Hurricane Creek Campground in Kentucky on map - US

The walk-in tent sites here offer great views.

It was a gorgeous summer day when I arrived at Hurricane Creek. White, puffy clouds contrasted with the blue sky. A gentle breeze whispered off shimmering Lake Barkley, and I was excited to be enjoying a long summer day. I quickly found a campsite, as it was a weekday. After setting up camp, I relaxed in my camp chair with an e-book and got to wondering how Hurricane Creek got its name. A hurricane seemed impossible on such a beautiful day. Of course, Hurricane Creek got its name long before it was backed up by the damming of Lake Bark-ley. Now the creek is an embayment bordered by a well-kept campground where you can enjoy some quality camping.

The campground makes the most of its attractive setting. Pass the campground entrance station, manned by the on-site campground host, then pass three waterfront electric sites, then come to more-standard campsites. In front of these sites, overlooking the water, are five excellent walk-in tent sites. The walk is short to the camps, which are underneath the trees. Lack of campsite privacy is a bit of a drawback, but the awesome views of Lake Barkley make up for it. A lawn, then the campground beach, is directly in front of the walk-in tent sites—great for tent campers with kids. A bathhouse is just across the road behind the tent sites. Farther down is a group of waterfront sites, 13-17. Of these, site 14 is a walk-in tent site too. All these sites are good.

Begin the loop portion of Hurricane Creek Campground. There are eight more coveted waterfront campsites, along with some sites that are across the loop road from the lake. Two sites, 26 and 28, are not recommended, as you are in the center of a small loop that is open to the sun and to other campers, making folks who stay in these sites feel as if they are "camping on display." Then begins what I call the no-man's-land of the campground. Starting with campsite 33, you have several pull-through sites that are seldom used but nonetheless attractive, well kept, and well shaded by oaks and cedars. It is likely that being away from the lake—with no view of the water—is a big drawback. Lovers of privacy and solitude will head back here. Some of these sites are tiered into a gentle hill rising away from the lake. This loop ends at campsite 51.

This campground is a water-lover's destination. Campers pull their boats directly up to lakeside campsites, though the campground does have a boat ramp

and courtesy dock. All facilities here are for campers only, keeping the crowds down. If campers aren't directly at the beach area, they are swimming in front of their campsites, at least those campers at the waterfront sites. Families and larger groups seem to congregate here. (During my stay, our party of two was the smallest in the campground.) Families will often stay for a week or more at a time. The waterfront electric campsites are the first to go, while the walk-in tent sites are generally available. Reservations are recommended for all campsites.

After contemplating the name Hurricane Creek, I was lulled to sleep in my camp chair. I awoke as some campers were pulling in next to me. The adults

piled out of their minivan toting camping gear, while the kids headed straight for the water, smiling with enthusiasm and carrying floats under their arms. I couldn't help but briefly wish to be so carefree, and I was glad that Hurricane Creek Campground provided an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Kentucky and Lake Barkley.

From Paducah, Kentucky: Take I-24 East to Exit 45. Turn right on KY 293 West, and go 0.3 miles. Turn left on KY 93 South, and go 5.3 miles. Turn right on KY 274 South, and go 5.7 miles. Turn right on Hurricane Camp Road. The campground is on the left.

From Nashville, Tennessee: Take I-24 West to Exit 56. Turn left on KY 139 North, and go approximately 1 mile. Turn right on KY 276, and go 8 miles. Turn right on KY 274, and go 1 mile. Turn left on Hurricane Camp Road; campground is on left.

GPS COORDINATES   N36° 55.148'   W87° 58.661'

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 218, Grand Rivers, KY 42045-0218

OPERATED BY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

CONTACT: Campground: 270-522-8821; Corps office: 270-362-4236; www.lrl.usace.army.mil; reservations: 877-444-6777, reserveamerica.com

OPEN: Mid-April-mid-October

SITES: 6 walk-in tent sites, 45 electric

SITE AMENITIES: Picnic table, fire ring, tent pad

ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served and by reservation

REGISTRATION: At campground tollhouse

FACILITIES: Hot showers, flush toilets, water spigots

PARKING: At campsites and walk-in-area parking

FEE: $10-$12 walk-in tent sites, $16-$22 electric

ELEVATION: 500 feet

¦ Pets: On leash only

¦ Fires: In fire rings only

¦ Alcohol: At campsites only

¦ Vehicles: Vehicles must stay on roadway

¦ Other: 14-day stay limit in a 30-day period