When the temperatures rise, it’s time to go swimming at one of the many beautiful lakes in Kentucky. And locals know that the best places to do so are often in the many lakes that fill our landscape. We have no shortage of water in the Bluegrass State and the clearest lakes in Kentucky are calling your name on a hot, sunny day. Of course the clarity and quality of the water in any lake or body of water is very much dependent on the weather and time of year, but in the peak of summer, you’ll often find the clearest water in Kentucky at these five spots.
- Laurel River Lake - west of Corbin
Google/Brennanbooth89 Laurel River Lake, Kentucky, USA
Google/Shilah Davis This crystal clear gem within Daniel Boone National Forest is quite possibly the clearest lake in Kentucky. It’s not far from Corbin and there are many other things to do in the area. Camp nearby, visit for the day and rent a boat, or relax on the sandy beach and take in the view. Plan a visit and learn more in our previous article.
- Dale Hollow Lake - near Burkeville
Facebook/Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Dale Hollow Lake, United States
Facebook/Wolf River Resort & Marina Dale Hollow is a beautiful lake that we share with Tennessee. Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is on the Kentucky side and is a great place to call home base during a visit. It’s a large lake with great hiking trails, swimming opportunities, boating, fishing, and more. And the water is just gorgeous. See more of this favorite lake in Kentucky in our previous article.
- FRP-LaGrange Quarry - Falling Rock Park - LaGrange
Facebook/FRP-LaGrange Quarry - Falling Rock Park FRP LaGrange Quarry “The Quarry”, 2201 Fendley Mill Rd, La Grange, KY 40031, USA
Facebook/FRP-LaGrange Quarry - Falling Rock Park This body of water may not be a lake, but its clear water earns it a spot on this list. Falling Rock Park in LaGrange is a popular swimming hole in Kentucky and for good reason. It’s an adults only paradise in the summertime where you can float the day away in the perfectly clear, cool waters. Before visiting, be sure to read all about FRP in our previous article.
- Cave Run Lake - south of Morehead
Facebook/Cave Run Lake Morehead, KY 40351, USA
Naturevine Photography, Contributed Photo Cave Run Lake is one of the most scenic lakes in Kentucky. It’s fairly close to Lexington and gives those in Eastern Kentucky a chance to spend time on the water. Surrounded by gentle mountains, this area is an outdoor haven. Stay at Zilpo Campground, relax on the beach, kayak, and more on the lovely waters of Cave Run Lake. See more of this picturesque lake in our previous article.
- Lake Cumberland - between Corbin and Bowling Green
Facebook/Lake Cumberland State Resort Park Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, USA
Facebook/Safe Harbor Jamestown Lake Cumberland is perhaps the most popular lake in Kentucky. It’s massive, so there is plenty of room to spread out, or you can gather at one of the favorite marinas. If you want the true Cumberland experience, rent a houseboat! The clarity of the water varies throughout the year and in different parts of the lake, but it remains one of the clearest in the state. Take a closer look at Lake Cumberland in our previous article.
How do you spend your summer in Kentucky? If you love swimming and want to find the clearest lakes in Kentucky, try one of these five fabulous spots. Some are so clear you may just think you’re in a different region altogether! Did your favorite swimming spot in Kentucky make the list? Let us know and feel free to share your favorite lake to cool off in Kentucky!
Google/Brennanbooth89
Laurel River Lake, Kentucky, USA
Google/Shilah Davis
This crystal clear gem within Daniel Boone National Forest is quite possibly the clearest lake in Kentucky. It’s not far from Corbin and there are many other things to do in the area. Camp nearby, visit for the day and rent a boat, or relax on the sandy beach and take in the view. Plan a visit and learn more in our previous article.
Facebook/Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
Dale Hollow Lake, United States
Facebook/Wolf River Resort & Marina
Dale Hollow is a beautiful lake that we share with Tennessee. Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is on the Kentucky side and is a great place to call home base during a visit. It’s a large lake with great hiking trails, swimming opportunities, boating, fishing, and more. And the water is just gorgeous. See more of this favorite lake in Kentucky in our previous article.
Facebook/FRP-LaGrange Quarry - Falling Rock Park
FRP LaGrange Quarry “The Quarry”, 2201 Fendley Mill Rd, La Grange, KY 40031, USA
This body of water may not be a lake, but its clear water earns it a spot on this list. Falling Rock Park in LaGrange is a popular swimming hole in Kentucky and for good reason. It’s an adults only paradise in the summertime where you can float the day away in the perfectly clear, cool waters. Before visiting, be sure to read all about FRP in our previous article.
Facebook/Cave Run Lake
Morehead, KY 40351, USA
Naturevine Photography, Contributed Photo
Cave Run Lake is one of the most scenic lakes in Kentucky. It’s fairly close to Lexington and gives those in Eastern Kentucky a chance to spend time on the water. Surrounded by gentle mountains, this area is an outdoor haven. Stay at Zilpo Campground, relax on the beach, kayak, and more on the lovely waters of Cave Run Lake. See more of this picturesque lake in our previous article.
Facebook/Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, USA
Facebook/Safe Harbor Jamestown
Lake Cumberland is perhaps the most popular lake in Kentucky. It’s massive, so there is plenty of room to spread out, or you can gather at one of the favorite marinas. If you want the true Cumberland experience, rent a houseboat! The clarity of the water varies throughout the year and in different parts of the lake, but it remains one of the clearest in the state. Take a closer look at Lake Cumberland in our previous article.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Lakes in Kentucky May 15, 2022 Sarah M. What are some other beautiful lakes in Kentucky to visit during the summer? One of our favorite lakes in Kentucky us a total underrated treasure, due, in part, to its very unfortunate and not-at-all accurate name. Contrary to its name, Barren River Lake is a beautiful oasis in the Bluegrass that’s just about perfect in the summer! Its main feature, the eponymous Barren River Lake, is a man-made lake created in 1960 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It covers approximately 10,000 acres and has 141 miles of shoreline. Barren River Lake State Resort Park is a lush oasis of verdant foliage, rolling blue hills, pristine waters, and an abundance of wildlife. In terms of wildlife, Barren River State Resort Park offers year-round birding opportunities for nature enthusiasts. Flycatchers, thrushes, and warblers are common in the fall and spring, and bald eagles can be spotted October through March. While you can participate in all sorts of outdoor recreation at Barren Lake, we are partial to that of the water variety. Because in terms of the lake – it really doesn’t get much better than this. The park is home to a full-service marina, which offers boat rentals for those looking to spend a day on the water! There’s also camping at this Kentucky State Park, too, which makes for the ultimate summer getaway in the Bluegrass, if you ask us! What are some the cleanest lakes and beaches for swimming in Kentucky? The beautiful Bluegrass isn’t just all blue-tinged fields and pastures; our lakes are quite pristine and striking cobalt blue, too! Nowhere is this more apparent than Laurel River Lake. With water so clear you can see all the way to the bottom, and sand so soft it rivals a Caribbean beach, Laurel River Lake’s Spillway Beach is one of the best summertime spots in Kentucky. The beach at Laurel River Lake is maintained by the Corps of Engineers at the spillway of the Laurel River Dam, and is an excellent place to spend a lazy summer afternoon in the Bluegrass State. White sandy shores and cerulean-blue waters define this beautiful little locale, a perennial favorite for Kentuckians! Another breathtakingly beautiful beach in Kentucky is found at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, one of the most underrated treasures in the state. This Kentucky State Park is 2,871 acres of pure Bluegrass beauty, offering an abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation of both the land and water varieties. The park’s crown jewel is the 1,100-acre Dewey Lake, a cerulean pool with some of the bluest water in the state. You’ll be dazzled by its azure waters, which make Jenny Wiley State Park truly stand out — even in a state that’s known for its abundance of rivers and lakes.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Lakes in Kentucky
May 15, 2022
Sarah M.
What are some other beautiful lakes in Kentucky to visit during the summer? One of our favorite lakes in Kentucky us a total underrated treasure, due, in part, to its very unfortunate and not-at-all accurate name. Contrary to its name, Barren River Lake is a beautiful oasis in the Bluegrass that’s just about perfect in the summer! Its main feature, the eponymous Barren River Lake, is a man-made lake created in 1960 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It covers approximately 10,000 acres and has 141 miles of shoreline. Barren River Lake State Resort Park is a lush oasis of verdant foliage, rolling blue hills, pristine waters, and an abundance of wildlife. In terms of wildlife, Barren River State Resort Park offers year-round birding opportunities for nature enthusiasts. Flycatchers, thrushes, and warblers are common in the fall and spring, and bald eagles can be spotted October through March. While you can participate in all sorts of outdoor recreation at Barren Lake, we are partial to that of the water variety. Because in terms of the lake – it really doesn’t get much better than this. The park is home to a full-service marina, which offers boat rentals for those looking to spend a day on the water! There’s also camping at this Kentucky State Park, too, which makes for the ultimate summer getaway in the Bluegrass, if you ask us! What are some the cleanest lakes and beaches for swimming in Kentucky? The beautiful Bluegrass isn’t just all blue-tinged fields and pastures; our lakes are quite pristine and striking cobalt blue, too! Nowhere is this more apparent than Laurel River Lake. With water so clear you can see all the way to the bottom, and sand so soft it rivals a Caribbean beach, Laurel River Lake’s Spillway Beach is one of the best summertime spots in Kentucky. The beach at Laurel River Lake is maintained by the Corps of Engineers at the spillway of the Laurel River Dam, and is an excellent place to spend a lazy summer afternoon in the Bluegrass State. White sandy shores and cerulean-blue waters define this beautiful little locale, a perennial favorite for Kentuckians! Another breathtakingly beautiful beach in Kentucky is found at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, one of the most underrated treasures in the state. This Kentucky State Park is 2,871 acres of pure Bluegrass beauty, offering an abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation of both the land and water varieties. The park’s crown jewel is the 1,100-acre Dewey Lake, a cerulean pool with some of the bluest water in the state. You’ll be dazzled by its azure waters, which make Jenny Wiley State Park truly stand out — even in a state that’s known for its abundance of rivers and lakes.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
One of our favorite lakes in Kentucky us a total underrated treasure, due, in part, to its very unfortunate and not-at-all accurate name. Contrary to its name, Barren River Lake is a beautiful oasis in the Bluegrass that’s just about perfect in the summer! Its main feature, the eponymous Barren River Lake, is a man-made lake created in 1960 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It covers approximately 10,000 acres and has 141 miles of shoreline. Barren River Lake State Resort Park is a lush oasis of verdant foliage, rolling blue hills, pristine waters, and an abundance of wildlife. In terms of wildlife, Barren River State Resort Park offers year-round birding opportunities for nature enthusiasts. Flycatchers, thrushes, and warblers are common in the fall and spring, and bald eagles can be spotted October through March. While you can participate in all sorts of outdoor recreation at Barren Lake, we are partial to that of the water variety. Because in terms of the lake – it really doesn’t get much better than this. The park is home to a full-service marina, which offers boat rentals for those looking to spend a day on the water! There’s also camping at this Kentucky State Park, too, which makes for the ultimate summer getaway in the Bluegrass, if you ask us!
What are some the cleanest lakes and beaches for swimming in Kentucky?
The beautiful Bluegrass isn’t just all blue-tinged fields and pastures; our lakes are quite pristine and striking cobalt blue, too! Nowhere is this more apparent than Laurel River Lake. With water so clear you can see all the way to the bottom, and sand so soft it rivals a Caribbean beach, Laurel River Lake’s Spillway Beach is one of the best summertime spots in Kentucky. The beach at Laurel River Lake is maintained by the Corps of Engineers at the spillway of the Laurel River Dam, and is an excellent place to spend a lazy summer afternoon in the Bluegrass State. White sandy shores and cerulean-blue waters define this beautiful little locale, a perennial favorite for Kentuckians! Another breathtakingly beautiful beach in Kentucky is found at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, one of the most underrated treasures in the state. This Kentucky State Park is 2,871 acres of pure Bluegrass beauty, offering an abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation of both the land and water varieties. The park’s crown jewel is the 1,100-acre Dewey Lake, a cerulean pool with some of the bluest water in the state. You’ll be dazzled by its azure waters, which make Jenny Wiley State Park truly stand out — even in a state that’s known for its abundance of rivers and lakes.
