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Cave Run Lake

Lakeview Heights, Kentucky — Rowan County.

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8,099Surface acres
19Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 120021486).

Location & fast facts

Where Cave Run Lake is in Kentucky

The red circle marks Cave Run Lake.

Fast facts

About Cave Run Lake

  • Counties: Rowan, Bath, Menifee, Morgan
  • Nearest city: Lakeview Heights (about 1.6 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 57 mi from Lexington and 126 mi from Louisville, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Kentucky: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Kentucky

Official KDFWR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 19 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Muskellunge, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass and White bass
  • Camping. 8 campgrounds within 15 mi, 6 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Wandering hydrilla and Brittle waternymph recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official fishing data (Kentucky Fish and Wildlife)

Fish species listed by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for this lake: Black crappie, Bluegill, Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, Largemouth bass, Muskellunge, Redear sunfish, Smallmouth bass, Spotted bass, White bass, White crappie.

Source: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Where to Fish page for Cave Run Lake (species from the KDFWR waterbody species search), with access sites, regulations and fishing forecasts.

Lake map

Cave Run Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat Gunnel Group Campground (campground)Zilpo Recreation Area (campground)Twin Knobs Recreation Area (campground)Claylick Boat-in Campground (campground)Twin Knobs West Group Use Area (campground)Paragon Dispersed Camping Area FREE (campground)White Sulphur Horse Camp (campground)Alfrey Boat Ramp Road (Boat launch)1Bangor Boat Ramp (Boat launch)2Blackwater Boat Ramp (Boat launch)3Boat Ramp Twentysix (Boat launch)4Boat ramp (Boat launch)5Boat ramp (Boat launch)6Boat ramp (Boat launch)7Boat ramp (Boat launch)8Boat ramp (Boat launch)9Claylick Boat Ramp (Boat launch)10Kentucky Division of Forestry Ramp (Boat launch)11Leatherwood Boat Ramp (Boat launch)12Longbow Marina (Boat launch)13Paragon Boat Ramp (Boat launch)14Poppin Rock Boat Ramp (Boat launch)15Ramey Creek access (Boat launch)16Scott Creek Boat Ramp (Boat launch)17Scott Creek Marina (Boat launch)18Warix Run Boat Ramp (Boat launch)191 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Alfrey Boat Ramp Road
    Boat launch
  2. 2Bangor Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Blackwater Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat Ramp Twentysix
    Boat launch
  5. 5Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  6. 6Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  7. 7Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  8. 8Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  9. 9Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  10. 10Claylick Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  11. 11Kentucky Division of Forestry Ramp
    Boat launch
  12. 12Leatherwood Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  13. 13Longbow Marina
    Boat launch
  14. 14Paragon Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  15. 15Poppin Rock Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  16. 16Ramey Creek access
    Boat launch
  17. 17Scott Creek Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  18. 18Scott Creek Marina
    Boat launch
  19. 19Warix Run Boat Ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 120021486), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Cave Run Lake

We found 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Cave Run Lake. 6 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

2 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Kentucky

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Cave Run Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (38.0185, -83.4546). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Cave Run Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Cave Run Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    19 public access sites listed, 19 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Alfrey Boat Ramp Road——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0914, -83.4981
    Bangor Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0437, -83.4388
    Blackwater Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating37.9746, -83.3954
    Boat Ramp Twentysix——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating37.9548, -83.3432
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0915, -83.4969
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.1135, -83.5310
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0984, -83.5133
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0730, -83.4762
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0740, -83.4824
    Claylick Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0593, -83.4648
    Kentucky Division of Forestry Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating37.9167, -83.3391
    Leatherwood Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0337, -83.5157
    Longbow Marina——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating37.9959, -83.4976
    Paragon Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0480, -83.3947
    Poppin Rock Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0403, -83.4024
    Ramey Creek access——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0924, -83.4583
    Scott Creek Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.1024, -83.5131
    Scott Creek Marina——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0997, -83.5101
    Warix Run Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating38.0846, -83.4446

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Cave Run Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Cave Run Lake

    How big is Cave Run Lake?

    Cave Run Lake covers about 8,099 acres in Lakeview Heights, Kentucky (Rowan County).

    What fish are in Cave Run Lake?

    KDFWR Where to Fish lists Muskellunge, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, White bass, Black crappie, White crappie, Bluegill, Channel catfish, Flathead catfish and Redear sunfish and 1 more.

    Is there a public boat launch on Cave Run Lake?

    Yes. 19 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Cave Run Lake?

    Yes. We list 8 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Cave Run Lake?

    Cave Run Lake touches Lakeview Heights in Rowan County, Bath County, Menifee County and Morgan County, Kentucky.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Cave Run Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Kentucky lakes & ponds · All waters in Lakeview Heights