Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a large protected landscape that occupies the strip of land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley on the Tennessee-Kentucky border. It combines managed forests, wildlife viewing areas, trails and living-history sites to provide regional outdoor recreation and education.

Key attractions include the Elk and Bison Prairie where visitors can view late Pleistocene-analog herds, and the Homeplace 1850s Farm which interprets rural life in the 19th century. The area supports hiking, cycling, boating on adjacent reservoirs, wildlife watching and environmental education programs.

The recreation area was created after the construction of the two reservoirs to manage and interpret the forested corridor between them; federal and state agencies have developed infrastructure for conservation and public use. Management emphasizes habitat restoration, outdoor recreation and cultural interpretation.

Geographically the area lies across parts of western Kentucky and northern Tennessee between two Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs and is accessed from multiple entry points via regional roads.

• Size and setting: The recreation area spans a large forested peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley and is managed for outdoor recreation, wildlife viewing and historic interpretation.
• Access and activities: A network of trails, scenic byways and educational sites provides access to wildlife areas, forests and cultural exhibits across the recreation area.

What to See #

• Elk and Bison Prairie: Elk and Bison Prairie, a managed 700-acre demonstration area where visitors can view free-ranging herds from a vehicle or guided tours.
• The Homeplace: The Homeplace 1850s Farm & Living History Museum, a reconstructed historic farm representing rural life in the 19th century with living-history programs.