Edgar Evins State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- reserve.tnstateparks.com(931) 646-3080
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Temporary Trail ClosureDue to storm damage and impassable sections, the Merritt Ridge Trail is temporarily closed. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you… (more)
Due to storm damage and impassable sections, the Merritt Ridge Trail is temporarily closed. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions, please contact the park office.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Edgar Evins State Park is a 6,310-acre park in DeKalb County, about 9 miles north of Smithville.
Visitors come for canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. For overnight stays there are 2 camping areas (RV sites, tent sites, and primitive or hike-in sites). Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
| Campground | Please note that check-in time for camping is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 12:00 pm. | ||
Official wording
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Park Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Please note that check-in time for camping is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 12:00 pm.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Tennessee State Parks reservation site (itinio platform) for camping, cabins, shelters, programs; some lodges/cabins via reseze.net; golf via foreUP
- Phone
- 1-888-867-2757 (888-TNPARKS)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: cabins.
A limited number of cabins are available at each park for guests who travel with their pets. Guests must sign a Pet Policy Liability Form (CN-1181) upon check-in agreeing to abide by TN State Parks pet policy set forth and there is a $20 charge per night per pet that will be assessed at check-in. Pets are strictly prohibited inside cabins unless they are specifically designated as a pet-friendly cabin and all additional pet charges are paid. Due to allergy issues, pets may not be kept on porches or decks of non-pet cabins. If pets are kept at non-pet cabins, a minimum penalty of $100.00 plus all applicable nightly pet fees will be assessed. Additional charges for damages caused by pets may also be assessed at the discretion of management. Additional charges may also be assessed at the discretion of management for damages caused by guests, their visitors, pets, etc.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Campground | — | — | |
| Walk-In Campsites | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Wooden platform sites, reinforced with concrete and steel around the slops of Center Hill Lake are a unique feature to the 60 campsites available at Edgar Evins State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Economy suite cabins located along the Center Hill Lake shoreline await you at Edgar Evins State Park. Along with being fully-furnished, a courtesy dock and boat slips are available exclusively to cabin guests.
Things to do
CampingBoatingFishingCanoeing and kayakingSwimmingHiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunham Cemetery Trail | 0.1 mi | Easy | A very short (one-tenth of a mile) trail that winds up the side of the ridge, taking you to the historical Dunham Cemetery. This peaceful location overlooks the lake and is a beautiful place to linger.HikeNatural surface |
| Evins Ridge Trail | 0.6 mi | Moderate | Access to this trail is in the cabin area, across from the interpretive center. A small parking lot is available. This rocky trail winds through a drier forested area, as evidenced by the prickly pear that grows here (our native cactus). The trail takes you up and over a ridge that offers lovely views of the lake on either side. Other features of this trail are the abundance of paw paw trees (the food plant of our state butterfly, the zebra swallowtail), and several natural limestone sinks. This half-mile trail is of moderate difficulty.HikeNatural surface |
| Highland Rim Trail | 1.35 mi | Moderate | This trail loops behind the visitor’s center and is one of the richest and most diverse trails in the park. It is an excellent wildflower trail in the spring. The trail also happens to be a superb location for bird watching, including a possible glimpse of the cerulean warbler. The trail descends into a forested gully and travels along the lake before ascending back up the ridge behind the visitor center.HikeNatural surface |
| Marina/Campground Trail | 0.9 mi | Moderate | This one-way trail takes you from the campground to the marina or vice versa. It is a gently sloping hike through a lush lakeside forest and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, especially birds.HikeNatural surface |
| Merritt Ridge Trail | 5.35 mi | Hard | Status: closed. If you are in the mood for a longer and more vigorous hike, this is your trail! The Merritt Ridge Trail branches off the Millennium Trail, approximately one mile in. It climbs steeply on top of Merritt Ridge and offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding landscape in the early spring and winter months.HikeNatural surface |
| Millennium Trail | 2.35 mi | Moderate | The beginning of this wooded trail follows an old roadbed that once led to the Wolf Creek community. Remnants of two old homesteads can be found along this trail, as well as several old stone walls. After meandering along the Wolf Creek inlet, the trail follows the creek through a rich, wooded hollow before climbing steeply up a ridge. Once you begin to descend the ridge, shooting star can be seen blooming along the trail in the spring. This trail also happens to be a great place to hear barred owls at dusk. The trail is of moderate difficulty.HikeNatural surface |
| Storybook Trail | 0.4 mi | Easy | The trailhead is to the right of the interpretive center. A small parking area is provided. It is a half-mile hike that combines a nature storybook while enjoying the great outdoors. The trail is on a hillside bordering the shores of Center Hill Lake.HikeNatural surface |
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Park or camp store
- Laundry
Water
- Boat ramp
- Marina or boat slips
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Failure to present proof of eligibility could result in the cancellation of your reservation.
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 1630 Edgar Evins State Park Road
Silver Point, TN 38582 - Nearest town
- Smithville — about 9 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.0871, -85.8123
- Phone
- (931) 646-3080
- State.Parks@tn.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Tennessee State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- TDEC Bureau of Conservation 'State Park Boundaries Primary' public ArcGIS view
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology