Holmes Bend Day Use

Summary

Holmes Bend Recreation Area is located along Kentucky's Highland Rim, with 8,000 acres of water for boating, fishing and other water activities, as well as land for hunting, trails for scenic views, a picnic shelter and campground with amenities, a beach, and nearby attractions. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities and a comfortable camping experience at Holmes Bend.

Overview

Situated along Kentucky's Highland Rim, Holmes Bend Recreation Area is surrounded by forested tracks, rolling meadows and the pristine banks of Green River Lake.

Recreation

With 8,000 surface acres of water, the lake is an ideal place for boating. With ten boat ramps located around the shoreline, guests have plenty of room for fishing, jet skiing, wake boarding and more. Three full-service marinas are also located around the lake.

Fishing is a popular activity at Green River Lake: Walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, muskie and bluegill are all found in abundance. 

Hunters enjoy the surrounding land, with various habitats supporting deer, turkey, rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove and waterfowl.

There are also miles of trails that wind around the lake and along the shore, affording some of the most scenic views in the region.

Facilities

Holmes Bend Picnic Shelter is the only Corps managed group picnic shelter in the Holmes Bend Recreation Area. Amenities at the shelter include electricity hookup, 8 picnic tables, grills, firepit, lakefront views, parking and access to a playground and restroom. 

If the shelter has not been reserved for a particular day, it may be used free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Natural Features

Green River Lake area encompasses a total of some 32,000 acres in the central portion of Kentucky, creating countless recreational activities for visitors on the water and on land.

contact_info

Nearby Attractions

Holmes Bend Campground is located just 1 mile from the shelter area. The campground offers 125 campsites, 40 of which have electric hookups only and 62 of which have water and electric hookups. Amenities like flush toilets, showers, fire rings and drinking water provide a comfortable camping experience. A playground and an interpretive trail offer additional recreation opportunities within the campground.   

Also nearby is the Holmes Bend Beach. This is public beach for visitors in the area. Several miles of multi-use trails to include horseback riding, parking areas, additonal playground and restroom facilities, boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier, marina, and marina owned rental cabins are all located near the shelter area.  

The Corps of Engineers Visitor Center and the Historical Civil War Atkinson-Griffin Log Cabin are located only a short 10 miles northwest from Holmes Bend . 

Several historical attractions and National Parks are located within an hour of Green River Lake, including the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and Mammoth Cave National Park.

Charges & Cancellations

Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.

If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.