• The Cleveland, Tennessee, area offers excellent camping opportunities.camping sauvage image by chantal cecchetti from Fotolia.com
  
  The area surrounding Cleveland, Tennessee, offers a wide variety of opportunities for camping and other outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing and whitewater rafting. There are dozens of hiking trails and several campgrounds in the area. Among the most popular are the Golden Chain Campground, Gee Creek Campground and Harrison Bay State Park.
  
  

Gee Creek Campground

• Scenic Gee Creek Campground, located in a large, wooded flat at the base of Starr Mountain, offers ample opportunities for hiking and whitewater rafting. The Spanking Stump Trail, Gee Creek Trail, Lowry Falls Trail, Lowry Cove Trail and Fisherman's Trail are all located within one mile of the campground. The Ocoee River and Gee Creek itself both provide fine rafting, and fishing is available in Mill Pond. The campsites are well-spaced and surrounded by tall pines; the grounds are open year-round and operated by Tennessee State Parks.
  
  Gee Creek Campground
  Hiwassee State Scenic River
  Box 255 Delano, TN 37325
  865-338-4133
  
  

Golden Chain Campground

• The Golden Chain Campground is another prime site for fishing, hiking, swimming and rafting. The Chilhowee Forest Walk Trail and several other trails are close by, and a round of golf can be played at the Cleveland County Country Club. Simpsons Pond is less than a mile away, and Hoskins Lake is less than seven miles away. This privately owned campground is about 10 miles from Cleveland.
  
  Golden Chain Campground
  8511 Hiwassee St. NW
  Charleston, TN 37310
  423-336-3170
  
  

Harrison Bay State Park

• Harrison Bay State Park, totaling 1,200 acres, has about 40 miles of shoreline on Chickamauga Lake. All sorts of boats and water recreational vehicles are allowed in the park, and there is a public boat ramp with no launch fee. The lake offers fishing for bass, catfish and bluegill. One hundred twenty-eight RV campsites and 21 tent-only sites make this a great option for all campers, and the park also has a 4.5-mile loop trail for bicycle enthusiasts. The trail is rated for all abilities.
  
  Harrison Bay State Park
  8411 Harrison Bay Road
  Harrison, TN 37341
  423-344-6214
  tennessee.gov/environment/parks/HarrisonBay