Land Between the Lakes
LBL National Recreation Area, Kentucky
Developed by Kentucky Cycling
Stats
62 miles, 3,666 ft elevation gain, 59 ft/mi.
Difficulty
Light. Beginner friendly due to low elevation and smooth riding.
Terrain, Bike Choice
Gravel. Preferred bike rank: Gravel bike, Rigid MTB, Hardtail.
Camping
Mix of primative and established camping.
Number of Nights
1 night ideal for lake-side camping but this area can easily be stretched into 2 nights.
Food & Water
Food and water available at the start/end, but there are no resupplies inside the LBL. Pack a water filter.
Bikepacking Land Between the Lakes
Land Between the Lakes (LBL), takes its inspiration from the route for the April Fool’s Gravel Camp, hosted by Gear Up Cycles each spring. Matt Falwell, the event organizer, has come up with a route that Kentucky Cycles dialed up into a great overnight bikepacking route. You’ll enjoy pristine gravel roads, scenic lake-front camping, and abondant wildlife spottings.
Highlights
- Pristine gravel riding
- Abundant lake-front camping
- Swimming
- Climb the fire tower
Trip Beta
You’ll love the variety on this route. Start your adventure by making your way across Kentucky Lake, via the paved multiuse path and Eggner’s Ferry Bridge. Make use of the paved multiuse trail as you cross over Kentucky Lake into LBL. Ride along a portion of the Central Hardwoods Trail, for some flowy gravel singletrack. Stop off at the Golden Pond Visitor’s Center to top off your water, use the restroom, or purchase a snack or permit before heading north on the Trace and onto the abundant gravel forest roads. You’ll even experience a very short section of backwoods dirt singletrack on the North/South trail. Head to one of the dispersed camping sites (permit required and available on a first-come, first-served basis) and make camp, dinner, relax, and bed down for the night.
After making breakfast and getting packed up, head back out for some more #LBLGravel goodness. Top off and check out the Curry Hollow Fire Tower as you cross over Forest Service Road 131. Take a break at Ferguson Spring and enjoy the scenic headwaters of Energy Lake on Forest Service Road 324. Stop off at the Golden Pond Visitor’s Center to top off your water, use the restroom, or purchase a snack before getting back on a portion of the Central Hardwoods Trail, for that flowy gravel singletrack. Head back across Eggner’s Ferry Bridge via the paved multiuse trail and enjoy your last view of Kentucky Lake, before entering KenLake Resort State Park and returning to your car at the lodge.
Important Information/Camping
- Free overnight parking is available at the lodge at Kenlake Resort State Park.
- Camping is abundant in LBL and ranges from dispersed camping (permit required), available on a first come, first served basis, with several spots to choose from along the route, to Self-Service Campgrounds (no reservation or permit required – pay on-site) to full-service campgrounds with shower houses (reservations recommended). Want a bed the night before or after your ride, get a room a KenLake Resort State Park, where the route begins and ends.
- Cell service is sketchy along the route for most carriers.
- Once you enter LBL, the only place you’ll be able to refill water will be at Golden Pond Visitor’s Center so you’ll either need to plan to filter water or carry enough to meet your needs.
Submitted by Kentucky Cyling
Kentucky Cyling is a group promoting cycling resources in Kentucky and the surrounding regions. To learn more, please visit them at kentuckycycling.org
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