Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

Such a serene state park. We came in early Nov and the fall foliage was pretty. Trails in different lengths depending on what you prefer. Kayak rentals are possible and they also have ranger-led paddles and tours which sounds amazing for next time. It was a beautiful spot for a Sunday walk. Will definitely return.

This was a beautiful park . The trails was amazing we put some miles . I would love to camp here . Well worth the trip out . Beautiful fall colors and a new state for us . But the gift shop did not have nothin . That was a bumper . We are trinket people hiking stick medillon would be nice at least . Lol

Campground closed for renovations. New bathhouse. New cement pads for the picnic tables at the camp sites. Plenty of picnic tables for a picnic. Water pump for cleaning up. Separate bins for trash and recyclables. Trash was overflowing. (3) separate unisex bathrooms. One with an adult changing table. Small fishing boats out on the lake. Pioneer Springs Trail was blocked by a tree after you start on the trail. May have been from the storm earlier in the week. Group campsite available for reservations.

Visited the park today — it was extremely hot and humid today. We were hiking the 1-mile Woodland Trail loop when we came across a snake resting on a fallen tree right across the path. It wasn't aggressive, but it’s something to be cautious about. Overall, it's a peaceful trail, but the weather and wildlife made it a bit intense today. Also way too many insects and mosquitoes.

Very nice park. Trails are marked pretty good.

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is a gorgeous location nestled in the outskirts of Millington, TN- not far from Memphis. The park holds campgrounds, hiking trails, play areas for children, and lots of space for picnics or gatherings. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife around the park... A true hidden gem!

We've been camping there for 5 nights. The place itself is beautiful. You camp in the middle of nature. The Rangers are very friendly. There is a nice hiking trail with different challenging loops accessible from it. The only downside I experienced was the restroom. Outdated, falling apart and in dire need of Restauration.

It's so amazing 🤩 I love it! I didn't enjoy it because it's still cold in winter, but it's a wonderful place! It's a place where everything in the forest feels beautiful! I'm thinking of having fun when it gets warm. I love it

Beautiful place; definitely a hidden gym. The park rangers need to keep up with the park better.

The cabins are a nice way to take a break from the city without breaking the bank. The employees at the Park are friendly and accommodating.

Decent fishing spot, bugs are the worst I ever seen, went twice lasted an hour both times due to the amount of bugs, however that doesn't detract from the beauty and natural beauty of this park, it has an old school family picnic feel to it, I grew up swimming and waddling in Akabutla lake and while this lake doesn't have a beachhead it's still a good place to have a cheap fun outing by the water in nature.

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday, he loves the outdoors. We stopped at the visitors center bathrooms to change into our swim/kayak clothes. The bathrooms were as clean as partial outdoor bathrooms can get. We then headed to the lake to find the kayak/canoe/ paddle boat/pontoon boat rental place. We thought we checked in at the building but then saw to the right a circular wooden structure. This is where you pay and get all your things. Fairly cheap prices! We came during late August and were 2 of maybe 6 people there that day. Would be way more fun with a group, picnic, and boat license. Recommend if you are looking for a quite, short, fun getaway. There's way more to do than what we did. Check out the website and the corner store on the way out! Super nice people in there!!

This place was a surprise! It goes on forever. I am not sure how long I spent driving toward the camping area through winding roads in thick, green woods, but it felt like ages. I stayed in the "primitive" camping area, and it was gorgeous: deep in the woods, serene and private. My site even featured raised gravel beds for tents. Yes, the bugs are brutal in the summer, as one would expect from being deep in the woods. If you've never spent a summer in the Southeast or Midwest, you are in for a rude awakening. They are even more brutal when one is showering with them in the park bathrooms; I'll probably find bites in very unpleasant places. None of this was the park's fault: the bathrooms were perfectly well-maintained, just full of clouds of mosquitos. Your showers will be brief, or else be achieved via Wet Wipe. The other reviews are correct: there is no signal in this park. They are also correct that you are camping and should just relax and unplug. What my silly, Millennial brain didn't put together was that no signal anywhere in this vast park also meant no help from navigation on my way back out of the park if I decided to try a different route than the way I came in. I got turned around for quite a while. Moral of the story: unplug and relax but don't stray from the path, Red Riding Hood. I enjoyed my time here and would definitely come back (but maybe in the fall when I would need less Caladryl).

First... Please go to the Shelby Forrest General Store for a burger while you are in the area!!! Actually getting out to the trail areas can be a bit confusing if you are not familiar with the park already or have a map. We drove around looking at the not-so-great signage and final settled on an empty lot that was marked "trail parking". It was the Chickasaw trail entrance, but we did not know this at first because we passed the trail entrance! We walked along the pavement and found something absolutely eerie and amazing! It was an abandoned summer camp-like area with a pool the cafeteria and surrounded by about 12 cabins, give or take a few. It was creepy! There were no cars parked at the trail parking to begin with, there were no sounds of birds or anything! It was like being dropped in the middle of a horror script or even worse, a Chernobyl-like town. There were still mattresses, beds, other furniture, cleaner and canned goods on the shelves. I cannot explain how spooky it was and the feeling that I was not supposed to be there kept surfacing. On our way out of "Chernobyl" we stopped at a small storage cabin and while we were peeping in, we heard a loud bang behind us and we took off running towards the car in fear of our lives! Alright, now that I have given you all a scare, the site turned out to be harmless and we could tell that at least the park was aware of this area because the grass had been recently mowed; however, every other aspect of the site has been untouched for years. We finally searched and found an article by the Memphis Flyer saying it was built by the CCC as part of the New Deal and was closed in early 2000s to campers and the area has just deteriorated since. If you can find this area, it is great to explore. This area of the park could be so great if they would restore the cabins and rent them out with the big pool there and plenty of room to barbeque and play sports. You can tell there was a very long zip line over a ridge that would be great as well. If anyone is interested in leading a restoration campaign for this site, I would be interested. Oh by the way, the actual Chickasaw trail was pretty cool.

A beautiful park close to the city of Memphis. Some of the reviews worried me but we enjoyed our stay. Bugs not bad and yes no phone service but this is camping. Showers gross and there were 2 centipedes in the shower and they were long. I know it goes with the territory but yuk!

We packed a picnic, fishing poles, bikes, loaded the canoe and headed out on an "it's gonna rain soon" afternoon. (We push the envelope...what can I say!) The general store enroute to park was very rustic and cool. You can get snacks, something hot from the grill, bait or a fishing license. NOTE: SS# is required for all who want to purchase a fishing license, even children (which is a bummer because I never travel with that info and have too many kids to memorize all their socials). Needless to say none of the kids could fish!!! (Kids will now start learning their own socials) The drive through the forest to the lake was nice but not extraordinary. We noticed lots of trails, covered picnic areas and places to fish or put your boat in. There were hikers, joggers and even some bike riders. The picnic areas were clean. There were BBQ pits, tables and restrooms. The lake is beautiful and on the other side of the park is the Mississippi River. We spent a few good hours enjoying ourselves but eventually got slammed with a major rain storm and gusty winds. Trees were down on the road that had to be removed. The forecast is something to consider before we head thy way again but it was fun in spite of getting soaked. Definitely a revisit next time we're in town.

Beautiful and peaceful. I definitely recommend camping here. It was also very quiet at night, which was nice.

As far as state parks go this one was about average. There are plenty of camping spots we have in RV & camping site number 12 which was extremely level. It is also at the trailhead of the 3-mile hiking trail. There is definitely a lack of signage once you are in the park telling you which direction to go for which campsites. It is quite a long drive from the entrance of the park back to the camping area, in fact it's quite a long drive to get to anywhere while inside the park. There is absolutely no cell phone service while inside the park if you need to make a phone call or do something on your phone you will need to go out to the General Store at the entrance to the park area or down to the Mississippi river boat launching area. From Reading other reviews, many people commented about the mosquitoes. Yes they are bothersome but you are in a state park under a heavy canopy. We stopped in to the General Store that is near the entrance to the park, we met some very nice people while there. We also went down to poplar lake and took a pontoon boat tour of the lake. The cost is just $5 per person.

The good: The front desk staff at the park's entrance was very helpful. The park in general was somewhat clean. The bad: Our stay at the park was supposed last from 2 July to 5 July 2017. Our intentions were to JUST relax with the family during Independence Day weekend but it turned out we had to end our trip early by a day due to the MOSQUITO infestation at the camping site. It was just unbearable PERIOD; I've been in the Army for 21 years and this is the second worst mosquito problem I've ever seen (been in a lot of shitty places). This mosquito problem needs to be dealt with before it becomes a health safety issue. I was told by my brother in law that the showers and bathrooms could use some cleaning. The camping site is PITCH BLACK DARK and could definitely use some lighting troughout the entire camp. Never saw the park rangers once There is NO AT&T cell phone signal at the campsite, and there is no landline phone neither which means if you have an emergency you have to drive to the park entrance to hopefully be able to call 911. I WILL NOT CAMP THERE AGAIN. NO THANK YOU!

This park is one of my favorite things about Memphis. Although Overton Park and Shelby Farms are great outdoor spaces, I don't consider a "walk in the park" a "hike." I'm a California transplant who misses real mountains and real hiking. Shelby Forest is the closest thing I've found to fill that void. The WoodlandTrail #2 is my favorite starting point. It is a 3-mile loop with enough hilly inclines to make it challenging if you pick up the pace. The scenery is woodsy and beautiful with small streams and log walks. The rest of the trails in the park seem fairly flat. Trail #4 is paved for bicycle, but is nonetheless surprisingly pretty. In some sections, the trees form beautiful archways over the asphalt, and there are a number of rustic stone picnic tables in secluded wooded areas off the main path. The Chickasaw Bluff Trail #1 towards Poplar Tree Lake is a long hike (about 5 miles from the Woodland Trail Shelter). Again, its mostly flat, but as it nears Poplar Tree Lake the terrain and scenery get a little more interesting. There is a Cypress tree forest about 1/2 mile in from the lake. It was dry when I hiked it during the summer, but last January the trees sat in pools of water evoking a haunting beauty that only Cypress trees can.

Awesome just freaking awesome place for camping! The online reservations takes only a second to complete and it's only $25 per night for up to 4 people. The campground is relatively quiet with ample shade. Each campsite comes complete with a picnic bench, fire pit, water, and electricity. Be sure to bring bug spray and you will be fine. Also here is a small story, After sitting by the fire for a few hours, I decided to turn in for the night. About 10 minutes later, I hear this vicious growling sound outside my tent. After yelling who's there a few times, I get the nerve to look. I zip open the door and turn on my flashlight. I found myself staring into the eyes of the biggest raccoon ever. Then I noticed two of his friends. We had a short staring contest which he did win! I quickly zipped up the door and left them alone. So the moral of the story, when camping here don't forget to pick up the dog food. They were fighting over dog food!! Shortly after they had a trash party. That was a true camping experience!! Can't wait to do it again! (Note to self: put up dog food and trash before laying down)

Headed here on a slightly rainy Sunday in March. The place was empty, just how I like it. The trails are hilly and challenging, I would not recommend a novice to come here. Good luck geocaching on your cell phone, there is absolutely no service up here. I guess that is why it would be good for camping. Very long walk, very challenging. If you like hills and crazy looking stairs, this is the place to hike it out.

Beautiful state park, easily accessible from basically anywhere in Memphis. On these sunny spring days, there are a LOT of people on the trails. Be aware that many doggie hikers are not on leash and plan accordingly for your own pup. I don't know if it's officially a no-leash zone, but lots of people do it -- so be ready. I like the Woodland Trail, which is about 3 miles and starts right off of the lot past the visitor's center (not IN the visitor's center lot, but on down the road just a little bit). There's a nice stream, some old-growth forest with deciduous trees (so not as much shade right now coming out of winter, and some steep staircases/rickety bridges/stepping stone paths across creeks. Even when I go with my three year-old, who can't walk very far, we end up finding some nice nature to explore!

Very nice hike. Went here on a Saturday morning not knowing what to expect. Hilly, woodsy trail all throughout, very peaceful. Took the 3 mile loop, and the weather was really mild and great for June. Will definitely be coming back!

I went with my family to this park. We rented a canoe and spent the day on the lake. The canoe was $7 an hour which was pretty resonable. We saw some beautiful wildlife and overall had a good experience.

This is such a nice park. There are several trail heads and some terrain that is very unMemphis-like. Great trails for hiking/running.

I love this park. Beautiful scenery. Quiet. Awesome Trails. Bathhouse could use updating though. But overall, I really really enjoy camping here.

My wife and I have just returned from a full week of camping here and we had a wonderful time. The facilities were decent, the hiking was challenging and the area is Rustic and friendly.

Gorgeous place to go for hiking or camping. They have quite a few trails that are dog friendly (as long as the pups remain on a leash), and they vary from being tough with inclines, or flatter. There are also some beautiful small-ish bodies of water where people were just sitting and relaxing, and some even had small boats out on them. Highly recommend this place for a nice outdoorsy walk on a weekend with the family, or even by yourself. Just be sure to check in with the visitor's station so they know you're out there.

Meeman Shelby park is a great park if you're looking for some hilly, woodsy trails to hike. I usually like to take the three mile loop, which takes me around a small stream, up a huge flight of wooden stairs and a giant hill, and back down again. I've spotted all sorts of little critters on my hike. Be sure to wear your bug spray and be wary of going on a really hot day -- once you get out on the trail, there aren't any water fountain stops, ponds, or bathrooms. It's a thickly-wooded trail, all the way. In my opinion, the best time to go, if you're not down with bugs and mega-heat is around September or April. There's also a one mile loop for those who don't want to go that far. You can stop on the banks of the Mississippi to do some fishing or launch your boat, or even have a picnic.

The good: park ranger in office late. The bad: mosquitoes and Google Maps leading us to a super scary back entrance which is one of the reasons we got in late. The really bad: worst bathhouse ever. Only cold water. Broken and mildewed tile. Stopped up drain so I was standing in gross, ankle-deep, public shower water before I realized what was happening. Stall doors were too big; you had to stand on the toilet to get the door open-close. To top it off, the bathhouse was filled with mosquitoes; got bit while showering! We were only there for a quick overnight stop so I can't comment on any other features. Grounds were pretty...understandably damp, but it looked like one little rainstorm would turn the whole place into a big mudpit. Not the campground for me.

I found this park around the time I decided to try training for a triathlon. The same same triathlon I never completed, but that is besides the point. What is so great about this park is the fact that it is only about 20 minutes outside of Memphis, but when you get there, you feel like you are waaaay out in the country. I like the accessibility of this. It is a great place to road bike, and a highlight of this is Jackson's Hill. Being that Memphis is so flat, hills are rare, and this is one of the best ones that are available for training. You can also ride all the way down for some nice views of the river, and depending on the time of the year, you can see some sweet flooding. This park also has nice camping, cabin rentals, hiking, and frisbee golf. An all and all nice get away from the city and it's problems, and somewhere you can go even for a few hours after work. Good stuff.