As its name so strongly suggests, Lake Chickamauga was named for a tribe of Indians that broke away from the main body of the Cherokee Nation in the 1700s. The tribe lived in villages nearly a mile long on North Chickamauga Creek, which flows into the main river body just below Chickamauga Dam. Harrison Bay State Park is located on the site of the last three villages of this tribe, last ruled by Chiefton Joe Vann.

The lake is situated north of Chattanooga and is fed; in part, by the Hiwassee River. Above that is Watts Bar Lake. The Chickamauga Dam was completed after four years of construction in 1940, and shortly upon completion the Chattanooga Reservoir was filled to create Chickamauga Lake. After its waters skim thorough Chickamauga Dam, it flows downstream to Chattanooga and forms Nickajack Lake. From there it winds its way down the Tennessee River and ultimately to the Ohio River.

Chickamauga Lake offers 810 miles of magnificent shoreline teeming with wildlife. The site has the largest winter flock of Sandhill Cranes in the southeastern United States outside of Florida. For the recreational bird watcher, there are large numbers of Great Blue Herons that migrate here in winter. Watching these majestic birds whose presence both in flight and along the edge of the water is nothing short of breathtaking. The number of Bald Eagles around the lake is among the top five in population in the state of Tennessee. A large array of waterfowl glide across the waters as well, ranging from Canadian geese and swans to ducks such as mallards, gadwall, and hooded merganser.

 For the fisherman, the lake is teeming with game fish such as white crappie, bluegill, white bass, catfish, sauger and largemouth bass.

Numerous boat ramps and plenty of canoe access permit easy entry to the water for exploration.