Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Buckhorn, Kentucky · Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park is a Kentucky state resort park built around a roughly 1,200-acre reservoir on the Middle Fork Kentucky River, in the Appalachian foothills near Daniel Boone National Forest. Its official public swimming hole is a beach right on the lake, joined by a guests-only lodge pool and boating, fishing, and hiking facilities, making this an easy lake to swim in for this stretch of the foothills.
The park sits in the wooded, mountainous Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky along the edge of Daniel Boone National Forest, overlooking Buckhorn Lake, a reservoir created by damming the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River. A 36-room lodge and cottages overlook the lake from the surrounding forested hills.
Swimming at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Swimming takes place at a designated sandy beach on Buckhorn Lake reservoir, supported by a lakeside bathhouse with changing rooms and showers; a separate outdoor lodge pool is available to lodge/cottage guests only. Visitor accounts describe a defined swimming area alongside boat ramps and a marina, suiting families and casual swimmers rather than open-water or adventure swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located in Buckhorn, Kentucky, about two hours from Lexington, KY, within the state resort park grounds bordering Daniel Boone National Forest.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. The swim beach is a drive-up spot beside the parking area, bathhouse, and lodge grounds -- no hike is needed to reach the water. The park's three hiking trails (Moonshine Hollow ~1 mi moderate with a creek crossing and footbridge, Leatherwood Trail ~0.5 mi, Autumn Loop ~2 mi moderate-to-steep) are separate recreational trails elsewhere in the park and do not lead to or pass the swimming beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated sandy swimming beach on a calm reservoir with a bathhouse, suited to families, but no source, including the official park page, confirms whether lifeguards are on duty, and the marina/boat ramps sit close to the swim area with pontoon, jet ski, and fishing-boat traffic nearby, so adult supervision near the boating zone is warranted.
Parking
Free
Free self-parking plus extended parking for RVs/buses at the resort, per third-party lodging aggregators (Sandee, Hotels.com) referencing the park property; separate trailhead parking exists at each of the three hiking trails (Moonshine Hollow, Leatherwood, Autumn Loop) per the official park page, though none of those trails leads to the swim beach.
Restrooms
Yes
Lakeside bathhouse with changing rooms and showers serves the public swim beach (Kentucky State Parks official page); seasonal, tied to the Memorial Day-Labor Day beach season.
Hours
No beach-specific daily hours found. The public swimming beach operates seasonally, Memorial Day through Labor Day; the guest-use marina/boat rental season runs April through October (Kentucky State Parks official page; iHeart/USA Today coverage).
On the water
Recreation.gov's Buckhorn Campground listing states the lake 'welcomes fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, swimming'; Wikipedia notes 'the lake offers swimming, boating and canoeing.' No no-wake or electric-only restriction was found in any source reviewed. The park's own marina (Duff's Bay Marina) rents fishing boats, pontoons, and jet skis; a nearby outfitter also rents kayaks and jon boats.
Rentals nearby
Duff's Bay Marina
Full-service marina inside Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park: fishing boat, pontoon, and jet ski rentals; complimentary fishing equipment rental; 110 wet/dry/covered slips; two boat ramps.
On Buckhorn Lake within the state resort park property, Buckhorn, KY (park address 4441 KY Highway 1833, Buckhorn, KY 41721); phone 606-398-7770.
Pontoon boats, 10-ft sit-on-top kayaks, and jon boats; also sells live bait (minnows, nightcrawlers, bluegill).
Prices: Pontoon $399/full day (fuel included); kayak $39.99/full day, $29.99/half day, $99/week (10% group discount for 8+); jon boat $149/full day (dawn to dusk).
18044 KY Highway 28, Buckhorn, KY 41721, near the lake. · 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Delivery-based rental of MasterCraft wakeboard/ski boats, Sea-Doo jet skis, and stand-up paddleboards, plus water toys (trampolines, flyboards), boat tours and charters for Buckhorn Lake.
Prices: MasterCraft boats $1,995-$7,295/day depending on model and length; Sea-Doo jet skis roughly $1,250-$2,195/day per machine (2-machine minimum, multi-day rates lower per day); stand-up paddleboards $150/day.
Delivery/concierge service to Buckhorn Lake, KY; phone 888-205-7119.
What regulars say
A June 2012 visitor review titled 'Loved Swimming in the Lake!' exists among the property's 108 reviews and 122 photos, but its full text could not be retrieved to extract a usable quote.
Backstory
Buckhorn Lake was formed by damming the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River; the park includes handcrafted replicas of historic Bowlingtown buildings, referencing the nearby historical community of Bowlingtown.
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park: FAQ
Does Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park charge a fee?
No admission fee is mentioned for the public beach itself; the on-site 18-hole mini golf carries a separate charge (specific pricing not listed on the official page). The lodge pool is restricted to paying lodge/cottage guests.
Is Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park kid friendly?
Designated sandy swimming beach on a calm reservoir with a bathhouse, suited to families, but no source, including the official park page, confirms whether lifeguards are on duty, and the marina/boat ramps sit close to the swim area with pontoon, jet ski, and fishing-boat traffic nearby, so adult supervision near the boating zone is warranted.
Do I need to hike to reach Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park?
Free self-parking plus extended parking for RVs/buses at the resort, per third-party lodging aggregators (Sandee, Hotels.com) referencing the park property; separate trailhead parking exists at each of the three hiking trails (Moonshine Hollow, Leatherwood, Autumn Loop) per the official park page, though none of those trails leads to the swim beach.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park?
Recreation.gov's Buckhorn Campground listing states the lake 'welcomes fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, swimming'; Wikipedia notes 'the lake offers swimming, boating and canoeing.' No no-wake or electric-only restriction was found in any source reviewed. The park's own marina (Duff's Bay Marina) rents fishing boats, pontoons, and jet skis; a nearby outfitter also rents kayaks and jon boats.
When is the best time to visit Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park?
Summer, Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the public beach is open.
What are the rules at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park?
The public beach is seasonal, open Memorial Day through Labor Day; the marina/boat rental operation runs April through October. The lodge pool is limited to registered guests.
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