A 10,000-acre lake in the slightly rolling, timbered countryside. Barren River Lake is located in southcentral Kentucky and is approximately 35 miles south of the largest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park. The lake was completed by the Corps of Engineers in 1964. Barren River Lake is the site for the International (Scottish) Highland Games (the Glasgow Highland Games are held annually at the State Resort Park).
The Lake area has many federally protected Native American village and burial sites. The river was the historic route for westward traveling pioneers. They would travel down the Barren River to a trading post at present-day Bowling Green, Kentucky, where their journey would proceed by land.
Location: Dam location 1 mi N on KY 252 from KY 1533 W Jct.