Reelfoot Lake Hiking
  • Reelfoot Lake
    • Book Now
    view of wooden dock and natural trail that leads into trees

    Hiking at Reelfoot Lake

    Reelfoot Lake has several hiking trails that are fun for the whole family!

    View the bottomlands that make up Reelfoot Lake State Park! Our park's trails are covered in hardwood forests and have numerous bird species, making them the perfect spot for nature lovers. Each trail offers a unique way to observe our 15,000-acre natural lake. 

    Trails

    Showing page 1 of 1

    • Airpark Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Distance
      1.25 mi.
      Difficulty
      Difficult
      Surface
      Natural
      Ducks are often seen here in winter. Bird the open areas around the parking lot before taking the trail through bottomland forest and swamp. Shrub thickets along the trail and roads are excellent for sparrows.
      Availability
      Open
      Allowed
      Hiking

      Airpark Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Ducks are often seen here in winter. Bird the open areas around the parking lot before taking the trail through bottomland forest and swamp. Shrub thickets along the trail and roads are excellent for sparrows.
      Distance
      1.25 mi.
      Difficulty
      Difficult
      Surface
      Natural
      Allowed
      Hiking
      Trail Type
      Information unavailable
      Elevation
      Gain 62.60'
      Loss 63.10'
      Grade
      Typical 1.9%
      Max 26.3%
      Cross Slope
      Typical 2.7%
      Max 24.8%
      Tread Width
      Typical 60"
      Minimum 16"
      Surface Type
      Soil 98%; Wood decking 2%
      Obstructions Exist
      Tree roots: 4 in tall; Bridge: 16 of tread remaining; Tree: 24 in of tread remaining

      Black Bayou Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Distance
      0.70 mi.
      Difficulty
      —
      Surface
      Natural
      Availability
      Open
      Allowed
      Hiking

      Boardwalk

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Distance
      0.45 mi.
      Difficulty
      —
      Surface
      Natural
      Availability
      Open
      Allowed
      Hiking wheelchair

      Brough Slough Nature Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Distance
      0.30 mi.
      Difficulty
      Difficult
      Surface
      Natural
      The Broad Slough Trail runs behind Cabin 7, winding through a wooded area with a spur that opens up to the wooden deck overlook that features a stunning view of Reelfoot Lake.
      Availability
      Open
      Allowed
      Hiking

      Brough Slough Nature Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      The Broad Slough Trail runs behind Cabin 7, winding through a wooded area with a spur that opens up to the wooden deck overlook that features a stunning view of Reelfoot Lake.
      Distance
      0.30 mi.
      Difficulty
      Difficult
      Surface
      Natural
      Allowed
      Hiking
      Trail Type
      Information unavailable
      Elevation
      Gain 17.40'
      Loss 12.40'
      Grade
      Typical 1.5%
      Max 26.0%
      Cross Slope
      Typical 2.0%
      Max 11.1%
      Tread Width
      Typical 65"
      Minimum 60"
      Surface Type
      Soil 53.3%; Gravel 31.4%; Wood decking 15.3%
      Obstructions Exist
      No obstructions present

      Keystone Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Distance
      0.60 mi.
      Difficulty
      Moderate
      Surface
      Natural
      Before you head out on the trail, be sure to bird from the fishing pier. The pier is a good place to see American white pelicans and waterfowl in winter. The one-way, forested trail runs along the lake but there are no convenient views of the lake from the trail. Search for woodland birds along the trail.
      Availability
      Open
      Allowed
      Hiking

      Keystone Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Before you head out on the trail, be sure to bird from the fishing pier. The pier is a good place to see American white pelicans and waterfowl in winter. The one-way, forested trail runs along the lake but there are no convenient views of the lake from the trail. Search for woodland birds along the trail.
      Distance
      0.60 mi.
      Difficulty
      Moderate
      Surface
      Natural
      Allowed
      Hiking
      Trail Type
      Information unavailable
      Elevation
      Gain 27.00'
      Loss 18.60'
      Grade
      Typical 1.4%
      Max 6.6%
      Cross Slope
      Typical 2.0%
      Max 9.3%
      Tread Width
      Typical 60"
      Minimum 16"
      Surface Type
      Soil 99.4%; Wood decking 0.6%
      Obstructions Exist
      Bridge: 2 in tall

      Walking Loop Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      Distance
      0.40 mi.
      Difficulty
      Easy
      Surface
      Paved
      The Walking Loop at Eagle Basin is a paved walking and running trail that also features Reelfoot Lake.
      Availability
      Open
      Allowed
      Hiking wheelchair

      Walking Loop Trail

      Reelfoot Lake State Park
      The Walking Loop at Eagle Basin is a paved walking and running trail that also features Reelfoot Lake.
      Distance
      0.40 mi.
      Difficulty
      Easy
      Surface
      Paved
      Allowed
      Hiking wheelchair
      Trail Type
      Information unavailable
      Elevation
      Gain 7.30'
      Loss 9.00'
      Grade
      Typical 0.7%
      Max 2.4%
      Cross Slope
      Typical 1.5%
      Max 5.2%
      Tread Width
      Typical 90"
      Minimum 90"
      Surface Type
      Asphalt 100%
      Obstructions Exist
      No obstructions present

    Trail Definitions

    • Cross Slope 

      Describes the degree of incline from one side of the trail path to the other; measured as a percentage. Cross slope aids in water drainage and impacts the overall trail stability.   

    • Grade  

      Describes the rise in elevation over a horizontal distance on the trail; measured as a percentage.  Higher percentages represent a steeper grade indicating a more challenging ascent or descent for hikers.    

    • Standard Ramp Grade

      Serves as a reference guide for the grade of the trail.  Standard Ramp Grade is 8.3% across all trail assessments.  

    • Surface 

      A characteristic of the trail expressed in terms of material type, grading, compaction, and roughness of the path. Possible surface types include soil, gravel, paved, and mulch.   

    • Tread Width    

      Represents the horizontal distance from one edge of the trail path to the other; measurements can vary.  Tread width helps to determine the amount of space a hiker has to pass through. Obstacles on the trail can alter the remaining tread width.   

    • Trail Types: Loop

      Trail returns at or near the point from which you started. 

    • Trail Types: Network 

      Offers multiple route options within one trail, and each route is connected

    • Trail Types: Out and Back

      This type of trail travels out to an endpoint where hikers turn around and travel back to the starting point.   

    • Trail Types: Stacked Loop

      A loop trail contained completely within another trail.   

    Learn More About Trail Accessibility Information

    Need a Map?

    Explore our collection of printable and digital trail maps, organized by park. Whether you’re hiking, camping, or paddling, you’ll find the resources you need to navigate confidently.

     

    Find a Park Map

    Discover More at Reelfoot Lake

    Visit The Gift Shop

    Located in the Visitor Center, the Reelfoot Lake Gift Shop is the perfect place to pick up a map, learn about the park, or find a souvenir. You’ll also find an assortment of apparel and keepsakes to remember your trip to the park.

    Address: 
    2595 Highway 21 Tiptonville, TN 38079

    Hours: 
    8:00 AM — 4:00 PM CST

     

    No events are scheduled at this time, but there's always more to explore.

    Find More Events

    More Parks with Hiking

    Other Activities at Reelfoot Lake State Park