Is there camping in Ky as good as Laurel Lake?

[pancaker]

I have camped all over the state of Ky but I have yet to find camping as private,clean and well cared for as Laurel Lake(Holly Bay, Grove). In addition to private, wooded and step down campsites, access to the beautifull clear water of Laurel Lake and the sand beach. I love it there, but wish sometimes that there was someplace else of equal beauty and privacy, as the campgrounds get packed in the summer. Forget about walking up to register for a site on Friday morning. Does anyone know of camping that even comes close to equalling Laurel Lake?

[WBBP]

Dale Hollow is clean, beautiful and is a great place to swim since most of its banks are shale and fairly shallow, especially on points. It has several free primitive sites that require you to have a boat to access them. They do require a permit though. Thye have several large campgrounds also. Most of the lake is in TN.

Cumberland is clean and beautiful, but the lake banks are so steep in most places that it is a little hard to find good places to camp. I usually camp there between State/Jamestown Docs and the dam and access the spots by boat. If you can find an island, they are usually good places to camp. The camping is first come-first serve with no permit required on the main lake. Don't wait until a Friday evening during June and July to cruise up and down the lake looking for a good spot.

LBL has some great lakeside camping areas, plus you can get a primitive camping permit and camp just about anywhere you want between the lakes. LBL is an awesome place with a lot to do for first timers. Kentucky and Barkley are very shallow and little discolored which makes finding the perfect swimming place a little hard, but there are some good places to swim there too.

Good luck.

K

[Bowcrazy]

Second Kalen's comments on LBL as it truely is an awesome place. I always liked to camp at Rock Creek. There are also lots of out-of-the-way places on Cumberland. Many of the other Eastern Kentucky Lakes have great camping too.

Laurel is good, but by no means the only choice.

[corndogggy]

I'd tell you a few good places but my idea of perfect camping doesn't involve step-down campsites and beaches. :) Ok, well I'll tell you one. Grab a canoe and go to Nickel Branch at LBL, park by the boat ramp. Throw in all your stuff and paddle out to the island that's kind of to your right. Make sure you have a backwoods permit and leave it in the dash of your vehicle and you shouldn't get harassed.