Gilmore Docks

Gilmore Docks is a boat ramp facility located on Cherokee Lake, the impounded section of the Holston River in Rutledge, Grainger County, Tennessee. This access point serves the lower portion of a major river system that drains over 3,600 square miles and maintains an average flow of nearly 4,900 cubic feet per second. The lake setting provides calmer water conditions compared to the flowing river sections upstream, making it suitable for a variety of boating activities.

The Holston River system is a significant waterway in East Tennessee with a total length of 137 miles and an elevation drop of 349 feet from its upper reaches to the dam that creates Cherokee Lake. The location at Rutledge positions paddlers and boaters near the lower end of the impoundment, where conditions are typically more stable than in moving water. The facility's name suggests the presence of docking infrastructure typical of established public boat launches in Tennessee's reservoir system.

Boaters using Gilmore Docks should be aware that Cherokee Lake is a managed impoundment that can experience variable water levels and boat traffic, particularly during warmer months. The broader Holston River system supports diverse recreational uses including fishing, cruising, and watersports. Access to this facility provides entry to a major water body with significant drainage and flow characteristics.