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 Corps Lakes Gateway > Kentucky > Barren River Lake

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Barren River Lake
11088 Finney Rd
Glasgow, KY 42141-9642
Phone: (270) 646-2055

NOTICE: Many states are discouraging or banning movement of firewood to control spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Not bringing wood from home to your campsite and not taking unused wood you procure while camping home with you is recommended -- required in some states. Check the following website to learn more: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/

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See the Barren River Lake website for additional information. Primary recreational opportunities are listed below.

Directions & Lake History/Factoid
Directions: From Louisville, 95 miles south on I-65 to Cave City, 10 miles south on KY 90 to Glasgow, 5 miles south on US 31 to KY 252, 9 miles south to dam.

Lake History

Factoid: The Barren River was the historic route for westward traveling pioneers. They would travel down the Barren River to a trading post at present-day Bowling Green, Kentucky, where their journey would proceed by land. Barren River was named by early pioneers for its treeless fields. The open fields were actually created by Native Americans, who burned sections of woodland, forming grasslands to attract grazing buffalo. There are many historical features and sites to visit and explore. In the 1960s the dam was built for area flood control covering 20,150 acres at maximum flood control pool. When not needed to store flood waters, the Army Corps of Engineers manages more than 10,000 acres for wildlife management and recreation. Come and visit the warm season native grass fields and view what historically was the landscape in Allen and Barren County. Barren River Lake has four campgrounds offering casual camping, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, biking, birding, or just sitting back and enjoying the scenery.

Age & Disability Discount Passes

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers COVID-19 Recreation Services Status
Please see the list below for USACE managed areas. Other parks run by state or private marinas are not included in the list below. Please contact the state or private marina for additional information. Updated: 3/28/23

Open    Partially Open    Closed    Status Unknown

14 Recreation areas at Barren River Lake

 Recreation Area Column Header Image Area Status  Campsite Column Header Image  Lodging Column Header Image  Showers Column Header Image  Ramps Column Header Image  Marina Column Header Image  Fishing Column Header Image  Picnic Column Header Image  Playground Column Header Image  Swimming Column Header Image  Trails Column Header Image
Austin       X            
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Baileys Point  Link ro reservation at rec.gov   $   X     A GS X H
Barren River Lake State Park E X X X X   A GS X   M
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Beaver Creek   $         A   X  
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Browns Ford                  
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Overlook             GS      
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Peninsula   $                  
Peninsula Marina         X          
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Port Oliver Recreation Area   $         P A GS X    
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Quarry Road   $           P A GS X H
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area Tailwater  Link ro reservation at rec.gov   $   X     A GS X   H
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area The Narrows  Link ro reservation at rec.gov   $   X     A GS X H
The Narrows Marina         X          
Walnut Creek E N     X X          
 Indicates Corps Managed Rec Area   Corps Managed Managed by Others in Italics $ Corps Fees Collected
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XExists at lake
Camping
EElectric Campsites
NNon-electric Campsites
TPull Through Campsites
GGroup Camping
DDump Station
Fishing
CFish Cleaning Stations
DFishing Docks
PFishing Piers
Picnic
APicnic Area
GGroup Picnic
GSGroup Picnic Shelter
Swimming
BEBeach
PSwimming Pool
Trails
BBike Trails
QEquestrian Trails
HHiking Trails
IHiking Trails - Interpretive
ROff Road Vehicle Trails
FFitness Trails
WWater Trails
SSnow Mobile Trails
CCCross Country Skiing Trails
MMultipurpose Trails


The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army of the Web site or the information, products or services contained therein.

 

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