How Wide Is Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland?

If you have visited Kentucky, you know that the Bluegrass State boasts some seriously breathtaking natural landscapes. While bourbon distilleries, bluegrass music, and horse racing are near and dear to the hearts of Kentuckians and visitors alike, the natural environment in this state is also something special. Whether it’s densely forested areas full of wildlife or winding lakes and rivers that are home to some of the best fishing in the world, Kentucky is a must-visit place. Lake Cumberland in the central part of the state is one of the best places to enjoy some lakefront living as a resident or a tourist.

The Width of Lake Cumberland

Lake Cumberland is just over 1 mile at its widest point. The lake is significantly longer than it is wide. It winds through parts of seven counties in Kentucky: Wayne, Russell, Pulaski, Clinton, McCreary, Laurel, and Whitney. Its length, however, is around 100 miles. Like many lakes in Kentucky, it is much longer than it is wide. Its meandering length makes it very interesting and a great place for boating, fishing, and exploration. Even though it is the widest river in the state, parts of Lake Cumberland aren’t particularly wide, though, especially in some of the smaller coves, inlets, and streams of the lake.

Because it is narrow and long, Lake Cumberland has a lot of shoreline. There are around 1,200 miles in total. While not all of it is accessible by the public, there are plenty of places to put in boats, swim, fish, and generally explore the area. Some of these are state-run or privately-run recreation parks that require reservations or fees. There are still plenty of public access points around the vast lake.

Things to Do at Lake Cumberland

Outdoor activities are popular at Lake Cumberland. There are numerous places to camp, whether you want to go tent camping, use an RV, or rent a cabin. Some people love the lake so much that they choose to live on it. Houseboats are common in Lake Cumberland. If you want lakeside living while keeping your feet on dry land, you can also enjoy one of the many lakefront homes and communities in the area. These also make great rentals for those looking to visit for the weekend, a week, or the entire summer.

Fishing is so popular at Lake Cumberland that many of the fish brought in hold local and state records for size. Bass, trout, and walleye are all especially prosperous in this lake. If you’re new to fishing, there are plenty of places to rent or buy gear, as well as knowledgeable anglers who will tell you the best places to fish on the lake.

How Does Lake Cumberland Compare to Other Lakes in Kentucky?

It covers over 65,000 acres, however, making it the second-largest lake in the state. Only Kentucky Lake, which spans over 160,000 acres, is larger. Like Lake Cumberland, Kentucky Lake is much longer than it is wide. Its width maxes out around 2 miles at some points. It is oriented north-south and goes around 183 miles in total. Kentucky Lake is relatively straight, especially when compared to Cumberland Lake. Kentucky Lake has parts located in both Kentucky and Tennessee. It is the largest manmade lake in the eastern U.S.

The next largest lake after Lake Cumberland is Lake Barkley in southern Kentucky. It is very close to Kentucky Lake, although it pales in size comparison. Lake Barkley is just under 58,000 acres. Like Lake Cumberland and Kentucky Lake, it is much longer than it is wide and has plenty of shoreline.

Herrington Lake is the deepest lake in Kentucky. It is 249 feet down at its deepest point but only covers a little over 2,000 acres. At its deepest point, Lake Cumberland is around 90 feet.

How Long Would It Take a Swimmer to Get Across Lake Cumberland?

If the average swimmer covers around 2 miles per hour, they could swim across Lake Cumberland is around half an hour.

The Save the Cumberland initiative focuses on the Cumberland River, but Lake Cumberland is included in their monumental swim challenge. The organization’s founder, Capt. Vic Scoggin, swam the length of the river and surrounding lakes in 1996 to bring attention to the pollution in the area. It took him 65 days to make the 696-mile journey, swimming around 10 miles per day. During his trek, Scoggin documented the extensive pollution he saw. This ranged from discarded refrigerators and mechanical parts to waste runoff and even manufacturing chemicals.

Fortunately, Lake Cumberland is much cleaner than the larger river was in 1996. The Lake Cumberland Resort Park has one of the most popular beaches on the lake although there are others as well. The beach is sandy with calm waters that make it good for families. There isn’t a lifeguard and swimming is generally kept close to the shore. If you want to swim across the lake, it is easy to do, although you’ll have to watch for boaters as well as wildlife.

Animals around Lake Cumberland

There is plenty of wildlife in the Cumberland Gap area of Kentucky, which includes Lake Cumberland. Fish are plentiful within the lake but land animals and birds are also fun to see when visiting this area. White-tailed deer, rabbits squirrels, raccoons, and wild turkeys can all be spotted on the shores and in forested areas. Black bears and even elk live in the area, although they tend to stick to more rural regions where they have plenty of space and food. Hawks, vultures, songbirds, and bats are frequent sights in the skies in Kentucky and around Lake Cumberland.

If you visit, make sure to check yourself for ticks when you get home. These insects are plentiful in this area and can cause serious health complications if left on your body. They like to hide in dark areas and can go undetected if you aren’t looking for them.

Fishing in Lake Cumberland

It probably won’t surprise you that Lake Cumberland is home to many species of fish. Crappies, trout, catfish, and bream are all plentiful in this lake. It is also an amazing spot for bass fishing, maybe one of the best in the country. There are plenty of records held by anglers who reeled in their trophies from Lake Cumberland.

Lake Cumberland has multiple species of bass in its waters: striped, largemouth, smallmouth, white, rock, and Kentucky bass. These fish like rocky areas and there are plenty in Lake Cumberland. One of the great things about fishing this lake is that there is almost always something biting. There are a lot of fish and they are very active. White bass are most active in the spring but you can always find something to fish for in Lake Cumberland.

There are some restrictions and regulations when fishing in this lake, especially when it comes to size. Most fish must meet minimum length requirements to be kept. If they are too small, you have to release them back into the lake. These vary by species. The only species that cannot be caught is the Lake Sturgeon. If you catch one of these protected species, you must immediately release them back into the lake. Fishing licenses are required and available through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

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