Taylor Bay Campground

Description

Location: Land Between the Lakes, Trigg County, Kentucky, Road 136 GPS: N 36 52’ 57.3” W 88 01’ 20.7” Directions to Access Point: Beginning at I-24, travel south on the Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway; turn left onto Road 135; continue right on Road 136. Amenities: Basic Campground – Defined campsites, fire rings and/or grills, picnic tables, vault toilets, trash removal, mowed areas, courtesy dock and a boat ramp. Basic Camping Permit required. Parking: 10 gravel spaces Restrictions: None Safety: Wear your life jacket. Know your skills and limits. Wind and weather can create dangerous conditions. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. Plan to “Pack it in; pack it out!” South from Taylor Bay Campground .5 miles south by the water trail to the Shelly Hill Landing access point. Safety: Be aware of the wind and weather forecast. Time Allotment: 15 minutes Trail Description: The trail follows the shoreline at the head of the bay and takes you to the Shelly Hill Landing access point. Wildlife Viewing: Cultural Features: Natural Features: Fishing Information:   North from Taylor Bay Campground 5.1 miles north by the water trail to the Honkey Bay access point. Safety: Be aware of the wind and weather forecast. Time Allotment: 2 hours, 30 minutes Trail Description: The trail to the north leads around Empire Point, around Bobcat Point and into Honker Bay. The area from Empire Point to the northernmost end of Bobcat Point is closed to water access from Nov 1 – Feb 15 as the area is part of a wildlife refuge. The area from the northernmost end of Bobcat Point to the Honker Bay boat ramp is closed to water access from Nov 1 - Mar 15 as the area is part of a wildlife refuge. Wildlife viewing: A variety of birds can be spotted especially during summer months From April through late August, you can see numerous osprey, a.k.a. “fish-hawks,” which have several nests in this area. These birds nest from May through July, and often hunt for fish throughout the day to feed their young. In early fall, they migrate down to South America for the winter. This water trail offers great opportunities to see many other smaller birds along its forested shoreline including green herons, prothonotary warblers, eastern kingbirds, northern parulas, tanagers and more. Advanced paddlers may want to paddle ¾ mile east across the main lake from the mouth of the bay to a rookery island. This rookery island is home to thousands of nesting birds such as herons, egrets and cormorants. You might also see wood ducks, mallards, ospreys and kingfishers. Paddlers are not allowed to land or walk on the rookery island. The east side of the island is directly adjacent to the main navigation channel. This navigation channel is used by barges and other large vessels that can create large, dangerous wakes that can easily capsize a canoe or kayak. These large vessels are restricted in their ability to maneuver and they travel much faster than they appear. Cultural Features: Empire Point once served as the headquarters for the Kentucky Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge founded in the 1930s. Later it transformed to an agricultural education center in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Empire Point’s open grasslands have been maintained by cooperative farmers who still gather hay for livestock, keeping trees from overtaking its views. Natural Features: Fishing Information:

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Location & Directions

• Body of Water: Lake Barkley
• Coordinates: 36.88241828, -88.02050561
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Amenities

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Parking Info & Fees

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Trips

• Taylor Bay and Jake Fork Bay Kayak Float and Creek Exploration

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