Campground

Canal

Barkley Lake
Near Kuttawa, Kentucky

Facilities

A designated swimming beach and a boat ramp help campers enjoy the lake. Picnic pavilions and a playground create a perfect setting for a party or family get-together. For group camping, several sites surrounding the pavilion can be reserved, and a fishing float nearby allows groups to go out on the lake together.



Electric hook-ups, showers and flush restrooms create a comfortable camping experience.

Natural Features

Lake Barkley, as part of a dam project at the Cumberland River, spans 134 miles along the Kentucky landscape, offering countless recreational activities to visitors. The canal connects Lake Barley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational complexes in the country.

Recreation

From water sports to wildlife viewing to hiking and biking, Canal Campground is the perfect setting for outdoor activities. Eagle nests can be spotted throughout the grounds, and its not unlikely for visitors to encounter deer and other wildlife. A short hiking trail allows campers to enjoy the outdoor scenery at their leisure.

Fishing is also a popular pastime, and during warm months bass and catfish are plentiful in both lakes.

Recreation Sites

  • Standard Electric
  • Group Standard Electric
  • Tent Only Electric
  • Overnight

Activities

  • Swimming Site
  • Day Use Area
  • Fishing
  • Camping

Amenities

  • Boat Ramp
  • Boat Trailer Parking
  • Dump Station
  • Flush Toilets
  • Playgroiund
  • Showers
  • Swimming
  • Washer & Dryer
  • Water Hookup
  • Grills/Fire Ring
  • Tent Pad
  • Picnic Table
  • Electricity Hookup
  • Lantern Posts
  • Sewer Hookup
  • Picnic Tables
  • Accessibility
  • Accessible Occupant Message

Nearby Attractions

Grand Rivers, a short drive from the campground, has several restaurants and two public marinas.

Getting Here

Latitude
36° 59' 44.0002" N
Longitude
88° 12' 34.9999" W

Physical Address: 1010 Canal Campground Road, Grand Rivers, KY 42045. From Interstate I-24, take Grand Rivers Exit 31. Drive south on Highway 453 for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto J.H. O'Bryan Avenue for .1 miles. Turn right onto Canal Campground Road for .5 miles.

Need to Know

  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District firewood policy is now in effect and seeks the public’s cooperation to prevent the spread of forest insects and disease at campgrounds in the Cumberland River Basin. The firewood policy requires visitors at Lake Barkley’s campgrounds to use only firewood that has been certified as heat-treated by U.S. Department of Agriculture or state natural resource agency.
  • Contact Information

    Lake Managers office
    P.O. Box 218
    GRAND RIVERS, KY 42045-0218
    Canal Campground
    1010 Canal Campground Road
    Grand Rivers, KY 42045

    For campground inquiries, please call: 270-362-4840

    Additional Information