There Is Something For Everyone At Norris Dam State Park-Boating, Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Historic Places, Mountain Biking, Playgrounds, Cabins, And A Foodie Draw
Norris Lake makes for a perfect place to spend a day, a weekend, or even a week with the family. Known for its clean, clear water, you can go fishing, water-skiing, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
Or just bring a float and spend a day lazing around in Norris Lake’s clean and cool water.
If water sports aren’t your thing, you’ll find hiking trails, playgrounds, camping opportunities, and mountain biking to entertain the family, as well as a little bit of history at the TVA Norris Dam Visitor Center and the Lenoir Museum Complex.
Norris Dam State Park is a fantastic family destination for any aged kids and is near enough to Knoxville to make it an easy family day trip or even a last minute overnight camping trip.
Here’s how we typically spend a day at Norris Dam State Park. However, it’s also a great place to spend a weekend getaway at one of the park’s cozy cabins or camping.
See our Best Campsites and Cabins At Norris Dam State Park.
P.S. We also enjoy a day at the nearby Museum of Appalachia. See our guide here.
Things To Do At Norris Dam State Park
Located just north of Knoxville (35 min from West Town Mall), this Tennessee state park encompasses over 4,000 acres as well as miles and miles of shoreline on Norris Lake. I love this lake’s clear water and the rolling hills surrounding it.
It’s a great place to hike or bike in the morning and be on the water in the afternoon with a picnic lunch in between. Then finish the day at Clinch River Brewing before heading to the campsite or driving home. That’s a pretty perfect day at Norris for me!
TVA Norris Dam Visitor Center
Make a quick stop to see Norris Dam, the first dam constructed by TVA in 1933.
A good place to start is at the TVA Norris Dam Visitor Center located on the east side of the dam. You can remain parked here for the majority of activities listed here (hikes, playground, picnic area).
The TVA Norris Dam Visitor Center is a small place with a few exhibits and several interesting (and short) videos about the history of Norris Dam and TVA in general.
The volunteers at the desk are all retired TVA employees and most of them are enthusiastic story tellers and wonderful trivia sources.
The Visitor Center is open from early April to late November from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Tip: Drive across the dam to the West Overlook for fantastic views of Norris Lake and the valley.
Tip: The restroom is always open, even if the center is closed.
If you are here in April, then you might get lucky enough to catch TVA spilling water over the top of Norris Dam. It only happens every couple of years after we get some torrential rain but it is well worth taking the time to go see (and hear!) this event.
Enjoy An Easy and Scenic Family Hike Along Norris Lake
Norris Dam State Park has 22 hiking trails ranging from an easy 0.5 mile stroll to a more challenging 6.5 mile one-way hike.
Many of these trails can be linked together to make a hike perfect for your family. The park website has a decent list of trail descriptions and maps.
I like to start at the parking lot near the TVA Visitor Center on the east side of the dam and hike the Storybook Trail (0.4 miles), then continue onto a short section of Christmas Fern Trail (0.2 miles) in order to connect to Tall Timbers Trail (0.4 miles).
From there, I keep going onto Lake View Trail. You can hike the entire 4.6 miles of Lake View Trail or just stop and turn around whenever it suits you.
This combination of trails stays mostly along the lake so you get decent views (especially in the winter and the branches are bare) plus, it stays fairly level for the most part, making it doable for most families.
The short Storybook Trail (the trail starting right next to the dam and not to be confused with the longer Lake View Trail) makes a great choice for younger kids.
Each sign adds another paragraph to the story and has large illustrations for the kids to look at. They love running ahead to each sign and seeing what happens next.
Another easy and nearby option is the Songbird Trail, an easy 2 mile loop trail along the Clinch River below the dam. The trees provide some shade in summer, and you’ll have views of the dam as well.
The 2nd half of the loop takes you away from the water, so we usually do an out back.
Playgrounds And Picnic
After your hike, head up to the playground near the Tea Room for a picnic lunch and play break.
The rustic Tea Room was built by the CCC in the 1930’s and has been used as a restaurant, camping supply store, and dance hall over the years. It is now rented out for events. You can peek in the windows if it isn’t open.
Tip: You can also park by the Tea Room to hit the hiking trail behind it (the Christmas Fern Trail will take you down to the lake and to more trails).
The Picnic Pavilion on the east side of the park (near the Tea Room) has a large covered picnic area and a good-sized playground.
I think this is the best playground in the park, but you will also find small playgrounds near the park Visitor Center on the west side, in the West Campground, among the standard cabins, and in the center of the historic CCC cabins.
Explore Local History At Norris State Park
A 5 minute drive from the picnic and playground area near the Norris Tea Room brings you to the Lenoir Museum Complex, a nice little place to spend an hour, especially given its low, low, low price of free.
The complex consists of the small Lenoir Museum, and after a very short walk across the stream, you will find the picturesque Caleb Crosby Threshing Barn and an 18th century grist mill.
The Museum is open year round Wed- Sun 9-5, while the Grist Mill and Threshing Barn are open April 15- Oct 31, Wed- Sun, 9-5.
The Lenoir Museum is surprisingly interesting considering its unprepossessing exterior. You’ll find lots of photos of the area before, during, and after construction of Norris Dam as well the many, many artifacts collected by the founder, Will Lenoir.
He was committed to preserving the history of the area and spent his life accumulating farm tools, buckets, furniture, and documents, among many other things big and small.
*Pro Tip– If you are here on a Sunday, do plan your day around the live bluegrass from 2-5 pm at the museum. With anywhere from 5-15 very talented people playing guitars, banjos, fiddles, harmonicas, flutes, an autoharp, and an upright bass, it is a really fun experience. And it is free as well so really, you have no excuse not to check it out.
The Grist Mill and Threshing Barn are worth the short walk away from the Lenoir Museum to check out, especially given their scenic location on the creek.
The Grist Mill was operated by 4 generations of the same family until their land was flooded by the construction of Norris Dam. TVA bought the mill, took the entire building apart piece by piece, and reassembled it all here.
The mill still works and you can buy flour during the summer when the water wheel is operating. The grist mill shop also sells souvenirs and a very small selection of snacks and drinks.
The Caleb Crosby Threshing Barn was originally located on the banks of the Holston River but was moved when that farm was inundated by the building of Cherokee Dam.
The family donated the barn to TVA and it was reconstructed here in 1978. Kids will like the treadmill for the oxen that powered the threshing machine.
Rent A Kayak Or Paddleboard
One of the best things to do at Norris Dam State Park is to enjoy its miles of shoreline and clear water. Spend the afternoon on a kayak or paddleboard, and the kiddos will think this is the greatest day ever.
You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and pedal boats from nearby River Run Outfitters located near the Marina just past the dam.
If you brought your own canoe or kayak, you can put in at the marina ($10 launch fee). If you would rather be on a river instead of a lake, you can use the public canoe launch on the Clinch River just a two minute drive downriver from the dam.
Enjoy A Cold Craft Beer And Good Food
Okay, not technically in the park but if you love good craft beer and excellent food in a cheerful family-friendly setting then you will love Clinch River Brewing.
Conveniently located near the Lenoir Museum Complex and about a minute from Norris Dam, they keep around 15 of their beers on tap and have cultivated a good reputation for the beer as well as for the food.
The chef has a rotating menu of appetizers, small bites, large bites, and dessert that changes based on what’s seasonally available.
My nephew and I were very excited about our fried artichoke and heirloom tomato salad and our homemade gnocchi. I tried the brown ale and loved it but may go for the tasting flight on my next visit so I can try more of their beers.
In addition to the delicious food and yummy beer, Clinch River Brewery has a lovely outdoor beer garden complete with a rainbow trout stocked pond. Ask for some fish food at the order counter and let your kids have at it.
The inside has several TVs as well so you won’t miss the game if you are visiting in the fall.
The brewery has different hours depending on the season so be sure to check the website before visiting.
*Pro Tip– The brewery is only about a 5 minute drive from the campground on the east side of the park and is a lifesaver when you get caught in a downpour while trying to cook your hotdogs over the campfire.
Even More Things To Do At Norris Dam State Park
Rent A Boat At Norris Dam Marina
One of the best ways to enjoy a summer or fall afternoon at Norris is on the water. Grab some friends and head to Norris Dam Marina next to the dam to rent a pontoon boat for the day ($350/day and accommodates 12 people).
P.S. All Norris State Park campground and cabin guests can launch their boats for free with proof of receipt at the Norris Dam Marina.
Go Fishing
If you plan on fishing and you are over 13 years old, you will need a permit. Find them at the marina, the park office, or most area gas stations.
The lake is stocked with bass but you can also find crappie and bluegill, which tends to be all I ever catch but I am a terrible fisherman. The kids do much better than me.
The Clinch River downriver from the dam is good for trout fishing. You can bring your own kayak or canoe, fish from the shore, or use the fishing point that is located by the small weir dam a little bit downriver from the Lenoir Museum Complex.
Go Mountain Biking
Eleven of the park’s hiking trails can also be used for mountain biking. I haven’t brought my bike here yet (it is on the list) but after asking around, it seems that there really isn’t any technical stuff that would peak the interest of hardcore riders but the trails are scenic.
Norris also tends to dry out faster than other trails in the area so it is popular in muddy weather and in the winter.
Although Norris State Park offers mountain biking on 17 trails, most serious mountain bikers are heading over to nearby Loyston Point (24 minutes away), a much more developed mountain bike park, with 3 nicely maintained trails good for beginner to intermediate riders. Lots of flow and rollers with occasional climbing.
Check out Norris Watershed (adjacent to the state park) for even more trails. You get to the main parking area for the watershed by going up Lower Clear Creek Road behind the Lenoir Museum Complex.
The website MTB Project has some descriptions and maps for a few of the trails for the watershed and for Norris Dam State Park.
Explore The Historic CCC Cabins and Camp Kinchen
You can explore more Great Depression history at the CCC cabins and old Camp Kinchen in the east side of Norris Dam State Park. They were all built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s.
The small loop containing the historic CCC cabins and Tea Room on the east side of the dam is a quick detour, about 15 min tops from the dam’s Visitor Center.
If you really like CCC history, hike the short Camp Sam Trail to the old Camp Kinchen, a CCC camp that housed 220 men in the 1930s and 1940s, paying them $30 a week ($25 of which was sent directly to their families).
There isn’t much left of the camp itself but the park has put up informational plaques with photographs and descriptions of life in the camp.
This is an easy, 1 mile RT hike with the trailhead right off Highway 441 near the Clinch River Brewery.
Visit Nearby Museum of Appalachia
The Museum of Appalachia, though not located in the park, is definitely worthy of a visit.
Located within 5 miles of the dam, it’s an open-air type of museum, meaning they have recreated a snapshot of Appalachian life by bringing in historic buildings from all around Appalachia- settler’s cabins, barns, blacksmith shops, grist mills, schools, and more.
The buildings are outfitted with traditional furniture, farming implements, cookware, etc too.
It is a fabulous place to explore as everyone can find something they will enjoy.
Besides the historic structures, you will find barn animals, live bluegrass and country music, good southern cooking at the restaurant, and a lovely locale with large grassy areas for kids to roam.
See our detailed guide to the Museum of Appalachia- How To Spend A Memorable Day of Family Fun.
Where To Stay At Norris Dam State Park
Along with all the fun things to do here, the park conveniently offers several types of lodging- 19 historic CCC cabins, 10 modern cabins, 2 campgrounds, and 3 backcountry campsites.
The rustic CCC cabins are some of my favorites in the park if you aren’t looking to camp. If you are tent camping, there is a Primitive, tent-only loop at the East Campground with large campsites but I generally think the West Campground is a little nicer.
For more detailed information on each lodging option and some great vacation rentals in the area, check out our Best Campsites and Cabins At Norris Dam State Park.
* Pro Tip– All campers and cabin renters can launch boats for free at the marina. Just show your receipt.
If you can’t find lodging in the park or want larger accommodations, you’ll find lots of vacation rentals nearby as well.
Final Thoughts
Norris Lake makes for a perfect place to spend a day, a weekend, or even a week with the family. Go fishing, water-skiing, kayaking, or paddleboarding. Or just bring a float and spend a day lazing around in Norris Lake’s clean and cool water.
Happy Trails! – Amanda
