Land Between the Lakes

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is one of the largest blocks of undeveloped forest and public land in the eastern United States, a vast peninsula of some 170,000 acres of woods, fields, shoreline and waters stretching between two great lakes — Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley — across western Kentucky and into Tennessee. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, this expansive recreation area is a haven for outdoor adventure and wildlife in the heart of the region.

Created when the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers were dammed to form the two huge lakes, the ‘Land Between the Lakes’ offers more than 300 miles of shoreline, hundreds of miles of trails, abundant camping, and a wealth of activities from boating and fishing to hiking, biking and horseback riding. It is especially renowned for wildlife: a herd of bison and elk roams a large enclosure at the Elk & Bison Prairie, and the forests teem with deer, turkey and birds. With its vast forest, twin lakes, abundant wildlife and endless recreation, Land Between the Lakes is a treasured outdoor playground of the region.

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area offers an enormous range of outdoor recreation — boating, fishing, swimming and paddling on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, hundreds of miles of hiking, mountain-biking and horseback trails, abundant camping (developed and backcountry), the Elk & Bison Prairie wildlife drive, the Woodlands Nature Station, the Homeplace 1850s living-history farm, an observatory and planetarium, hunting in season, and birding. With 170,000 acres of forest, 300 miles of shoreline and endless activities, it is a premier outdoor playground for families, anglers, boaters and adventurers.

Spring and fall are ideal — spring for wildflowers, wildlife and mild weather, and fall for spectacular color across the vast forest and active wildlife. Summer is the busy peak for boating, swimming and camping on the lakes, and winter offers quiet woods, bald eagles along the lakes, and solitude. The lakes, forests, trails and wildlife reward visits year-round; spring and fall wildlife (including the bison and elk) and fall color are highlights, with summer busiest for the lake recreation across this vast area.

Land Between the Lakes was created in the 1960s when the Tennessee Valley Authority dammed the Tennessee River (forming Kentucky Lake) and the Cumberland River (forming Lake Barkley), leaving the land between as a federal recreation and conservation area — a process that controversially displaced the small communities that had lived there. Originally managed by the TVA and now by the U.S. Forest Service, the area preserves a vast forest and twin-lake landscape. The Homeplace and other sites interpret the region’s rural heritage and the history of the land between the rivers.

Land Between the Lakes occupies a long peninsula of rolling, forested hills in western Kentucky and Tennessee, between the broad valleys of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers — now flooded as Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley by TVA dams. The underlying landscape of low hills, ridges and embayed shorelines reflects the region’s sedimentary rock and the drowning of the river valleys by the reservoirs. The vast lakes, the long shoreline and the wooded hills between them define the geography of this great recreation area.

Land Between the Lakes is renowned for wildlife — a herd of bison and elk roams the large Elk & Bison Prairie enclosure, recalling the animals that once lived here, while the vast forests host white-tailed deer, wild turkey, foxes, bobcats and a rich community of birds, and the lakes draw bald eagles (especially in winter), ospreys and waterfowl. The Woodlands Nature Station showcases native wildlife. The enormous block of forest and the twin lakes make Land Between the Lakes an outstanding place for wildlife watching and birding in the region.

Land Between the Lakes protects one of the largest blocks of undeveloped forest in the eastern United States, a vast 170,000-acre expanse of oak-hickory forest, fields, wetlands and 300 miles of lake shoreline between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. This large, contiguous forest and the twin lakes support diverse wildlife and habitats, including restored bison and elk and important bald-eagle wintering areas, and provide a vital refuge in a developed region. Protecting the vast forest, the shorelines and the lakes’ water quality sustains both the ecology and the recreational value of this great natural area.

Land Between the Lakes, the vast forested peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, holds a cherished place as one of the great outdoor playgrounds and conservation areas of the region, even as it carries the poignant history of the communities displaced for its creation. Its restored bison and elk, its living-history Homeplace, its enormous forest and twin lakes have made it a beloved destination for generations of families, boaters and outdoor lovers, embodying both the natural abundance and the layered history of the land between the rivers.

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area lies between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in western Kentucky and northern Tennessee, reached via US-68 and the Trace (State Route 453), with gateways near Grand Rivers and Cadiz, Kentucky, and Dover, Tennessee. The area is free to enter, though some attractions (Elk & Bison Prairie, Homeplace, Nature Station, planetarium) and camping charge fees. It offers campgrounds, trailheads, lake access, and visitor facilities across its vast expanse. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Land Between the Lakes) for fees, facilities and conditions before visiting.

The U.S. Forest Service manages Land Between the Lakes to protect its vast forest, the twin lakes’ shorelines, and abundant wildlife, including the restored bison and elk, while providing recreation. Visitors help by staying on designated trails and roads, respecting wildlife (giving the bison and elk space and never approaching them), protecting water quality (clean, drain and dry boats), following camping, hunting and fishing rules, packing out everything, and preventing wildfire. Protecting the great forest, the shorelines and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the recreation of this vast natural area.

Across Land Between the Lakes’ vast area, the great lakes can turn rough and dangerous in wind — wear a life jacket when boating or paddling, watch the weather, and respect the cold water and boat traffic. Give bison and elk a wide berth, never approaching these large, dangerous wild animals (view them from your vehicle at the prairie). On the trails, carry water and a map (the area is large and remote in places), be mindful of ticks and hunting seasons (wear blaze orange when appropriate), and store food. Respect the wildlife and the waters.

The area is free to enter; some attractions and camping charge fees. Stay on designated trails and roads, and view bison and elk only from your vehicle at the Elk & Bison Prairie — never approach or feed them. Follow boating and fishing regulations and licensing, and clean, drain and dry boats. Camp only in designated or permitted areas; follow hunting seasons and rules. Pets must be leashed. Pack out all trash; prevent wildfire. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Land Between the Lakes) for fees, permits and current rules before visiting.

The towns of Grand Rivers and Cadiz, Kentucky, and Dover, Tennessee, serve the area, with Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, Kentucky Dam Village and Lake Barkley state resort parks, Fort Donelson National Battlefield, and the broader lakes region within reach. The cities of Paducah, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee, lie within reach. The twin lakes and vast forest define the region. Land Between the Lakes anchors a major outdoor-recreation region of lakes, forest and wildlife in western Kentucky and northern Tennessee.

Explore the vast area’s highlights — drive the Elk & Bison Prairie loop to see the herds (from your vehicle), visit the Woodlands Nature Station and the 1850s Homeplace farm, and boat, fish or swim on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Hike, bike or ride the hundreds of miles of trails, camp across the forest, and watch for bald eagles in winter. Give the bison and elk space, wear a life jacket on the big lakes, clean your boat to protect the water, and allow plenty of time for this enormous recreation area.