Carr Creek Lake Shelters
Campground · Kentucky · 8 bookable sites ·
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
Carr Creek Recreation Area (Recreation Area) · Open Access
- 8
- Bookable sites
- up to 200
- People per site
- 8
- Accessible sites
- 1,018 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Carr Creek Lake Shelters are located on Carr Creek Lake on the same side of Kentucky Highway 160 as Littcarr Campground. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, manages the land and water at Carr Creek Lake for wildlife, fisheries and recreation.Recreation
The 710-acre lake and surrounding area offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Boating and water skiing are popular activities on the lake.For the sportsman, fishing is an ever-present activity. Crappie, bass, bluegill and walleye are plentiful in the lake and provide hours of fishing enjoyment. Also, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife release trout in the tailwater throughout the summer months.
Hikers can find a short nature trail, less than a mile long, in the Dam/Tailwater area. For a bit more adventure, the 6-mile Sugar Branch Trail begins at the dam and ends at Sugar Lake Road.
Facilities
A total of eight picnic shelters are open for use from April through September. The shelters are known as Dogwood, Holly, Laurel, Pin Oak, Poplar, Sycamore, White Pine and Willow. Each is accessible and equipped with electricity, grills, picnic tables and lighting. Each shelter can accommodate up to 200 people; However we are asking that the number of people at each site will be limited to 10 persons due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Willow, Pin Oak, White Pine and Dogwood are located at the Littcarr Recreation Area, offering access to a boat ramp, playground, horseshoe pit and shoreline fishing. Sycamore and Poplar are in the Dam/Tailwater Area, with a horseshoe pit, large playground and volleyball courts nearby. Laurel and Holly are at the marina, where guests have access to a boat ramp, playground, horseshoe pits and accessible fishing pier. Restrooms are located near all shelters.
Natural Features
Carr Creek Lake is located in the mountainous region of southeastern Kentucky, about 16 miles from Hazard and 18 miles from Whitesburg. The dam is located 8.8 miles above the mouth of Carr Fork, a tributary of the North Fork of the Kentucky River.The facts
- 8 bookable sites
- 8 sites for day use only
- 8 accessible sites
- Up to 200 people per site
- Loops: Dogwood, Holly, Laurel, Pin Oak, Poplar, Sycamore, White Pine, Willow
Site types
- 8 Group Shelter Electric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits.
8 campsites at Carr Creek Lake Shelters
Check-in 10:00 AM · Check-out 9:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Water | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogwood Shelter | Dogwood | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Riverfront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Holly Shelter | Holly | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Lakefront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Laurel Shelter | Laurel | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Lakefront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Pin Oak Shelter | Pin Oak | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Lakefront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Poplar Shelter | Poplar | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Riverfront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Sycamore Shelter | Sycamore | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Riverfront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| White Pine Shelter | White Pine | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Lakefront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Willow Shelter | Willow | Group Shelter Electric | — | — | Lakefront | — | 200 | ♿ 🐾 |
Getting there
37.23267, -83.03443 · 37°13'57.6"N 83°2'4.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.8 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Carr Creek Lake Shelters
- Can you reserve a site at Carr Creek Lake Shelters?
- Yes, Carr Creek Lake Shelters is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Carr Creek Lake Shelters have?
- 8 sites.
- Are pets allowed at Carr Creek Lake Shelters?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Carr Creek Lake Shelters.
- Does Carr Creek Lake Shelters have hookups?
- Electric, Water.
Camping near Carr Creek Lake Shelters
- Littcarr Campground 4.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Trace Branch Campground 18.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cane Patch 21.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Phillip's Creek Group Picnic Area 21.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Buckhorn Day Use 25.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Buckhorn Campground 25.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cave Springs (VA) 30.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Pound River Campground (Va) 32.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- High Knob Campground 32.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cranesnest Campground (Va) 34.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Redbird Wildlife Management Area 27.3 mi · Facility
- Birch Knob Observation Site 31.7 mi · Facility
Contact
- Email jesse.b.saylor@usace.army.mil
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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