Lewis Meriweather Park on Natchez Parkway

[grillmastertoo]

I am traveling to the Lewis Meriweather campground in the coming weeks and was curious if anyone has been there?  Im curious what the campsites are like....roomy, spacious, lots of trees,crowded, etc....
Also what other activities are nearby...
Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated...
thanks

[angrysparrow]

I've been there.

The entire campground is well maintained, and quite clean.  The sites are sizeable, but not huge.  The campground is nicely wooded, so no shortage of trees at any site.  There are no 'hookups', but there are several water outlets, and a daily-maintained restroom facility.  Probably one of the nicest no-fee grounds that I've ever been to.

There is a hiking loop right in the park there.  Also, nearby is the Natchez Trace Parkway, with plenty of day hiking opportunities as well as very close proximity to the Buffalo River for potential paddling.  Hoehenwald TN is nearby, and it's also only a short ride to Lawrenceburg TN.  Additionally, it's a short ride to David Crockett State Park for more possibilities, and a great breakfast and dinner buffet served daily.

Great place to spend a weekend car camping.

[WolfVanZandt]

It's a beautiful area - there's a lot of beautiful scenery on the Trace.

They're supposed to be having the first National Memorial Service for M. Lewis on the 7th at which a bronze bust is to be installed on the grave site (unless that's been changed).

A few years ago, a colleague of mine (my boss, in fact) was traveling cross country and they practically fell into the Lewis and Clark Centennial Celebration all the way from here to Montana. How's that for luck?

[Uncle Wayne]

I believe it's Meriwether Lewis Park not Lewis Meriwether.

It's a beautiful place to visit.  never camped there so i don't know about that possibility.

[grillmastertoo]

thanks for the comments on the park and nearby area....does anyone know if there are showers.....
also, does anyone know if this time of year is a good time to paddle the buffalo river?  im not familiar with what type of flow it has....dam controlled or not?
thanks

[angrysparrow]

There are no showers in the Meriwether Lewis campground. 

With the amount of recent rain, there ought to be plenty of flow on the Buffalo.  It is not dam controlled, and is in fact the longest unimpeded river in middle TN.  It is popular for paddling, but I haven't been on it in a few years. 

Some links you might check out -

Buffalo River Wikipedia Page
Info page about Middle TN paddling
Small Buffalo River forum

[Pathfinder]

I have paddled Buffalo River numerous times over the years. After Labor Day you can paddle any weekday without likely seeing any other people.  On weekends there is a good amount of traffic on the river.  The thing I most dislike about the Buffalo, is that there is always more trash like drink cans and other litter than other rivers I have paddled.  I have never had a problem with insufficient water flow.  I'd recommend not camping in the privately owned commercial campgrounds which are operated by the canoe rental companies in the area.  The crowds can be overwhelming and too rowdy for my enjoyment.  One Memorial Day weekend we were camped there and 6 or 7 police cars pulled into the camp all in a row.  They were there to breakup a fight.  I also saw a bunch of drunk teenagers drive a pickup truck off into the river and get it stuck with water up to the doorhandles.  However, as I said on a weekday this time of year, it is desolate.  You can then enjoy the river and bluffs as well as probably sight a few herons or an occasional bald eagle.  Happy paddling.

[grillmastertoo]

Hey Sparrow and Pathfinder--
Thanks for the suggestions on paddling!!!  Great links and comments...I will check it out for sure and even if i dont paddle this trip will make plans to do so in the future...
Thanks

[SmokeDiver]

Not to go off topic, but did Lewis spend some time in Alabama? I've seen numerous roads named for him in Pike and Montgomery County as well as some others. I'm familiar with Lewis and Clark only for their expedition together, not for any of their other accomplishments.

[WolfVanZandt]

I haven't seen anything about Lewis spending any large amount of time in Alabama. He was the governor of the new Louisiana Purchase for three years after the Lewis and Clark expedition. And then that thing up in Tennessee.

By the way, National Geographic has an excellent film on the expedition.

[weathermansam]

Seems like I recall a state park close to the meriweather site, not on the natchez trace of course.  I'd bank they'd have showers.  I'll see what I can dig up.

[weathermansam]

http://www.tennessee.gov/...nt/parks/DavidCrockettSP/


This SP isn't that far away, and has hot showers.