Chickasaw State Park was named for the Chickasaw Indians who once inhabited West Tennessee and North Mississippi. The 1,400 acres of land located in West Tennessee along the border of Hardeman and Chester Counties was one of Tennessee’s 20 New Deal-era state parks. The territory became a state park in 1955 when all park duties returned to state control, and the park and forest lands were deeded to the state.
The park is situated on some of the highest terrain in west Tennessee. Of the area’s 14,384 acres of timberland, 1,280 acres are used for recreation. Chickasaw State Park offers various activities for visitors to embark on including more than four miles of easy to moderate hiking trails and bicycle friendly roads. Guests can utilize the rowboats and pedal boats available for rent on Lake Placid.
Chickasaw State Park has several lodging options. The park has 13 cabins that sleep up to six people. The cabins are complete with fireplaces and televisions and nestled among tall pines and located within easy access to Lake Placid. The RV campground has 52 sites equipped with water and electrical hookups and the tent campground has 29 sites. Chickasaw State Park is also home to one of the few wrangler campgrounds which are designed for visitors traveling with horses. The Wrangler Campground is located near the stables to ensure the best experience for visitors interested in sharing their park experience with their horses. There are 32 wrangler sites, each with water and electrical hookups. All of the park campsites offer amenities such as picnic tables and grills, modern bathhouses with hot showers and restroom facilities and a playground for children to enjoy.
Horseback riding is a popular activity throughout Chickasaw State Park. The park has horses available for rent from the park stables. There is a guided trail which takes approximately one hour to complete. Please note that horses are not allowed on paved roads within the park.
Activities
PADDLING
The park has two, beautiful 54-acre lakes for your paddling enjoyment.
BIRDING
Mixed hardwood and pine forests cover the majority of the park where 100 species of birds have been recorded.
SWIMMING
The picturesque sand swimming beach on the shore of Lake Placid is very popular with visitors. It is open seasonally from 8 a.m. until sunset. Swimming is free of charge. There are no lifeguards on duty and swimming is at your own risk.
HIKING
Chickasaw offers several hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate.
BIKING
Bicycles are allowed on park roads, and cyclists may access miles of additional roads in the adjacent Chickasaw State Forest.
Trail Rating: Intermediate
FISHING
Lake Placid and Lake Lajoie each provide year-round fishing for bass, bream, and catfish. Fishing boats are available for rent. Fish length and creel limits are posted.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Chickasaw State Park offers five miles of trails on rental horses or bring your own horse and ride hundreds of miles of trails in the Chickasaw State Forest.
Campground
There are three campgrounds at Chickasaw State Park. The RV campground has 53 sites, each with water and electrical hookups. Some sites offer full hookups with sewer. The tent campground has 29 sites, and water is available. The wrangler campground is designed for visitors traveling with horses. There are 32 sites, each with water and electrical hookups.
All park campsites have picnic tables and grills. Modern bathhouses provide hot showers and restroom facilities. There is a dump station available in the RV campground. There is a playground in each campground.
RV CAMPGROUNDS
The RV campground has 53 sites with water and electrical hookups. Each site has a picnic table and grill. A bath house provides showers and restroom facilities. A dumping station is available.
TENT CAMPING
The tent campground has 29 sites. Each site has a picnic table and grill. Water is available. A modern bath house provides hot showers and restroom facilities.
WRANGLER CAMPING
The wrangler campground has 32 sites and is designed for visitors traveling with horses. Each site has water and electrical hookups. A bath house provides hot showers and restroom facilities.
