Cabins USA Logo
Loading Page
RESERVATIONS
(800) 583-6168
Cabins USA Availability Search Icon Availability Search Small Icon


Outdoor Adventure: Douglas Lake, TN

Douglas Lake, TN

Douglas Lake, TN has something to do for all outdoor experience levels. Whether you're looking to have a family picnic or you're an experienced angler, this peaceful spot is perfect for you. Here you can enjoy fishing and boating and more while staying near all the fun attractions in Pigeon Forge.

In this post you'll get an overview of all the fun things to do at Douglas Lake. Also known as Douglas Reservoir, this lake boasts more than 1.7 million visitors each year and was even featured in Bassmaster Magazine as one of the top 100 lakes to fish for largemouth bass. In addition, it also boasts a designated swimming area, equipment and boat rentals, a campsite with water and electricity, trails where you can enjoy a hike out in nature, as well as places to birdwatch.

 

About Douglas Lake

The lake itself was formed by the addition of the Douglas Dam in the early 1940s due to high energy demands at the peak of WWII. The 1,705-foot Douglas Dam was constructed in just one year and holds the record for the fastest assembly of a structure of its kind. The lake spans about 28,000 acres and sources its water from the French Broad River and portions of the Pigeon Rivers. Located near the Douglas Dam are two campgrounds, the marina, the boat ramp, and a swimming area.

 

Fishing and Boating

If you love fishing, Douglas Lake is the place for you! In addition to being named one of the top 100 spots for largemouth bass, the lake is carefully curated as an ideal ecosystem for many of species of fish. These include both large and smallmouth black bass, white bass, catfish, crappies, sauger, and walleye. There are plenty of spots to fish from the bank, as well as opportunities to rent a boat for your fishing trip.

Before you head out, here are a few things to check:

  • Make sure you have an updated fishing license. As with most non-private lakes and ponds, a license is required. Licenses are generally inexpensive and can be purchased online from the state government's website, as well as convenience stores, sporting goods shops, and at some boat docks.
  • Make sure you look up the size limit and maximum number of fish allowed for each species. In order to keep a balanced ecosystem, the fish population is carefully monitored to ensure the lake remains healthy and well stocked.

You'll also have opportunity to rent a boat and boating equipment at Douglas Lake. Some of your options include ski boats, 24–foot pontoon boats with the capacity for 16, paddle boats, kayaks, pass boats, and jet skis.

Tennessee law requires anyone born after January 1st, 1989 to pass their boater safety course and carry their boater education card with them. If this applies to you, you'll need to study and take an exam with a representative of the Wildlife Resource Agency. If you were born before or on January 1st, 1989, you can pass an online course to get your Temporary Boater Education Certificate.

 

Camping, Swimming, and Picnicking

On the western side of the lake you'll find Douglas Dam Headwater Campground. This scenic space has over 60 campsites where you'll have access to water and electricity. Nearby there's a sectioned off swimming area where you can bring the kids for an afternoon of fun in the summertime. This sand beach runs along the shoreline and is open to the public for use during the day. Behind the camping and swimming areas are picnic tables where you can bring along a packed lunch to enjoy with your family, as well as flush toilets for your convenience.

 

Hiking and Birdwatching

Behind the beach is a 30 acre stretch of forest with trails where you can enjoy hiking. Here you can follow the trails for scenic views of the Douglas Dam or other natural wonders like limestone sinkholes, fields of native plants, and beautiful forest scenery. There are also plenty of great spots for avid birdwatchers to view water birds like Pied Billed Grebes, migrating seabirds like the Double Crested Cormorant, as well as native and migrating songbirds like warblers, sparrows, and more. With a mixed habitat of water, fields, and forest, this is a perfect spot to go birdwatching.

Your Visit to Douglas Lake Near Pigeon Forge

Now that you know what activities this popular outdoor spot offers, grab your fishing pole, binoculars, hiking boots, or picnic basket and head out for a day of fun. If you're currently planning your upcoming vacation to the Pigeon Forge area, make sure to check out our nearby cabins. We've got rentals for couples, families, groups, and more, so you're sure to find the perfect getaway for your stay.

Please Note: Cabins USA LLC's, hereinafter referred to as Cabins USA, area information, area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. Cabins USA does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages. Any mention of vendors, products, businesses, or services on the Cabins USA web site is for informational purposes only. Users of this web site are responsible for checking the accuracy, completeness, currency and/or suitability of all information. The inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by Cabins USA. Furthermore, specific questions regarding any content should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to Cabins USA.

Cabins USA Official Logo
star star star star star
2140 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN  37863
(865) 429-4121

VLS #157
Pigeon Forge Cabins
Guest Reservations
(800) 583-6168
2 Night Minimum

























































Cabins USA Help Icon
Copyright 2013-2024, Cabins USA LLC, Pigeon Forge, TN

Welcome to Cabins USA! We hope you enjoy your stay with us and look forward to helping you make incredible vacation memories. To help you navigate your Guest User account, we've provided a helpful guide to walk you through the process.

Creating an Account

Creating a guest account is as simple as submitting your email and creating a password. Keep in mind the email used to create your guest account must match the email provided on your reservation.

If a different email is on your reservation, you'll need to create a guest account with that email to manage the reservation.

When finished, an email will be sent to confirm your email address. Follow the steps in the email to complete the creation of your account.

Note: If you need to change the email address on your reservation, please contact the reservations office for further assistance.

Managing Your Account

Once your account is created, you can start managing your reservations. Your guest reservations will show as follows:

Click on the view button to get more details about each reservation. Within the reservation, you'll be able to do three things, which are:

Submit a Trouble Ticket

Click the report issue button for maintenance needs or other concerns during your stay. Briefly describe your issue, provide contact information, and submit up to 3 photos detailing your situation if applicable.

Submit Cancellation Request

This must be done before check-in and per our policies. Within the request, provide a reason for cancellation and click submit. After submitting your request, one of our reservationists must complete the cancellation process before your reservation is canceled.

Make a Payment

For future stays with a balance open, you can make credit card payments from $50 up to the total cost of the reservation.

Additional Information

If you have a future reservation and haven't completed the Express Check-In, please send your confirmation number and email used for the reservation to reservations@cabinsusa.com to request an invitation to complete the process.

After you've signed all reservation documents and paid the balance in full, you'll receive an email with your active stay information 8 hours prior to arrival, which includes the following:

Note: If the reservation documents have not been signed electronically and/or the balance has not been paid three days prior to arrival via the credit card on file, you must check in at our 2140 Parkway office. Our office hours are currently 8:00am - 10:00pm, Monday thru Sunday.

Contact Us

Didn't find the information you needed? Contact Us for further assistance with your reservation or guest account.

Thank you for choosing us for your Smoky Mountain vacation! We look forward to helping you make your dream vacation a reality!

Warm regards,

Cabins USA

Interested in receiving our newsletter? Simply provide your full name and email address in these fields to begin receiving information. By doing so, you can learn about special promotions and events in the Smoky Mountains!

We respect our customer's privacy and feel it is disrespectful to bombard anyone with emails. We treat all information that customers share with us as private and confidential. Cabins USA never shares this information with third party sites.

Arrival Date: Mandatory, select or enter date you will arrive (MM/DD/YYYY)

Nights: Mandatory, select or enter the number of Nights you will be staying with us

Promotional Code: Must enter a valid code

Optional Search Items: (Amenties, Cities, etc)
Below are several boxes in which you can either select from a drop down list or click on a check box to the left of an item to select.

Changing the contents of any drop down list or selecting/deselecting a check box will broaden or narrow the number of properties displayed by your search. You don't have to wait until the search completes to select/deselect items for your perfect search.

You must hit the SEARCH button to start your first search. It is unnecessary to hit the SEARCH button after doing your first search, unless you changed to another web page, changed the Arrival Date or number of Nights.

Add to Favorites: As you visit individual property pages or pages with listings of several properties on them, you have the option to click on the "+ Favorites" for each particular property, which automatically adds the property to your list of Favorites for consideration. The number next to the Favorites tab, left sidebar, will increase up to 99 possible Favorites. When ready, click on the Favorites tab to view a list of your selected Favorites.

Remove from Favorites: You may de-select (remove) properties from your Favorites you no longer wish to consider by either clicking on the minus icon to the right or by clicking on the "- Favorites" displayed on property list pages and each property details page for properties listed in your Favorites.

Compare Favorites: Click in the check boxes to the left of the property name, in your Favorites, you wish to compare. No more than 3 boxes may be selected at one time. When ready, hit the Compare button for a comparison of the 3 selected properties.

Follow the above "Remove from Favorites" instructions to remove a property from the comparison and your Favorites.

To add another property from your Favorites list for comparison, click the check box to the left of the property name in your Favorites and hit the Compare button.

Repeat the above steps to find your ultimate vacation accommodations. Need assistance or have questions, please give us a call so we may better serve you!

View List: Displays a full list of all your Favorites with some details.

Remove All: Clears all properties from your Favorites so you may start over.