Lake Barkley State park Campground in Kentucky on map
Lake Barkley State Park Campground
You will be surprised at the beauty of this hilly park adjacent to Lake Barkley.
I remember the first time I saw this I state park. The beauty was surprising. The richly forested wooded hills enveloped me as I rolled off the highway into the park. Sun dappled through the trees. Birds were chirping, and there was a slight hint of cool in the early-summer air. Being a campground aficionado, I checked it out first. The park people had utilized the natural beauty and placed the campground amid this hilly forest on a steep bluff well above Lake Barkley. I vowed I would return one day to overnight. I then checked out the rest of the park, pronounced it a future must-see, and went on my way.
Lake Barkley State Park is a few miles east of the heart of Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area, on the Little River Arm of Lake Barkley. The park's facilities are situated in a mix of high ridges, steep hollows, and lakeside flats. And there are many facilities—a lodge, cottages, a fitness center, a golf course, even an airport! To the park's credit, most of the facilities are tastefully integrated into the attractive landscape. The lake is the star of the show. So campers can better enjoy it, the park offers a marina, a large boat ramp, and a swim beach. Before you imagine an overdeveloped state park, be aware that the park has a trail system that allows you to explore the hills and hollows of a nature preserve in the park's interior. The park is more oriented toward developed recreation, however. Still, if you're looking for a developed resort state park to go along with your tent site, this is a good one.
The setting for the campground is unarguably pretty, but it has some drawbacks. While each campsite has a paved
pull-in for your car, there are no designated tent spots. Therefore, the hilly terrain is sometimes so uneven that you will have a hard time pitching your tent and getting a good night's sleep. Many sites are also a bit close to one another. Some sites are level, but be prepared to look hard for a good site.
The campground loop cruises along the top of the bluffline at first, with some sites overlooking Lake Barkley. The loop road then passes a bathhouse and playground before diving steeply into a hollow where shade is so thick that moss carpets the ground in places. There are some level sites down in the hollow. All campsites back up against the woods because the center of the loop is thickly forested. The loop climbs again
past sloped sites before returning to the campground beginning. There is a second bathhouse along the loop.
Campers will find the facilities here first-rate. A foot trail, the Wagon Wheel Trail, leads down to the park's fine swim beach on Lake Barkley. A basketball court and picnic area are also lakeside. The park lodge, where you can eat well, is located farther down the shoreline, as are a fitness center and spa, a tennis court, and the park marina. If you're boatless, you can rent anything from a johnboat to a ski boat to a pontoon boat to a Jet Ski. Other pursuits include golfing and trap shooting. In addition to the Wagon Wheel Trail, other hiking paths include the Wilderness Trail, which traverses the heart of the wilderness preserve. The park has 9 miles of trails in all, 7 of which are open to mountain bikes. Park programs are held on summer weekends for adults and children.
After my return visit and spending some time in the park, I was surprised at how this place appealed to such a wide range of visitors, from those who want
to stay in the lodge and go to the spa to those who want to pitch their tents in the woods and hike some trails. So instead of attracting just one type of visitor, the park can appeal to those who like a little bit of both worlds.
Getting to Lake Barkley State Park Campground
From Exit 65 on 1-24, take US 68/KY 80 west beyond Cadiz to reach KY 1489. Turn right on KY 1489, and follow it 2 miles to the park. Keep forward past the right turn to the golf course to reach the balance of the facilities.
GPS COORDINATES N36° 51.261' W87° 54.931'
Key Information about Lake Barkley State Park Campground
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 790, Cadiz, KY 42211
OPERATED BY: Kentucky State Parks
CONTACT: 270-924-1131, parks . ky . gov ; reservations: 877-444-6777, reserveamerica . com
OPEN: April-October
SITES: 79
SITE AMENITIES: Picnic table, fire ring; most sites have water and electricity
ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served; no reservations
REGISTRATION: Ranger will come by and register you
FACILITIES: Hot showers, flush toilets, laundry, phone
PARKING: At campsites only
FEE: $12-$16 nonelectric, $15-$21 electric and water
ELEVATION: 450 feet
RESTRICTIONS in Lake Barkley State Park Campground
¦ Pets: On leash at all times
¦ Fires: In fire rings only
¦ Alcohol: Prohibited
¦ Vehicles: Must display a car pass or visitor pass on vehicle
¦ Other: 14-day stay limit
