McKamy Lake
- Feb, Apr–May
- best months
Is McKamy Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Cherokee National Forest. It doesn't name McKamy Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Ocoee River Flooding Damage - Nov 5
Agency closure covering Cherokee National Forest · USFS · Cherokee National Forest
Campsite limitations
Agency closure covering Cherokee National Forest · Order 08-04-00-22-180 · USFS · Cherokee National Forest
Emergency road closures due to storm damage
Agency alert covering Cherokee National Forest · USFS · Cherokee National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Cherokee National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
McKamy Lake is a 7-acre lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area of Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest, within the Ocoee Ranger District and the South Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area. The land is managed jointly, and the lake was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s to early 1940s. The lake is a base for swimming, fishing, picnicking, sunbathing and canoeing. The Chilhowee Lake Trail runs along its banks and connects to picnic, bathhouse and campground facilities. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 79°F and October highs around 73°F, while July averages about 89°F and January highs sit near 50°F. That station sits well below the lake, so temperatures at the lake run cooler. The Forest Walk and Benton Falls Trail both start about 0.1 mile away, and Chilhowee Campground and Chilhowee Group Camp are each about 0.3 mile off.
Local outfitters
- Hiwassee Outfitters7 mi away
- Toccoa River Outfitter35 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Forest WalkHiking0.1 mi
- Benton Falls TrailHiking0.1 mi
Chilhowee Group CampCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.3 mi
Chilhowee CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain0.3 mi- Ocoee River AreaRiver fishing5.3 mi
- Hiwassee RiverRiver fishing6.8 mi
- GoForth Creek BouldersRock climbing6.9 mi
- Starr MountainRock climbing7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Jackrabbit MountainLake fishing · ~1h 22m drive
- Doll Mountain Day Use Area ShelterPier fishing · ~1h 4m drive
- Lake Blue RidgeLake fishing · ~49 min drive
- Ocoee River AreaRiver fishing · ~9 min drive
- Hiwassee RiverRiver fishing · ~12 min drive
- Jacks RiverRiver fishing · ~26 min drive
- Delano Mill PondLake fishing · ~15 min drive
- Massey Branch Fishing PierPier fishing · ~1h 18m drive
- Chatuge LakeLake fishing · ~1h 21m drive
- Big Frog AreaRiver fishing · ~14 min drive
Best time to visit McKamy Lake
Best months: February, April–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
50° / 29°
13 wet
Feb
55° / 33°
12 wet
Mar
63° / 39°
13 wet
Apr
72° / 47°
12 wet
May
79° / 56°
12 wet
Jun
86° / 64°
12 wet
Jul
89° / 68°
12 wet
Aug
88° / 67°
10 wet
Sep
83° / 60°
9 wet
Oct
73° / 48°
9 wet
Nov
61° / 37°
10 wet
Dec
53° / 32°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cleveland Fltr Plt, TN, 11.4 mi away at 842 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
