Getting Oriented
Turkey Bay sits on the peninsula that Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area occupies, roughly midway down the Kentucky side between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The U.S. Forest Service administers LBL, and Turkey Bay is its only sanctioned OHV riding area. The tract runs to about 2,500 acres, and the trail system totals close to 100 miles. Access funnels through a single gatehouse at 80 Turkey Creek Road, off Woodlands Trace (The Trace) south of the US 68/KY 80 crossing near Golden Pond. Riders buy or show a permit there, register each machine, and stage from the gravel lots and primitive camping area beyond the booth.
Trail Overview
The Forest Service sorts the network into three tiers. Primary trails are the widest and best maintained, graded for beginners and for full-size trucks moving between areas. Secondary trails narrow and add grade, rock, and rougher tread. Tertiary trails are the tightest and most technical, the ones with the loose hill climbs, ledges, and mud that draw experienced riders. Trails are numbered rather than color-rated, so a paper or downloaded map matters here. Surfaces shift with the weather: hard-packed clay and gravel run fast when dry and turn slick and rutted after rain, and low sections hold water and mud well into a dry spell.
Points of Interest
- The hill-climb areas, where loose clay and rock pull a crowd on busy weekends.
- Kentucky Lake shoreline, which several trails run down to meet.
- The primitive camping and staging hub near the gatehouse, the base for multi-day trips.
- Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium, a few miles north on The Trace, which also sells permits.
Where to Camp
Turkey Bay has its own primitive camping area at the staging hub, with self-service registration at an information kiosk, chemical toilets, drinking water, and two areas where generators can run around the clock. Sites cost $12 per camping unit per night, counting two tents or one camper as a unit. Showers are not on site; the nearest are at Wranglers Campground, LBL's horse camp, for $5 per person. For hookups and developed sites, Piney Campground sits toward the south end of the peninsula and Hillman Ferry Campground toward the north, both a drive from the riding area.
Permits and Regulations
Every rider needs an OHV permit, sold at the Turkey Bay gatehouse or the Golden Pond Visitor Center. A short-term permit is $20 and is good for one to three consecutive days; an annual permit is $100. Each machine must be registered with LBL and display its permit sticker. All OHVs need a working spark arrester and muffler. DOT-approved helmets are required for every rider except those in vehicles with a fully enclosed metal cab or with roll-bar protection and seatbelts. Riders under 16 need direct adult supervision, and anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian signature. Golf carts are not allowed. Riding runs sunrise to sunset year-round, though gatehouse hours drop to Thursday through Sunday from December through February.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Buy the permit and register each machine at the gatehouse before unloading, and carry the map, since trails are numbered rather than color-coded.
- Check the forecast. Clay hill climbs and low crossings get treacherous when wet, and rain can shut sections down.
- Bring recovery gear. Winches, straps, and traction boards earn their keep on the hill-climb and mud trails.
- Carry water and a first-aid kit; cell service is unreliable once you leave the gatehouse.
- Fuel up in Golden Pond or Grand Rivers before entering; there is no fuel inside LBL near Turkey Bay.
- Call LBL at 270-924-2000 to confirm conditions and seasonal gatehouse hours before a trip.
Fuel and Water
There is no fuel inside Land Between the Lakes near Turkey Bay. Fill up in Golden Pond at the US 68/KY 80 junction or in Grand Rivers at the north end before heading in; Cadiz to the east is another option. Drinking water is available at the Turkey Bay camping area, but pack plenty of your own for a day of riding. The nearest full groceries and supplies are in Grand Rivers, Cadiz, or across the lakes in Murray.
Nearby
Turkey Bay sits inside a recreation area built for more than riding. Woodlands Trace runs the length of the peninsula past the Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium, the Elk and Bison Prairie, and the Homeplace 1850s farm. Piney and Hillman Ferry campgrounds, the Woodlands Nature Station, and miles of hiking and mountain-bike trail sit within a short drive. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley wrap both sides for boating and fishing. Turkey Bay is the only OHV area in LBL; the nearest comparable Forest Service riding in Kentucky is the Redbird Crest trail system in the Daniel Boone National Forest, clear across the state to the east.