Bumpus Mills on Lake Barkley

Bumpus Mills is located on scenic Lake Barkley, amid wooded, gently rolling landscapes. This offers several specific focal points for planning your trip: the lake, boating options at Bumpus Marina, camping, and local history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bumpus Mills, you can consider which of these connections matters for your stay.

Lake Barkley and Bumpus Marina

Bumpus Marina has a boat ramp that is open year-round. The fee to launch a boat using the ramp is $5. The marina also offers a basic camping area by the lake that is available year-round. The stated availability start date for pontoon boat rentals is April 9, 2026. If you’re weighing bringing your own boat against renting one, the ramp fee and the current rental availability for your visit are separate planning considerations; check the availability of pontoon boats for your travel dates. April 9, 2026 was the stated start date for pontoon boat rentals; the date alone does not indicate availability on your travel dates.

Reservations at Bumpus Mills Campground

All sites at Bumpus Mills Campground can be reserved. You can make reservations online through Recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777; the campground’s phone number is also listed as 931-232-8831. The two numbers serve different purposes: 1-877-444-6777 is the listed reservation contact, and 931-232-8831 is the campground’s phone number. If you include this campground in your trip plans, you can arrange your reservation in advance online or by phone.

Landscape and getting oriented

The wooded, gently rolling landscape and Lake Barkley are the natural highlights of Bumpus Mills. Another named place in the vicinity is Unit 1 of the Barkley Wildlife Management Area. It can be reached via Bumpus Mills Road and River Road. Lake Barkley is a defining feature of the town’s setting, while Unit 1 is a separate point of interest in the area. The two named roads provide specific directions if you’d like to include this area in your plans.

Local history and the iron industry

Bellwood Furnace (40SW210) is one of the Western Highland Rim sites that include historic buildings associated with the iron industry, and is part of the multiple-property submission “Iron Industry on the Western Highland Rim 1790s–1920s.” The title places the iron industry connection within a period from the 1790s to the 1920s. For travelers interested in the area’s history, Bellwood Furnace offers a specific connection to the region’s industrial history.

Another clue lies in the town’s name: Bumpus Mills was named in honor of its first postmaster, Andrew Jackson Bumpus. The story behind the name draws attention to an individual, while Bellwood Furnace represents the broader regional context of the iron industry. Together, these historical connections offer another perspective on Bumpus Mills alongside the lake and landscape.

For the broader travel overview: Stewart County.