Just minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park, Nolin Lake State Park provides camping and recreational opportunities on the peaceful shores of Nolin Lake.
In May 2001, Nolin Lake State Park opened to the public. The 5,795-acre lake, created from the impoundment of the Nolin River in 1963, and the 333-acre park are located along the northern edge of Mammoth Cave National Park in Edmonson County. Nolin Lake State Park is the perfect escape, featuring 32 campsites with hookups for water and electricity, 40 primitive campsites, a beach, a boat ramp, shower and laundry facilities, a playground, and around 9 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Nolin Lake provides great fishing for guests as well, with an abundance of bass, catfish, crappie, and walleye.
The area surrounding Nolin Lake State Park is topographically diverse. From the Great Sinkhole Plain in the south to the Dripping Springs Escarpment in the north, and from the peaks of tall hills to the Nolin River and Green River valleys, Edmonson County is an astoundingly beautiful place. Named for Captain John Edmonson of Virginia, who was killed at the Battle of the River Raisin during the War of 1812, Edmonson County is part of "cave country" and is home to Mammoth Cave, the longest known cave system in the world. Since opening for tours in 1816, millions of visitors have come to explore the more than 400 miles of known cave passages. Established in 1941, Mammoth Cave National Park now covers 53,000 acres across three counties: Edmonson, Hart, and Barren.
