Lake Malone State Park Beach
Dunmor, Kentucky · Lake Malone State Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lake Malone State Park Beach
Lake Malone State Park Beach is an official swimming beach on the 788-acre Lake Malone, located about 2 miles west of Dunmor in southwestern Kentucky. The park operates a designated sand beach with seasonal lifeguard-era hours and an on-site bathhouse, alongside camping, boating, and hiking trails through sandstone-cliff terrain.
The park sits on Lake Malone, a 788-acre reservoir-like lake surrounded by sandstone cliffs and hardwood forest in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, and features a natural rock bridge and several short hiking trails, one of which (Twisted Tree Trail) passes a small creek waterfall.
Swimming at Lake Malone State Park Beach
The park maintains an official designated swimming beach with a sand shoreline on the lake, intended for general recreational lake swimming rather than a natural swimming hole in a creek or river; suited to families and casual swimmers rather than adventure seekers.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located approximately 2 miles west of Dunmor, Kentucky, off the local park road serving Lake Malone State Park in Muhlenberg County.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. The swim beach is a drive-up facility with its own parking and bathhouse; no hike is required to reach it. The park separately maintains five short trails near the campground (Laurel Trail 1.5 mi, Wildflower Trail 0.25 mi, Blue Heron Trail 1.5 mi, Turkey Ridge Trail 0.6 mi, Twisted Tree Trail 0.75 mi, the last passing a small waterfall) but these are recreational hiking routes separate from beach access, not approach trails to the swimming area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Official designated sand swimming beach on a lake with gently sloping shoreline entry rather than a creek/cliff setting; suited to families. No lifeguard presence is documented in official materials, so adult supervision is still advised.
Parking
Lot
Park's official materials describe a beach/bathhouse area with adjacent parking; a specific lot location, capacity, or fee amount could not be confirmed in this session. Trailhead parking for the park's hiking trails is available at the campground.
Restrooms
Yes
On-site bathhouse at the beach with showers, restrooms, and a vending area (per official park page).
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
No dedicated clarity report was found for this session; the lake is a 788-acre reservoir with wooded/sandstone shoreline typical of murkier-in-parts, clearer-in-coves reservoir conditions. Treat as unconfirmed.
Hours
Beach open seasonally, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
On the water
Restrictions: Kentucky regulates boat/motor size limits on some small lakes (301 KAR 1:015); Lake Malone specifically has been the subject of proposed state rules on wakeboat ballast-system use, with wakeboats (for skiing/tubing) still permitted as of the most recent reporting found, though exact current no-wake or horsepower limits for Lake Malone could not be confirmed. The park's boat ramp/dock includes a gasoline pump, indicating motorized boats are accommodated.
Lake Malone is managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and is popular with boaters and anglers; the state park has its own public boat ramp and dock for launching personal kayaks/canoes/paddleboards/motorboats (self-launch, not a rental facility). A visitor on r/Kentucky described the lake as 'a bit on the smaller side, lots of branching paths to take (many with no [skiing] areas for swimming)' when discussing it as a kayaking/swimming destination, suggesting a lake with multiple coves where swimming and boating areas are somewhat segregated.
Rentals nearby
Pontoon boat rentals (two boats: 'Patti P' 25 ft and 'Bennie B' 22 ft); kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are included as add-ons with their Carlisle Lake House vacation rental
Lake Malone, south-central Kentucky (based at the lake; advertises free pontoon delivery to your dock)
What regulars say
One visitor, in a discussion of Kentucky lakes for kayaking and swimming, described Lake Malone as 'a bit on the smaller side, lots of branching paths to take (many with no [skiing] areas for swimming) and a nice open [...]' area, indicating a smaller, cove-filled lake where swimmers and boaters or skiers use different sections. No further visitor detail on clarity or crowd levels could be retrieved this session.
Backstory
The park was established May 19, 1962, and named for Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Malone.
Lake Malone State Park Beach: FAQ
Is Lake Malone State Park Beach kid friendly?
Official designated sand swimming beach on a lake with gently sloping shoreline entry rather than a creek/cliff setting; suited to families. No lifeguard presence is documented in official materials, so adult supervision is still advised.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Malone State Park Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Malone State Park Beach?
Park's official materials describe a beach/bathhouse area with adjacent parking; a specific lot location, capacity, or fee amount could not be confirmed in this session. Trailhead parking for the park's hiking trails is available at the campground.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Malone State Park Beach?
Lake Malone is managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and is popular with boaters and anglers; the state park has its own public boat ramp and dock for launching personal kayaks/canoes/paddleboards/motorboats (self-launch, not a rental facility). A visitor on r/Kentucky described the lake as 'a bit on the smaller side, lots of branching paths to take (many with no [skiing] areas for swimming)' when discussing it as a kayaking/swimming destination, suggesting a lake with multiple coves where swimming and boating areas are somewhat segregated.
When is the best time to visit Lake Malone State Park Beach?
Summer (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day), matching the official beach operating season.
What are the rules at Lake Malone State Park Beach?
The beach is seasonal, open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, with posted hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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