Lake guide
Nolin Lake Guide: Marinas, Ramps, State Park and Mammoth Cave
Nolin River Lake, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Louisville: the three marinas, which Corps and state ramps are open when, Nolin Lake State Park after the 2025 floods, campgrounds, fishing and the drive to Mammoth Cave.
Nolin Lake level right now
0.78 ft below summer pool (515 ft) · 24.22 ft above winter pool (490 ft)
- Release from the dam (outflow)128 cfs
- NWS forecast pool513.68 ft
Provisional real-time data from federal agencies; it can change after review. Checked Oct 28, 2026, 12:44 PM ET.
Heads up: we're an independent guide. Some links may earn us a referral fee, which never changes what you pay or what we recommend. Conditions change fast on the water, so confirm closures and levels with the official source. How we make money.
Nolin River Lake is a long, narrow U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in Edmonson, Grayson and Hart counties, built in the early 1960s. Its wooded shoreline and deep coves make it a favorite for pontoon days, houseboats and crappie fishing, and it sits right next to Mammoth Cave National Park. It is quieter than the big southern Kentucky lakes, and it's close enough to Louisville for a day trip.
Status, late October 2026: Nolin Lake State Park reopened its beach and swimming area on August 7, 2026, after flood damage in 2025. Moutardier Marina's 2026 season ends October 31. The lake is lowered toward winter pool each fall, so check the Nolin Lake level before you launch.
Marinas on Nolin Lake
| Marina | Where | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Moutardier Resort & Marina | West side, off KY 259 (Edmonson County) | Full-service marina, rentals, cabins and the Marina Grill. Took over the Corps' Moutardier day-use area on Sept 1, 2026. The 2026 season ends Oct 31. |
| Wax Marina | Near Clarkson (Grayson County) | Rentals, fuel and a boat club. Has run the Wax day-use area and ramp since Jan 1, 2025, and Wax Campground since Feb 2026. Buoys at the Lodge (rooms and a bar and grill) is above the marina. |
| Ponderosa Boat Dock | Clarkson area | Small boat dock. The website is live but lists few details, so call before you go. |
Hours, slip availability and rental rates change by season. Confirm with each marina.
Boat ramps
The Corps runs four ramps on Nolin:
- Arnold Van Meter (Site One, at the dam): open all year.
- Moutardier: open all year.
- Iberia and Dog Creek: open April 1 to October 31.
Corps ramps charge a launch fee, and the Corps also sells an annual pass. Brier Creek, inside Nolin Lake State Park, has no fee and is listed by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife as open year-round. Wax is run by Wax Marina, which sets its own fees. The Corps warns that any ramp can close when the lake is unusually high or low, so check the live level first.
Nolin Lake State Park after the floods
The state park, near Bee Spring in Edmonson County, closed after the 2025 floods. Its beach and swimming area reopened on August 7, 2026. The campground is listed as primitive camping (no electric hookups found on the booking page), and we found no cabins at the park. Expect some facilities to stay limited while repairs continue. Check Kentucky State Parks before you go.
Camping
The Corps lists three campgrounds on the lake, all booked through Recreation.gov:
- Dog Creek (Hart County): 70 sites, a campers-only swimming area and a ramp.
- Moutardier (Edmonson County): 167 sites next to the marina.
- Wax (Grayson County): now run by Wax Marina.
Corps campgrounds are generally open spring through late October.
Fishing
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's fishing forecast names Nolin River Lake an up-and-comer for crappie. Spring walleye and white bass runs push up toward Bacon Creek and the upper river. Nolin has its own size limits: crappie must be at least 10 inches, walleye at least 14 inches, and black bass at least 15 inches. Check the current rules on the KDFWR page before you keep fish.
Mammoth Cave next door
Part of the Nolin River runs through Mammoth Cave National Park, which logged about 747,000 recreation visits in 2024. From the state park it's roughly a 30-minute drive to the Mammoth Cave visitor center (routing estimate), so a lake day plus a cave tour works well. Book cave tours early in summer.
Where to stay
Look at cabins and lake houses on Vrbo, Moutardier's cabins, Buoys at the Lodge (rooms above Wax Marina), and the lodging list from Edmonson County Tourism. Leitchfield, Brownsville and Cave City also have motels.
Where to eat
The Moutardier Marina Grill is right at the marina. Buoys Bar & Grill is above Wax Marina. See restaurants on the water for which ones you can reach by boat.
FAQ
How far is Nolin Lake from Louisville?
Is Nolin Lake State Park open?
Which Nolin Lake boat ramps are open all year?
Do you have to pay to launch at Nolin Lake?
How far is Nolin Lake from Mammoth Cave?
Sources
Checked October 28, 2026. Agencies first; businesses are linked so you can confirm hours and prices with them directly.
- Nolin River Lake recreation (ramps, fees, campgrounds, Wax management) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division)
- Nolin Lake water data (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- FY2024 Interagency Recreation Visitation Data Report (Recreation.gov / RIDB)
- USACE announces new management of Wax Campground (Feb 2026) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Moutardier Day Use Area, Nolin River Lake (Recreation.gov)
- Nolin Lake State Park to reopen after flooding (K105)
- Nolin Lake State Park campground (Kentucky State Parks (ReserveAmerica))
- Brier Creek ramp, Nolin River Lake (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)
- Nolin River Lake fishing regulations and access (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)
- Kentucky fishing forecast (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)
- Moutardier Resort & Marina (marina website)
- Wax Marina (marina website)
- Ponderosa Boat Dock (marina website)
- Edmonson County lodging (Edmonson County Tourism)
- NPS 2024 annual park ranking (Mammoth Cave visits) (National Park Service via npshistory.com)
