Camp Mountain Lakes is an intriguing campsite. What used to be a massive property for an old kids summer camp is now a relic of what once was. Charles and Cindy are the new owners of the property, and they are in the process of restoring much of the property for camping use by April 2018. They have already restored an old building into a beautiful cabin, so they are well on their way. I am writing this review in September 2017, and although I had a great time in my stay, it is clear that the finished product will have some added benefits to the current condition of the property. One thing that this property already has going strong is its prime location.

The old stables are the best camping spot right now, with a good amount of cleared and flat land. The ground here is very good for pitching a tent, and there are trees to hang hammocks on too. There is no formal fire-pit yet, but Charles was still kind enough to give us wood to build a fire on the damp grass. This allowed us to cook a great dinner, so long as we were careful to maintain a wet border of grass around the fire. Although there was a full moon on the night we stayed here, you could tell there is almost no light pollution in the area, and star-gazing here would be excellent.

After a good nights sleep, I drove three blocks to the nearby Grundy Lakes of South Cumberland State Park to watch the sunrise. There seemed to be a lot of fish feeding, and I wished I had brought a rod. The fog rose up off the lake on that cool morning, which was very scenic.

In addition to being close to several picturesque lakes, Camp Mountain Lake Retreats is also a stone's throw away from Foster Falls and the Fiery Gizzard trail, one of the top 25 backpacking trails in the country. Along with Stone Door and the Savage Gulf areas, there are over 55 miles of hiking trails within half an hour of Camp Mountain Lake Retreats. If hiking and/or waterfalls are your thing, you can have a great time staying in this part of Tennessee.

Overall, in just a short amount of time, this camp site should not only meet, but also exceed your camping needs. Right now it is essentially a drive-in campsite with backcountry amenities.

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Old Stone Fort State Park, Tennessee

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