Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area
238 Visitor Center Dr.
Golden Pond, KY 42211
800-525-7077 or 270-924-2000
As part of America's great outdoors since 1963, Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area manages over 170,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and open lands on a peninsula between Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Western Kentucky and Tennessee. The family friendly recreation area offers one of the largest blocks of undeveloped forest in the eastern United States.
With 300 miles of natural shoreline, lake access provides idyllic settings for a variety of activities.
Activities at Land Between The Lakes
- Birding
- Boating
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Camping
- Eagle Van and Boat Tours
- Environmental Education
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Hiking & Biking Trails
- Horse Riding/Equestrian Trails
- Hunting
- Off Highway Vehicle Riding Trails
- Picnicking
- Scenic Drives and Walks
- Swimming
- Target Shooting
- Wildlife Watching
Attractions and Facilities at Land Between The Lakes
- Accessible Facilities- In order to provide a fun and safe recreation experience for all visitors, Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area has accessible features at each of the large developed campgrounds, visitor center and day-use facilities.
- Brandon Spring Group Center- Learn, grow and enjoy the time with your group at this overnight educational group facility.
- Campgrounds- Camp in your tent, RV, or cabin in one of our 4 developed campgrounds: Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry, Piney, and Wranglers. Or get adventuresome and pick up a back country camping permit. Wranglers Campground is open year round and has room for your horses too!
- Elk and Bison Prairie- Seek elk, bison, birds, flowers and a variety of native flora and fauna on this 3.5 mile paved loop.
- Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory- Enjoy planetarium and laser light shows as well as star parties as you learn about our solar system and the universe.
- Homeplace 1850s Working Farm and Living History Museum- Step into the past and learn how farm families lived in the area in the 1850s on a working farm. Learn about 1850s heritage animal breeds, heirloom plants and crops, crafting techniques, music, and more.
- Iron Industry Ruins- Learn about the iron industry in the "Between the Rivers" region of Kentucky and Tennessee.
- Nature Station- Get up close with the natural world, ask questions about wildlife, and learn about the environment. Ask the Nature Station naturalists about your wildlife viewing and birding questions, or see some of the animals at the Nature Station.
- Nature Watch Areas- See native wildlife up close. Stop by the Nature Station and talk with our naturalists about any questions you might have.
- Turkey Bay Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area- Enjoy 100 miles of trails for a variety of OHV riding skill levels.
Calendar of Events
Find out what's going on this week at Land Between The Lakes. See theCalendar of Events page for more information on special events and daily activities.
Nearby Communities
Some of the nearby activities and amenities include golfing, dining, shopping and lodging in our neighboring communities and nearby state resort parks.
History
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy created Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. Land Between The Lakes was formed to demonstrate how an area with limited timber, agricultural, and industrial resources could be converted into a recreation asset that would stimulate economic growth in the region. Land Between The Lakes is the country's only such national demonstration area.
The Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers flow very close to each other in the northwestern corner of Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, separated by a rather narrow and mostly low ridge. This area where they are only a few miles apart had been known as "Between the Rivers" since at least the 1830s or 1840s. After the Cumberland River was impounded in the 1960s and a canal was constructed between the two lakes, Land Between The Lakes became the largest inland peninsula in the United States.
Land Between The Lakes became a reality in 1964 when Rushing Creek Campground, their first public recreation facility, opened. Today, Land Between The Lakes is the focal point of a $600 million tourism industry.
Come and see why Land Between The Lakes has remained one of the most visited attractions in Kentucky and Tennessee. Check out their website, where you can find out times of operation, rates for various events, and learn more about the recreation area as a whole. See you there soon.
