A unique geographic area with a unique kind of park.Â
On the Kentucky/Tennessee border, there is a unique strip of land called the Land Between the Lakes.Â
Google Maps Weird little peninsula, turned park.
The Land Between the Lakes was once known as the Land Between the Rivers. The Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers flow very close to each other, only separated by a small bit of land. In the 1960s, the Cumberland River was dammed and the bit of land between the rivers was removed. The Land Between the Lakes became a large inland peninsula, surrounded by narrow lakes.
Today, the Land Between the Lakes is a National Forest Recreation Area. It’s perfect for boating, fishing, and other water activities. Since I am not a water person, I stuck to dry land but was still able to find some neat things.
I am terribly behind in writing posts. I visited in the beginning of April, hence the lack of posts. I spent a couple of nights camping and had a pretty good visit.
I would also like to introduce my new camera. I switched from a Sony (I had one of the same series for over a decade.) to a Canon and I am still trying to figure it out.
Jana Irving Early morning at Craven’s Bay. This view was not peaceful. The campground was full of RVs with generators. I got in really late and didn’t have the energy to move to a dispersed campground. This was an absolutely perfect campsite except for the generators. This was the view from the campsite.
Jana Irving My first stop was the Elk and Bison Prairie.
Jana Irving I lucked out. The bison herd was on the road.
Jana Irving Bison wallowing.
Jana Irving They like to roll around.
Jana Irving I’m thinking she had an itch on her neck because she kept rubbing on the ground.
Jana Irving Turkeys in the distance.
Jana Irving A bull elk just starting to grow his antlers.
Jana Irving The Great Western Furnace sits right below the Tennessee state line. It is the only structure remaining from the Great Western Iron Works.
Jana Irving Just some turtles chilling on a log in Cedar Pond.
Jana Irving I honestly do not know where this is. There were so many little inlets like this one.
Jana Irving The ruins of the Center Furnace, which operated from the 1840s to 1912.
Jana Irving There is this really cool birding area nearby. It’s dotted with a bunch of old rundown houses.
Jana Irving There is an eagle’s nest near this one.
Jana Irving Energy Lake on the left, Crooked Creek Bay on the right.
Jana Irving Land Between the Lakes is dotted with old family cemeteries. Some of which are still in use. The Lee Cemetery was right next to the second campground I stayed at.
Jana Irving View from my second campsite at Pisgah Point.
Jana Irving Spring flowers. This was the start of my current macro photography fascination.
Jana Irving I went up to the nearest town, Grand Rivers. Next to a marina is the Lighthouse Landing Lighthouse.
Jana Irving I drove the Kentucky Lake Scenic Drive. It wasn’t very scenic, but there were cherry blossoms everywhere.
Jana Irving Found another cemetery, the Nickell Cemetery.
Jana Irving A bit unique.
Jana Irving Down a trail from the Hillman Ferry Campground is the Bohanon Cemetery.
Jana Irving Butterfly!
Jana Irving A storm was rolling in.
Jana Irving No idea what kind of mushroom this is but it’s super cool.
Jana Irving Early spring wildflowers.
Land Between the Lakes was a great place to start 2023 spring camping. There is a bunch of trails and campgrounds to choose from. I didn’t hike all that much because I rolled my ankle walking on rocks by the lakeshore. However, I had a fun time exploring the Land Between the Lakes.
Check out my next update where I visit the creepy Missouri State Penitentiary!
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