No need to travel across the ocean for a relaxing vacation. You can get away from it all and pitch a tent on one of the dozens of wild islands that dot TVA’s reservoirs right here in the Valley.
Imagine hopping in your boat and taking a leisurely cruise to an island where traffic is a distant memory and, to quote a familiar 60s TV show, there are “No phones, no lights, no motor cars….” Sounds like something you’d find off the coast of Florida or California, or some far-off tropical destination, right?
Well the island life can be found much closer than you think—on one of TVA’s reservoirs right here in the Tennessee Valley. There are dozens of islands on lakes across the region, ranging in size from about an acre to more than 700 acres. In most cases, these islands are an ideal place for primitive camping. “Primitive” means just that—no beds, no restrooms, no lights, no room service. Just the great outdoors!
“We are blessed in this region with plenty of places to get away from it all, whether on a boat, bicycle or on foot,” said Clay Guerry, TVA senior Natural Resources specialist.
TVA allows for short-term camping and other recreation on its 229,000 acres of undeveloped public lands—including uninhabited islands—all year round. “Short term” means up to 14 days in one place. That’s one of the few rules that TVA has for this type of recreation, which is meant to be free and open for everyone to enjoy. (For more rules regarding undeveloped lands, click here.)
Whether you choose to visit an island or remain on dry land, Mr. Guerry says you should plan ahead and be prepared if you're camping in the rough. “You have to bring in everything you need—food, water, sanitation and other equipment.”
And when you go, make sure you leave the campsite as good as or better than you found it. “We want folks to be able to come in and enjoy the area without worrying about trash or other remains from the last person who was there,” Mr. Guerry explains.
TVA is a partner in the Leave No Trace program, which promotes responsible outdoor activities. In short, that means taking your trash, and everything else you bring in right back out with you. In the best-case scenario, it should be as if you were never there.
“It’s also about taking care of our environment so these lands will be available for the next generation,” added Mr. Guerry. That way your kids—and your kid’s kids—can enjoy an island escape, too.
Find an island getaway on a reservoir near you with TVA's undeveloped recreation areas map.