Army Corps of Engineers · Tennessee
Ragland Bottom
Army Corps of Engineers · Tennessee, United States
- Sites
- 57
- Hookups
- 38 electric, 41 with water, 16 no hookups
- Season
- April 9 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 125 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Laundry
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 712 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Center Hill Lake
- Nearest town
- SPARTA
- Address
- 1410 RAGLAND BOTTOM RD, SPARTA, TN, 38583
- Phone
- 931-761-3616
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming, Water Access, Water Skiing
57 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Ragland Bottom Campground is located on the shores of the scenic Center Hill Lake on central Tennessee's Highland Rim.
The lake stretches 64 miles up the Caney Fork River, where visitors come to enjoy boating, fishing and water sports. The 415 miles of forested shoreline provide excellent hiking, hunting and camping opportunities.
2025 Events: The annual Halloween event will be held Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Recreation
Boating, waterskiing, canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the water.
Anglers will find bream, walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. Below the dam, the Caney Fork River is one of the most productive trout fisheries in the state.
Nine miles of hiking trails meander around the lake. The Red Post Trail is a short, but steep, two-mile trail that loops above the campground. Hikers who brave the moderately difficult climb are rewarded with beautiful overlooks of the lake and nearby Sligo Bridge and Marina.
Facilities
This waterfront campground offers 40 sites with water and electric hookups, as well as 16 primitive tent sites. A large group day-use picnic area is available as well, with water and 15-amp electric hookups.
Amenities like flush toilets, showers and drinking water are provided, creating a comfortable camping experience for guests. A boat ramp, volleyball court, basketball goal, playground and hiking trail are all conveniently located within the campground. The adjacent day-use area has a group picnic shelter, boat ramp, and swimming beach.
Natural Features
Center Hill Lake is surrounded by lush mixed hardwood forests in the hilly Highland Rim region. Beautiful dogwoods bloom in the campground in springtime. Whitetail deer, wild turkey, squirrels and rabbits roam the wooded hills around the lake.
Nearby Attractions
Burgess Falls State Park is a 25-minute drive from the campground. Here, the Falling Water River drops approximately 250 feet, creating numerous breathtaking waterfalls. Hiking trails and overlooks help visitors enjoy the scenery. The large Native Butterfly Garden is a popular attraction within the park.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 30° | 5° | 69° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 53° | 35° | 17° | 71° | 8 of 11 |
| March | 63° | 44° | 24° | 82° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 70° | 51° | 36° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 64° | 45° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 69° | 55° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 72° | 63° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 72° | 64° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 85° | 67° | 55° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 71° | 51° | 37° | 88° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 61° | 43° | 23° | 77° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 53° | 36° | 16° | 68° | 7 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Floating Mill Park · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 101 sites
- Edgar Evins State Park · Tennessee State Parks · 9 mi · 69 sites
- Long Branch (Center Hill Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 10 mi · 61 sites
- Center Hill Lake Primitive Camping Areas · Army Corps of Engineers · 11 mi · 21 sites
- Rock Island State Park · Tennessee State Parks · 12 mi · 60 sites
All public campgrounds in Tennessee · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.