Barren River Lake

About Barren River Lake

Located in southern and central Kentucky, Barren River Lake covers more than 10,100 acres and is one of the state's hidden gems. The lake was created by the Louisville Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1964.

Located in the famous Kentucky Caves region, Barren River Lake is one of the most popular destinations for kayaking, canoeing and other outdoor activities. In 1965, Barren County was founded and began buying land around the lake. Many visitors to the lake take advantage of the many activities that the geographical location of the lake offers, such as park - sponsored hikes, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking and much more.

Nature lovers will feel as welcome here as those who like to take part in guided tours. See grazing deer, visit historic buildings, walk along the banks of the Barren River Lake, or simply enjoy an unspoiled Kentucky afternoon. Visitors to the history of horses will also be entertained by the miles of horse paths and stables that offer guided hikes and horse rentals along their paths. The hiking trails offer a variety of paths of varying difficulty, leading to winding tours around the lake. A magnificent lake view stretches out in front of you while you run, kayak, canoe, swim, hike and much more.

Whether you are a beginner or an enthusiastic amateur runner, you will love to live in the gentle waters of this lake and search for treasures under the wide blue sky. The Barren River Lake State Park also houses two geocaches: Life is a Beech and Life's a Bee. With a bag full of goodies, you can go to the beautiful sandy beach by the lake, where you can have a picnic and catch some golden rays, or you can go out to catch a golden ray. The lake is known as one of the highest in the Lake District because it produces the largest perch, so if you like fishing, you are spoilt for choice.

Huge catches were made here, and a recently recorded hybrid bass fetched a whopping 20.5 pounds. If you dream of catching one, bring your fishing rod and patience and head out for a day of fishing at Barren River Lake State Park in Kentucky.

The main purpose of Barren River Lake is to combat flooding. Although the water level in the summer basin is 552 feet above sea level, it is lowered to the level of the winter basin to allow spring rains to fill the reservoir instead of flooding the surrounding land. In spring 2010, the winter basin was lowered by 525 feet, reducing the surface area of the lake by 56 percent.

If sun and fun are your thing, this lake with its beautiful views of the Kentucky River and the Great Smoky Mountains and its beautiful waterfalls is sure to please.