Maple View Public Use Area

"Nice place, but they really need a sign telling you how short the ramp is. Some really nice people helped us out of a difficult situation when my pontoon boat trailer fell off the end of the ramp and got stuck. Two strong 4x4's in 4WD Low could even pull out the trailer. Had to float my pontoon boat over and my two of us had to pull the back of the trailer up to the top of the water before it could be pulled out. Broke my leaf spring mount on one wheel and now having to get it welded and hope we can get the axle straight again. Ramp just drops off suddenly."

"Grass was mown, garbage cans had been emptied , rest rooms closed but port-o-lets in place though. Things were very clean."

"My family absolutely loves this area!! Great for swimming, picnics, pictures, wildlife... And there is a cave you can walk a wooden path to access by sight only. You cannot go into this cave."

"A great little tourist, rest, bbq holiday area to have a day of fun on the water, or on the small beach. There is a little separated swimming area for younger children. Plenty of parking space, a bathroom for men and women separated, and some accessible woods that lead via a wooden pathway to the Nickajack cave. There is plenty of space to park your car during the entire day in the shade, many picnic benches, and barbecue spots. The Nickajack cave is just five minutes away from the parking places. You also can put your boat in the water through a natural boat ramp. This is allowed to use for smaller motorized boats and other floatable devices. To be fair and honest, the rest area is a little bit due on maintenance. Altogether a great little place to spend your day. Most of the times not too busy."

"This place is home to Nickajack cave. The most important cave in TN. This cave served as a hideout for river bandits before and during the civil war. During the war, the Union and the Confederate States mined the cave for saltpeter, which is used in making gun powder. Decades later, TVA flooded the area creating Nickajack lake. The cave now provides a safe haven for the endangered grey bat species. Thousands upon thousands of bats dwell in this cave and each night around dusk, they emerge and begin feasting on various species of insects. If you own kayaks or any kind of boat, I highly recommend going and seeing the nightly emergence of the grey bat. It is a sight to remember!!"