Welcome to

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE

General Information

800-525-7077

Emergencies

Dial 911

Report a Violation

877-861-2457

The current fire danger Level at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is:

Low

Fireworks are prohibited in LBL

All information on the Alerts webpage is up-to-date as of Jan 19, 2024.

Campgrounds & Developed Camping Areas

  • • Energy Lake Campground and Wranglers Campground are open
  • • Hillman Ferry Campground and Piney Campground will be closed for the season November 1, 2024 - February 28, 2025

Facilities

  • • Golden Pond Planetarium and the Elk and Bison Prairie are open.
  • • Woodlands Nature Station and Homeplace Working Farm will be closed for the season November 1, 2024 - February 28, 2025.

Hunting

  • • Limited areas open December 1 - January 20 to archery deer hunting. Map | News Release
  • • Check the Hunting page for the latest hunting season information.
  • • It is unlawful to discharge a weapon capable of taking a human life within 150 yards of a campsite, recreation site, or occupied area, or across, or on a National Forest System Road.
  • • Night hunting for coyotes is prohibited on Land Between the Lakes.
  • • No hog hunting. It is illegal to chase, hunt, transport, or release feral hogs on Land Between the Lakes. Those caught are subject to citation. Learn more on our Feral Hog information webpage.

Prescribed Burn Information

  • • Prescribed fire is a fire management tool that allows us to reintroduce the benefits of fire to the landscape in a safe and controlled way. Forest land managers prescribe fire to forest areas as a way to enhance wildlife habitat, reduce forest fuels (brush, dry leaves, and shrubs), decrease risk of catastrophic wildfire, and improve the general health of the recreation area.

Roads

  • • Road 214 Temporary closure between roads 215 and 372 due to a failing culvert.
  • • Due to safety concerns the bridge on FS Road 126, Davenport Bay, is temporarily closed. Visitors can access Guy Lady and Sardis Cemeteries from FS roads 124 and 125.
  • • Road 172-C is temporarily closed to Jones Creek boat ramp. Downs 2 Cemetery can be accessed on road 351.
  • • Email lblinfo@usda.gov to report road issues or damage. You can also message us on Facebook @LBLNatlRecArea.

Special-Use Events

  • • Special Use Events have permits that allow them to host their activities and events in Land Between the Lakes. For more information on Special Use Permits click here!

Trails

  • • Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle Area is OPEN

    • North/South Trail

  • • Portions of the North/South Trail are closed due to tornado damage and ongoing recovery and timber salvage efforts. A detour on the northern end of the route has been established to promote visitor safety around these operations. Approximately 7.9 miles of the North/South Trail and 0.80 miles of the North/South-Ft. Henry Connector Trail on the southern end of the route are closed until further notice between South Welcome Station and FS Roads 221, 222, and 230. Barricades are placed on the trails at these locations. The detour (approx. 6.4 miles) uses portions of the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway and FS Road 221 and provides trail users extra clearance around ongoing and planned tornado recovery and salvage logging operations. Trail users should look for “detour” decals on white posts installed at intersections and follow the white diamonds between posts. The red line on this map represents the trail closures and the yellow line is the detour.
  • • Portions of the North/South Trail are closed due to tornado damage and ongoing recovery and timber salvage efforts.
  • • North/South Trail Detour Map

Weather

Wildlife Refuges

  • • Wildlife Refuges are open March 16, 2023 – October 31, 2023.
  • • From November 1, 2023 through March 15, 2024, seasonal wildlife refuge closures include:
  • • Portions of Duncan Bay, Smith Bay, and Rushing Bay on Kentucky Lake
  • • Fulton Bay and Honker Bay on Lake Barkley Western one-third of Energy Lake; all of Energy Lake and Bards Lake are closed to hunting; eastern two-thirds of Energy Lake and all of Bards Lake remain open to fishing.
  • • Duncan Lake
  • • Long Creek Refuge at the back of Elbow Bay
  • • Hematite Lake and Honker Lake closed to fishing and boating; trails open
  • • Refuge closures provide undisturbed resting and feeding areas for waterfowl, shorebirds, and eagles. Staff at Land Between the Lakes asks for public cooperation with refuge regulations designed to provide needed sanctuary.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - District 1
  • • Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, & Trigg Counties.

Official Website for Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Phone: 800-525-7077

Email: LBLInfo@usda.gov

Golden Pond Visitor Center

238 Visitor Center Drive

Golden Pond, KY 42211

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