Rough River Lake

14957 Falls of Rough Road
Falls of Rough, KY 40119-6318
(270) 257-2061
Office hours: M-F, 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (may vary, call ahead)

Lake Levels

Lake Temperatures
 

Encroachment Resolution Plan -- Direct questions to Jon Fillingham, (270) 257-2061, Rough River Lake

***Click here for News Release dated November 2, 2018 

 

Collapse All Expand All
 Location

Welcome to the Rough River Lake web site. The lake is situated in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Grayson counties in south central Kentucky. The dam is located on the Rough River near the community of Falls of Rough, about 20 miles from Leitchfield and 95 miles southwest of Louisville.

The 5,100-acre Rough River Lake provides a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The Corps, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, manages Rough River Lake’s land and water for wildlife, fisheries and recreation. The menu on the right leads to specific recreation and other lake information.

 Authorization

Rough River Lake was authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1938. The Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, built, and operates the project to reduce flood damages downstream from the dam. The dam is in Breckinridge and Grayson counties, about 6 miles upstream from Falls of the Rough on Rough River.

During the fall and winter months, when excessive rainfall is likely, the lake is kept at a relatively low level referred to as winter pool. Should heavy rains occur, surface water runoff is stored in the lake until the swollen streams and rivers below the dam have receded and can handle the release of the stored water without damage to lives or property.

 History

Rough River Lake lies within the “Clifty” area of Pennyroyal Region of Kentucky. The term “Pennyroyal” or “Pennyrile,” used interchangeably, denoted an area exceeding 11,000 square miles. The name derived from a plant of the mint family which grows profusely throughout the area.

The Clifty area comprises the western edge of the Pennyroyal layers have been assigned by geologist to the Chester Series of Late Mississippian Geologic Age, a period estimated to have existed about 300 million years ago.

An abundance of water in the area, both surface and underground, has caused solutioning in the limestone and as a result, created a myriad of sinks and caverns. The most important cavern in the area is Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system in the world with more than 240 miles of mapped passageways. The Pennyroyal plain, extending from northern Tennessee through Kentucky to central Indiana, is an outstanding example of “Karst” (sinkhole) topography and is the most widespread topographic feature of this type in the United States.

 Upcoming Events

The staff at Rough River Lake would be happy to work with individual groups to schedule an interpretive program to fit the group’s needs.  If you are planning a trip to Rough River Lake, please contact the Corps office at 270-257-2061 to schedule a program.

March 15 – April 15:  Water is stored in lake to obtain summer pool elevation (495 msl).

April 11: Easter Egg Hunt at Rough River Dam State Resort Park. This event, sponsored by the Friends of Rough River Lake Inc, is open to kids 12 and under and prizes will be awarded.

May 11:  Axtel, Cave Creek, and Laurel Branch campgrounds open for the season and will remain open until 11/01.

May 14:  North Fork campground opens for the season and will remain open until 9/8. 

June 20:  Eighth Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.  Boats are made by participants from cardboard and according to rules, then placed on the water.  Open to all ages.  Event is held at North Fork beach area.

July 4:  Rumble over Rough Fireworks Show and Carnival.  Free fireworks show at Rough River Dam State Resort Park beach area. 

August 8:  Ninth annual Dam Triathlon.  Participants register to run a triathlon of paddling, running, and bicycle riding.  Shirts are provided in registration fee.  Open to all.

September 8:  North Fork campground closes for the season

October 15 – December 1:  Drawdown of lake to winter pool elevation (470 msl).

October 30-31:  Halloween activities at Axtel, Cave Creek, and Laurel Branch campgrounds.

November 1:  Axtel, Cave Creek, and Laurel Branch campgrounds close for the season.

 

Lake Elevation Information: 

March 15 – April 15:  Water is stored in lake to obtain summer pool elevation (495 msl).

October 15 – December 1:  Drawdown of lake to winter pool elevation (470 msl).

 Driving Directions

From Louisville, KY: 

Option 1:  Begin at ramp onto I-64 West toward New Albany/St. Louis, traveling 22.3 miles. Take the IN-135 exit- Exit Number 105- toward Palmyra/Corydon, onto IN-135 South toward Corydon, traveling 16.7 miles. Continue on Bypass Road KY-79 for 2.1 miles.  Turn right onto KY-79, traveling 10.1 miles.  Continue on 1st Avenue, KY-79S for 495 feet.  Turn a slight right onto US-60, traveling 11.8 miles. Turn left onto KY-259/KY-79, traveling 9.7 miles. Turn right to stay on KY-79, traveling 3.4 miles. Turn left to continue on KY-79, traveling 1.9 miles.  End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY. Distance is approximately 78 miles with an approximate travel time of 1.5 hours.

Option 2:   Begin at ramp onto Gene Snyder Freeway KY-841W toward US-31W/US-60, traveling 5.8 miles.  Take the US-31W/US-60/Fort Knox/Louisville exit-Exit Number 1-traveling .3 miles.  Turn left on Dixie Highway US-31W S/ US-60W, traveling 14.8 miles.  Turn right onto US-60, traveling  29.4 miles.  Turn left onto KY-259/KY-79, traveling 9.7 miles. Turn right to stay on KY-79, traveling 3.4 miles. Turn left to continue on KY-79, traveling 1.9 miles. End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY. Distance is approximately 65 miles with an approximate travel time of 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Option 3:  Begin at ramp onto Gene Snyder Freeway KY-841W toward I-65, traveling 6.5 miles.  Take I-65/Louisville/Nashville exit-Exit Number 10- onto I-65 S toward Nashville/Elizabethtown, traveling 34 miles.  Take US-31W/KY-62/Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway/Hodgenville/Paducah exit - Exit Number 91- toward Paducah/Elizabethtown/Owensboro/Western Kentucky Parkway W, traveling 29.6 miles.  Take KY-259/Leitchfield/Brownsville exit - Exit Number 107 - traveling .3 miles.  Turn right onto S Main Street/KY-259, traveling .9 miles.  Take 3rd exit from roundabout Courthouse Square onto W Main Street/KY-54, traveling 10.9 miles.  Turn right onto Falls of Rough Road/KY-79, traveling 7.6 miles.  End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY.  Distance is approximately 90 miles with an approximate travel time of 1.5 hours. 

 

From Owensboro, KY:  Begin at ramp onto Wendell H Ford Expressway/US-60 E, traveling 6.8 miles.  Take KY-54/East Parrish Avenue/Owensboro/Leitchfield exit- Exit Number 18 - traveling .2 miles.  Turn right onto Leitchfield Road/KY-54, traveling 29.8 miles.  Turn left onto KY-110, traveling 8.2 miles.  Turn left onto Falls of Rough Road/KY-79, traveling 1.8 miles.  End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY. Distance is approximately 46 miles with an approximate travel time of 1 hour.


From Bowling Green, KY:  Begin at intersection of Scottsville Road/US-231 and US 31W, continue on US-31W-Bypass, traveling .6 miles.  Bear left onto Lehman Avenue, traveling .3 miles.  Turn left onto Fairview Avenue/KY-234, traveling .7 miles.  Continue on Veterans Memorial Lane/US-68 W, traveling .3 miles.  Bear right onto Gordon Avenue/KY-185, traveling 33 miles.  Continue on South Main Street/KY-79, traveling 15.2 miles.  End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY.  Distance is approximately 50 miles with an approximate travel time of 1 hour.


From Elizabethtown, KY:   Begin at ramp onto Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway West, traveling 28.8 miles. Take KY-259/Leitchfield/Brownsville exit - Exit Number 107 - traveling .3 miles. Turn right onto S Main Street/KY-259, traveling .9 miles. Take 3rd exit from roundabout Courthouse Square onto W Main Street/KY-54, traveling 10.9 miles. Turn right onto Falls of Rough Road/KY-79, traveling 7.6 miles. End at 14957 Falls of Rough Road, Falls of Rough, KY. Distance is approximately 48 miles with an approximate travel time of 50 minutes.

Redirecting...
Redirecting...

Connect with us

Facebook  Email Us