Stretched along the reservoir shoreline of Percy Priest Lake in Davidson and Rutherford counties, Long Hunter State Park encompasses nearly 3,000 acres divided into three main sections — Couchville, Baker’s Grove, and Bryant Grove — each with its own access. The park’s main section surrounds Couchville Lake, a small body of water created through underground karst connections when the Stones River was originally dammed. Fishing, canoeing and kayaking are allowed.
The park has 32 miles of hiking trails including a 2-mile paved loop around Couchville Lake and mountain biking trails. Couchville State Natural Area on the back side of the park contains the globally rare cedar glade and barrens ecosystem in Middle Tennessee featuring large populations of Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis), the first plant endemic to Tennessee added to the federal endangered species list in 1979 and recently delisted thanks to recovery efforts and site protection. Eastern red-cedar/blue ash woodlands and oak/hickory forests add to the variety of habitats for numerous species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
Established in 1976, the park also offers a 50-foot climbing tower, primitive campsites, and two public boat ramps for access to Percy Priest Lake.
NOTE: Long Hunter State Park’s TNP chapter was formerly known as and located at Cedars of Lebanon State Park from 2015 through 2022. All Cedars’ students are now represented in the Long Hunter chapter.
