Tailwater Picnic Shelter

Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located within the Tailwater Recreation Area, where the downstream portion of the Green River begins. The Green River is one of the most biodiverse rivers in the country, home to more than 150 fish species, more than 70 mussel species, and 42 endemic species that exist nowhere else in the world. At 384 miles it is one of Kentucky's largest, longest and most navigable rivers, and the Green River Lake area encompasses some 32,000 acres in the central portion of the state. The shelter is located .3 miles off of KY-55 and is 2 miles from the Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. Green River access and the Tailwater boat ramp are just a few hundred feet from the shelter, and the Stilling Basin — where people like to fish and view the water discharge out of the dam — is within the same recreation area, half a mile up the road. Amenities at the shelter include an electricity hookup, 8 picnic tables, grills, parking and access to a playground and restroom. The shelter restroom is only open seasonally, closed over the winter months. If the shelter has not been reserved for a particular day, it may be used free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. Kayaking and canoeing down the Green River, starting at the Tailwater boat ramp, is a popular outdoor activity in the area. With 8,000 surface acres of water and ten boat ramps located around the shoreline, guests have plenty of room for boating, jet skiing and wake boarding, and three full-service marinas are located around the lake. Fishing is popular at Green River Lake — walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, muskie and bluegill are all found in abundance — and hunters enjoy the surrounding land, with various habitats supporting deer, turkey, rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove and waterfowl. There are also miles of trails that wind around the lake and along the shore, affording some of the most scenic views in the region. The Corps of Engineers Visitor Center and the historic Civil War Atkinson-Griffin Log Cabin are located only a short 2 miles from the shelter, and lake access and a boat ramp are 1.7 miles away at the Site 1 boat ramp area. Several trailheads are located nearby and Green River Lake State Park is only a 3.4-mile drive away. Several historical attractions and national parks are located within an hour of Green River Lake, including the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and Mammoth Cave National Park.