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USDA Forest Service
Daniel Boone
National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391

Phone: 859-745-3100
FAX: 859-744-1568

Lake Activities

If you swim or boat, please be safe!

1) Learn to swim.

2) Wear a life jacket.

3) Learn boat ramp rules.

4) Stay sober.

Cave Run Lake and Laurel River Lake feature a variety of recreation facilities such as campgrounds, marinas, picnic areas, beaches and boat ramps. The Forest Service cooperates with other agencies and private groups to manage and maintain some of the lake facilities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Louisville District, Nashville District) manages the dams and nearby recreation areas.

Cave Run Lake - Cumberland Ranger District

Situated in the rugged, scenic landscape of northeastern Kentucky, Cave Run Lake offers outstanding recreation opportunities. The 8,270-acre lake is located southwest of Morehead. It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Louisville District) for flood control, recreation, and downstream water quality control of the Licking River. The Forest Service is responsible for the development and administration of the recreation facilities.

Overlooking the lake, on KY 801 South, is the Cumberland Ranger Station. Maps, brochures and information are available. Two developed campgrounds, Zilpo and Twin Knobs, offer camping in a natural setting with both tent and recreation vehicle sites. Both campgrounds offer beaches, restrooms with showers, scenic overlooks, trails, and camp stores.

History buffs will enjoy touring the Tater Knob Fire Tower or Clear Creek Iron Furnace.

For boaters, Scott Creek and Longbow Marinas offer boat rentals, groceries, fishing supplies, gas and oil, off-shore moorings, slips, boating accessories, and pump-out stations.

Cave Run is best known for its excellent muskie fishing.

Laurel River Lake - London Ranger District

Laurel River Lake, with its cliff-lined shores and quiet coves, is a favorite destination for thousands of visitors each year. They come to boat, fish, swim, and relax at one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in Kentucky.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District) began construction of this 5,600-acre lake in 1964. Laurel River Lake provides hydroelectric power, safe drinking water, and recreation opportunities. The Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers cooperate in developing public recreation facilities. Today, most of the lake is managed by the Forest Service, London Ranger District, while the Corps of Engineers oversees the operation of Laurel River Dam and the recreation facilities at that site.

The lake provides excellent fishing for black bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. Seven launch ramps provide access to the lake. Two marinas, located at Grove and Holly Bay recreation areas, are open year round. Several developed campgrounds are available.

The quiet bays and backwaters of the lake are good places to view wildlife. The lake has a resident population of giant Canada geese.

Lake Cumberland - London & Stearns Ranger Districts

Lake Cumberland is located in Wayne, Russell, Pulaski, Clinton, McCreary, Laurel, and Whitley Counties on the Cumberland River. At approximately 50,000 acres, the lake provides hydroelectric power, water for domestic and industrial use, flood control, navigation facilities, waterway systems for shipping, and recreation opportunities.

The dam is about 10 miles southwest of Jamestown, Kentucky. This project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the River and Harbor Act of 1946. Construction was designed and supervised by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Nashville District). Completion occurred in 1952. The dam, powerhouse, and lake are operated and supervised by Corps of Engineers personnel under the direction of the District Engineer in Nashville, Tennessee.

In addition to swimming, hiking, hunting, canoeing, skiing, camping, and picnicking, Lake Cumberland is a fisherman’s paradise. Crappie, largemouth bass, bream, catfish, sauger and walleye, rockfish, and white bass are some of the most popular species. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for managing fishing on Kentucky's lakes.

Author: Recreation Staff
Last Updated: April 29, 2011