Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area

Hours of Operation

Open Wednesday - Sunday from dawn to dusk. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July. 

The area is closed on the state holidays of:

• November 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving
• December 24 and 25 for Christmas
• December 31 and January 1 for New years

Office Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Contact Info

Camping

• Only sites F5, F7, F9, F11, F12, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11, E29, E31, E33 and E34 keep water. All other sites lose their water.


• The camp store, cabins, pavilions, E Bathhouse and D Bathhouse will all be shut down. Only F Bathhouse will stay open.
  


• During winter operations tents campers may only stay on electric sites for a maximum of three nights at a time and total maximum of 6 nights in a 30 day period.​
  
> Reservations for the 2021 camping season will open up in mid-march on a date yet to be determined. 

If you are interested in volunteering or hosting for the 2021 OCORA camping season (even if you have volunteered in the past) please call the office at (502) 942-9171 and leave a voice message with your name, phone number and the capacity in which you are interested in volunteering.​


 



                    




1. Electrical sites may be reserved by calling 502-492-9854 between the hours of 9am-4pm Wednesday through Sunday. Any electrical sites not reserved will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Water only or primitive sites are available on a first come, first serve basis.
2. Campers with reservations must check-in by 6:00pm. If not present by that time or they have not contacted the campground manager (502-492-9854) by that time, the sites will be available on a first come, first serve basis
3. Campers must register at entrance gate to the campground and shall receive a campground car tag by the gate attendant.
4. If camper is allowed to select a site of their choice, they shall return immediately to the gate and identify their chosen site.
5. Campers shall be limited to two tent units or one camper and one tent unit per site, with the exception of the Buddy sites where 3 campers and 3 tents maybe present or 6 tents (no campers) if all 3 sites are reserved.
6. A camper may not change sites, unless permission is given by the campground manager.
7. Campers may not homestead. Campers can only stay 30 days at one time.
8. Check out time will be 12:00pm
9. Quiet hours for the campground will be 10:00pm to 7:00am
10. Visitors must check in at the campground gate and will receive a visitor pass that must be displayed on their windshield. Visitors must be parked in campsite spaces or overflow area.
11. If vehicles or tents will be left unattended for more than 24 hours the campground manager must be notified.
12. The general admission fee ($3.00) is waived for campers, however, the special activity fee ($7.00) for mountain biking, horseback riding, and the shooting ranges must be purchased.
                                 

    
    

13. No motorized all-terrain or off-highway vehicles will be allowed. Golf carts can be used in the campground, but drivers must be a licensed driver.
14. Special events on the area, after the area closes at dark, must be approved by the area manager.
15. Campers shall not hang lanterns on trees or shrubs, drive objects into trees, or trench or dig in the campground.
16. A camper may be asked to move to facilitate maintenance such as water line repairs.
17. Fires shall be restricted to fire rings or grills.
18. Picnic tables may not be moved from site to site.
19. Dogs must be on leash and campers will be required to clean up after their pets.
20. All sewage and gray water will be disposed of at the sewage disposal site.
21. Firewood must be gathered in the campground area only or purchased at check in station. No outside firewood is allowed due to the potential of spreading the Emerald Ash Borer. No trees maybe cut down for firewood.
22. Front gate code will change every Tuesday morning. Campers are responsible to come to check in station to retrieve the new code.
23. No bike riding after dark.

Campground Rates

Type of site	Daily rate	Weekly rate	Monthly rate
Electric/water	$22	$140	$540
Pad/water	$15	$91	$330
Tent/community water	$12
Equestrian	$15	$91	$330
** Ice and LP tank exchange available on-site.

Available electric/water sites

View campground map

• A1-A11
• B1-B34
  
• D1-D8
• D22-D25
• D27-D43
• E1-E7, E27, E29, E31, E34
• F3, F5, F7, F9, F11, F12 (F11, and F12 are Handicap Sites)
• Buddy sites A, B, and C
The other electrical sites had to be abandoned due to safety and code concerns. They will be replaced in the future.

Cabins


Note: There is a $30 cash cleaning deposit that will be returned at check out
4 Electric Cabins - open room with 7 twin-size bunk beds that sleep 14 people, refrigerator, table, chairs, AC & Heat, NO WATER
• Additional $5 charge per pet, per entire stay
• Reservation Required, walk-ins welcome on first come, first serve basis
• Rates
• $70 per night
1 Primitive Cabin - open room with 8 twin-size bunk beds that sleep 16 people, table, chairs, NO AC, HEAT or WATER
• Additional $5 charge per pet, per entire stay
• Reservation Required, walk-ins welcome of first come, first serve basis.
• Rates
• $22 per night

Pavilions

Pine Grove Pavilion - is available for rent for events (i.e. weddings, business functions, family reunions, etc.). Electric is available for use at the pavilion and 3 portable lavatories will be on the site from April to October 31 each year.

• Rate
• $200 per day OR
• Groups under 70 can have their guests pay the $3 entrance fee with no additional charge for rental of the pavilion.
Cedar Hill Pavilion - is available for public use only. There is no electric or lavatories provided to this pavilion.


Activities

Current Recreational Activities

• Fishing
  • Area includes five miles of Otter Creek and frontage along the Ohio River.
  • Trout will be stocked in Otter Creek three times in the spring and a fourth time in October.
  • A seasonal catch-and-release season for trout planned from October through the end of March.
  • Anglers must possess a valid entry permit and have an appropriate fishing license and permit, if applicable.
• Hunting
  • Spring squirrel hunting available under statewide season.
  • Hunters must possess a valid entry permit and have valid hunting licenses and permits, if applicable.
  • Opportunities planned in fall for small game, furbearer, deer and turkey hunting.
  • Quota firearm hunts planned for deer, in addition to separate archery and crossbow seasons.
  • See the Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide (available in July) for more information.
• Hiking
  • Hiking is allowed on all trails.
• Horseback Riding

  • Horseback riding is allowed on the Red Cedar Trail (RCT) and the Boone Hollow Trail (BHT).

    Please note: To participate in horseback riding at Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area, you must provide your own horses.

• Mountain Bike Riding
  • Mountain biking is allowed on the Otter Creek Trail (OCT) and the Valley Overlook Trail (VOT).
• Archery Range
  • The 3-D archery range is up and running.
• Pistol Range
• Six lanes - 20 Yards
• Rifle Range
• Tube Range - 100 Yards
• Disc Golf
• Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc."
Please Note:
• Carry-down launch ramp at Ohio River for canoes, kayaks, and small boats
• Groups holding events of 30 people or more must apply in advance for an event permit. Call 502-942-9171 to apply for an event permit.
• Motorized off-roading is not allowed on the area.

Directions to Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area from:

Owensboro, KY

Travel East on US-60 to KY -144, turn left onto KY-144 and travel approximately 30 miles. At the intersection of KY 144 and KY 79 turn left and follow KY 79 for 2.4 miles. At the intersection of KY 79 and KY 1051 turn right on to KY 1051. Follow KY 1051 and then merge to the right onto KY 448. From KY 448 you will travel approximately 2 miles to the intersection of KY 448 and KY 1638. Turn left onto KY 1638 and follow it 5 miles to the entrance of the area on the left.

Elizabethtown, KY

Travel North on US 31W to the intersection of US-31W and HWY 1638. Turn left onto HWY 1638 and follow it approximately 4 miles to the entrance of the area on the right.

Lexington, KY

Take I-64W to Exit 19A, to KY 841 South, Gene Snyder Freeway. Take the US-31W/US-60 exit, EXIT 1, toward FORT KNOX/LOUISVILLE. Turn LEFT onto DIXIE HWY/US-31W S/US-60 W. Continue to follow US-31W S/US-60 W. Turn RIGHT onto KY-1638 and follow it approximately 4 miles to the entrance of the area on the right.

Louisville, KY

Follow DIXIE HWY/US-31W S/US-60 W to the intersection of US-31W S and KY-1638. Turn RIGHT onto KY-1638 and follow it approximately 4 miles to the entrance of the area on the right.


Maps

View Printable Map


View Larger Map ​​

History of Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area

1934

The National Parks Service selects 3,000 acres of beautiful land in Meade County, Ky., to serve as a recreational area for residents of Louisville and neighboring towns. (Today, the park’s acreage is 2,600, after land swaps with Ft. Knox.)

1937

Otter Creek Park opens to the public.

1938

The first camp at Otter Creek Park is built and leased by the YMCA to become Camp Piomingo.

1947

In recognition of the city's service during World War II, the Federal Government endows Otter Creek Park to the City of Louisville.

1975

President Ford transfers 197 acres of surplus land from Fort Knox military reservation to the City of Louisville to be added to Otter Creek Park.

1986

Otter Creek Park builds a disc golf course.

1995

Otter Creek Park becomes a Division of Louisville Metro Parks.

2001

A new master plan is adopted for Otter Creek Park. The plan was developed by a task force chaired by former Louisville Mayor Frank Burke.

Dec. 2008

The city of Louisville announced that the park, which loses $500,000 annually, would close to the public on December 14, 2008 due to budget cuts. This closing date was amended to January 1.

June 2010

Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson announced that Otter Creek Park will be reopened in 2011 as an outdoor recreational area operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

Winter 2010

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources initiated the process of transferring and converting Otter Creek Park into The Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. Titles, deeds, surveys and boundaries assessments were part of this process.

Late Winter 2010

Physical inspections and assessments were initiated as to the condition of all facilities including buildings, signs, electricity, water, gates, roadways, parking areas, trails and access points to Otter Creek and the Ohio River. Since the 2008 closure, there has been minimal maintenance at the facility that also experienced severe damage from the 2009 ice storm.

Fall 2010

KDFWR meets with various user groups and conducts the Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area web-based survey. Over 4000 surveys were completed representing over 13,000 household members.

March 2011

Area use regulations and fee structures are established. First opening weekend of May 14th determined.

April 2011

Annual passes available for purchase and first annual pass sold on KDFWR web site http://fw.ky.gov

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources receives no money from the state’s general fund. Agency funding is supported by Sportsmen and Sportswomen every time they purchase a hunting or fishing license; buy a firearm, ammunition, or fishing or archery equipment; pay boat registration fee; buy fuel for your boat; donate via the Kentucky state income tax check off to the Nature and Wildlife Fund.