Nestled in the northeastern part of Kentucky, Greenbo Lake State Park is a nature lover's dream, featuring a 300-acre lake and a marina and boat dock. Located just outside of Greenup, KY, this state park is a must-visit for your next RV outdoor recreational adventure. You will have access to endless outdoor recreational opportunities in unique mountainous terrain. From hiking and biking to swimming and horseback riding, Greenbo State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor adventures.
The breathtaking views of Greenbo Lake State Park are spectacular, covering more than 3,300 acres of mountainous wilderness. You will love soaking in the mountain air while being surrounded by unique plants and wildlife, including deer, foxes, and turkeys. Writers will love the opportunity to walk through the Jesse Stuart Lodge and marvel in the artifacts and books regarding this highly decorated writer.
Once you park your camper at Greenbo Lake State Park, you can venture out onto one of the many trails dotted around the park. For birdwatchers, enjoy any of the 25 miles of trails, where you might be able to spot Kentucky warblers, red-tailed hawks, and barred owls. Claylick Loop Trail, Michael Tygart Loop Trail, and Carpenter's Run Trail are popular for horseback riding and biking. The trails range in difficulty. Greenbo Lake State Park is a perfect RV destination no matter what time of the season.
Greenbo Lake State Park is located just 12 miles south of the town of Greenup, KY, and less than six miles from the tiny community of Argillite, KY. Several highways will lead you to the park. While these roads tend to have a few twists and turns as well as some changes in altitude, they are generally wide or gradual, making these main roads easy to navigate. The internal roads will take you anywhere you wish to go inside the park. There are no driving restrictions for RVs or trailers within the park, so you'll be able to get around easily, whether you're driving your rig or in another vehicle.
Centrally located among several popular routes is the Ashland / Huntington West KOA in Argillite, Kentucky. With nearby restaurants, historical sites, and a variety of festivals and other events taking place regularly, you are sure to find fun and relaxation during your stay. The Country Music Highway provides a great day drive to take in the countryside in addition to hiking trails and caves for the explorers looking for an adventure. Other area activities include kayaking, ATVing, shopping, and experiencing the rich history and museums of the region. Back at camp, you can enjoy spacious big-rig pull-through sites that are slide-out friendly and clear of trees for those who have satellite TV. Cable is available at every site along with a 20/30/50-amp electric hookup. Snacks, propane, and firewood can all be purchased at the convenience store, and there are coin-op laundry facilities, too. Free Wi-Fi will keep you connected during your stay, but while you are disconnecting, try a round of mini-golf, cast a line in a fully-stocked fishing pond, or relax by the pool. Themed weekends, popular during high season, offer activities like bonfires, crafts, and more.
Greenbo Lake State Park features 98 pet-friendly campsites available for reservations year-round. There is a great deal of variety among the campsites. Not only are the campsites divided between 24 primitive sites with no hookups, 35 with electrical hookups only, and 42 full-service sites, with electric, water, and sewer, but all of the sites are also of varying sizes. While spaces many can accommodate rigs of 50 feet or longer, others are only large enough for trailers up to 27 feet in length, so it is important to read the details when reserving your site. Each of the sites comes equipped with a gravel pad for parking, a picnic table, and a fire pit with grill. Additional amenities at this campground include two conveniently located bathhouses with hot showers and flush toilets, two well-maintained playgrounds, and two sanitary dump stations. There is no limit on how long you may stay. There is a two-day minimum weekend stay during peak time.
Greenbo Lake State Park is home to two state largemouth bass records. Make sure you pack your rod and reel in your RV so that you can cast a line. Maybe you will be able to add a third record to the books. If you prefer the laid-back, leisurely side of fishing, you don’t have to target the largest largemouth in the lake. Just enjoy the vast scenery around you as you cast a line for other tasty fish such as crappie, catfish, and trout, either from the shoreline or from a boat. Didn't bring your rod or forgot your bait? No problem, at the fully-stocked marina you can pick a pole up for free if you are an overnight camping guest, or even buy more bait or gear. The possession or use of live shad as bait is prohibited on this lake.
If you wish to venture out onto the lake and immerse yourself in the vast beauty surrounding the area, then hit the 25-open-slip marina in your boat. Greenbo Lake is an idle-speed lake, and water sports such as waterskiing are off-limits, so your peaceful surroundings will not be disturbed by the wake of other boats. Be sure to check and clean your boat thoroughly before launching it in the lake to prevent the transfer of aquatic species from other bodies of water. Should you not have a boat with you, there is no need to worry. At the marina, you have the option to rent a pontoon, johnboat, canoe, or kayak. Any of these would make a great afternoon rental to sit and relax on the water.
Greenbo Lake State Park is home to several unique species of birds, so you want to make sure you pack your binoculars in your campervan. Some of the many birds you may see include downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, mallard, Canadian geese, and barred owl. If you are lucky and observant, you may even spot one of the many threatened avian species that make a home in the area, such as the Blackburnian warbler, the American coot, or the yellow-bellied sapsucker. Any of the hiking trails provide excellent bird viewing opportunities, as do the dam and marina.
If you are bringing your horses with you on your camping trip to Greenbo Lake State Park, you can stay overnight at the primitive Equestrian area of the campgrounds, which is situated near one of the trailheads for the equestrian trails that explore this state park. There are nine designated primitive sites available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations required. The sites are without electricity, water, or sewer, and there are no corrals for the horses, but each designated site has hitching posts, a fire ring, picnic area, and a general water area. Campers staying overnight in the equestrian center are welcome to use the amenities available to other overnight guests to the campground, including plumbed restrooms with showers.
If you are an avid equestrian, you will love the chance to hit the trails at Greenbo Lake State Park. This state park has a primitive horse campground, with hitching posts and water available on-site, which will fulfill your needs if you are bringing your horses in your trailer. You can go horseback riding on three of the trails throughout the park and soak in the amazing scenery all around you. The Claylick Loop Trail is a nine-mile loop marked with blue blazes and offers scenic views of lakes, caves, and rock formations. Carpenter’s Run is a fifteen-mile loop marked with red blazes that frequently follow the lakeshore, and the Michael Tygart Loop Trail is an 8.5-mile, yellow-blazed trail that meanders past Kentucky's most scenic forests.
Greenbo Lake State Park is an excellent place to bring your bike and head out onto the trails. Once you park your RV, you can cycle down the Claylick Trail, which is a nine-mile trail that will have you cruising along the ridgeline down to the lake, and providing amazing views of the rock and cave formations. Another excellent biking trail is the 8.5-mile Michael Tygart Loop Trail, marked with yellow blazes, where you can coast along enjoying views of the marina, pass a cemetery and descend into a verdant valley as you pass along creeks and abandoned houses. TThe Michaek Tygart Loop is a particularly good place to view wildflowers in the late spring and early summer. The challenging Carpenter Run Trail, a 15-mile loop with views of the dam, is one of the best trails to take if you want to see wildlife on your mountain biking adventure.
You'll want to bring along a great pair of hiking boots in your camper since there are more than 25 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty to choose from at Greenbo Lake State Park. If you are looking for an easy stroll, check out the Fern Valley Self Guided Interpretive Trail. This informative route is an easy one-mile trail that winds through a valley and then returns you to where you started. A guide book is available for use at the lodge front desk, just remember to return it when your hike is complete. For a more difficult hike, head out on the 15 mile Carpenter Run Trail, which will take you along forest ridgelines, down towards the lake, and provide you with amazing views of the dam. Make sure you bring along your sunblock and bug spray when hiking in this Kentucky state park!
