if you plan to keep trout. It is the same rule at every public access point in the state.

What fish are in the water at Grainger County Park?

Cherokee Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, white bass, walleye, saugeye and catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Grainger County Park?

Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 5 miles from Grainger County Park. Greenlee Campground & Marine in Rutledge is next, about 5 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Grainger County Park?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Grainger County Park?

Grainger County Park is listed under the Tennessee Valley Authority in TWRA’s public access database. The owner is worth knowing because it usually decides whether there is a fee, whether the gate is locked overnight, and who to ring when a ramp is closed for repair.

Where to next

Around Grainger County Park

Grainger County Park is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Cherokee Lake47 public access points across 4 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Grainger CountyEvery public spot in Grainger County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listGrainger County spot listAll 31 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near RutledgeShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near Jefferson CityEverything within about 30 miles of Jefferson City, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Grainger County Park, and who knows it

Guides and charters on this site are listed by the water they run, so you can ring the captain who fishes Cherokee Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits