Reelfoot Lake

Reelfoot Lake in Tiptonville, Tennessee, is the only large natural lake in Tennessee. The lake formed during the 1811-12 earthquakes when the Mississippi River flowed backwards for a short period of time. Cypress trees rise above the water and aquatic plants and flowers grow along the shoreline. The lake is home to almost every kind of shore and wading bird as well as golden and American bald eagles. Every January and February, the lake is home to thousands of American bald eagles and hundreds of white pelicans stop at the lake during their seasonal migration every fall. Nearby Reelfoot Lake State Park offers a serene nature-centric stay at the park’s 280-acre campgrounds or in one of its many cabins.