About Visitor Center Picnic Shelter
Overview The Visitor Center Picnic Shelter is located within the Visitor Center Day Use Area. Recreation With 8,000 surface acres of water, the lake is an ideal place for boating. With ten boat ramps located around the shoreline, guests have plenty of room for fishing, jet skiing, wake boarding and more. Three full-service marinas are also located around the lake. Fishing is a popular activity at Green River Lake: Walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, muskie and bluegill are all found in abundance. Hunters enjoy the surrounding land, with various habitats supporting deer, turkey, rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove and waterfowl. There are also miles of trails that wind around the lake and along the shore, affording some of the most scenic views in the region. Facilities As its name gives away, the Visitor Center Picnic Shelter is located right outside the Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. The shelter is located about 1 mile off of KY-55. Amenities at the shelter include electricity hookup, 8 picnic tables, grills and access to a playground and restroom. The shelter restroom is only open seasonally (closed over the winter months). The dam overlook, trails, Visitor Center and the Atkinson-Griffin Historical Log Cabin are all located within short walking distance from the shelter. If the shelter has been reserved for the day, a "Reserved Today" sign will be placed on the shelter's sign to indicate that it not avaible for walk-ups. The Visitor Center Day Use Area closes and gates closed at 5:00 pm eastern time daily. No usage of the shelter can go beyond the 5:00 pm closing time. Keep this in mind when making reservations. This shelter is not reservable on weekends from Jan.1 - April 13, 2025 due to the area being closed on weekends. The first Saturday available for reservations is April 19, 2025. If the shelter has not been reserved for a particular day, it may be used free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. Natural Features Green River Lake area enco
How to Get There
From Columbia: Head south toward Burkesville St (266 ft). Exit the traffic circle onto Campbellsville St (1.6 mi). Continue onto KY-55 N for about 10 miles. Turn right onto Hwy 1061/Lake Rd (0.7 mi). When the road "y's" take the right side towards the Corps Office and Visitor Center (0.2 mi). Destination will be on the right. From Campbellsville, KY: Head southwest on E Broadway St toward Lebanon Ave (0.6 mi). E Broadway St turns slightly right and becomes US-68 W/Greensburg Rd (0.5 mi). Turn left onto KY-55 S (8.3 mi). Turn left onto Hwy 1061/Lake Rd (0.7 mi). When the road "y's" take the right side towards the Corps Office and Visitor Center (0.2 mi). Destination will be on the right.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →What to Pack for Your Stay
Tuned to the live forecast for this park.
👔 What to Wear
- 👕
UPF sun shirt (long sleeve)
Cooler than direct sun on bare skin.
- 🩳
Light shorts/skirt
Loose-fit, breathable.
- 🧢
Wide-brimmed sun hat
Plus a buff/bandana you can wet for cooling.
- 🕶
Polarized sunglasses
Critical for glare from sun + sand/water.
🎒 What to Pack
- 💧
Water
Bring at least 1L of water; more in heat.
- 🍫
High-energy snacks
A snack for the trail.
- 🧴
Sun protection (UV 8)
SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm w/ SPF, sunglasses, sun hat.
- 🩹
First-aid kit
Blister patches, ibuprofen, tape, antiseptic wipes.
- 🗺
Offline map
Download your route in advance via Gaia, Caltopo, or OSM-based apps.
Recommendations adapt to the current forecast + trail stats. Use them as a starting point — local conditions, your experience, and the time of day you start all matter.
Plan Your Visit to Visitor Center Picnic Shelter
Heading to Visitor Center Picnic Shelter? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Visitor Center Picnic Shelter?
No central reservation system listed for Visitor Center Picnic Shelter. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10228747) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Visitor Center Picnic Shelter?
From Columbia: Head south toward Burkesville St (266 ft). Exit the traffic circle onto Campbellsville St (1.6 mi). Continue onto KY-55 N for about 10 miles. Turn right onto Hwy 1061/Lake Rd (0.7 mi). When the road "y's" take the right side towards the Corps Office and Visitor Center (0.2 mi). Destination will be on the right. From Campbellsville, KY: Head southwest on E Broadway St toward Lebanon …
How do I contact Visitor Center Picnic Shelter?
You can reach the park at phone: 270-465-4463 or email: LRL-Pagemaster-GRG@usace.army.mil.
References & Official Resources
