KentuckyReservoirBreckinridge County

Rough River Lake

Fed by the Rough River, Rough River Lake holds roughly 5,100 acres of water in Kentucky. It lies in Breckinridge County. USACE Louisville District manages it. The latest reading is 490.28 ft, 4.7 ft below the 495.0 ft full pool.

Water level today: 490.28 ft · see the full record

Photo: Wine Guy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

CountiesBreckinridge County

Coordinates37.6116, -86.4840

Surface area5,100 acres

Max depth65 ft

Full pool495.0 ft

RiverRough River

Managed byUSACE Louisville District

Swimming beaches on Rough River Lake

1 named swimming spot and shoreline access points, from USGS GNIS, Recreation.gov and the Forest Service. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

Rough River Lake

1.0 mi from the lake center.

Recreation.gov (RIDB)

Rough River Lake on the map

Lake center, swimming spots and access points.

Get directions

Weather and water temperature

Air temperature and wind from Open-Meteo. Water temperature only when the lake has a public sensor.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Water level today

Readings come from station 03318005 (ROUGH RIVER LAKE NEAR FALLS OF ROUGH, KY). The Corps of Engineers puts the top of the flood pool at 524.0 ft. The agency sets full pool at 495.0 ft. The last value stored here, 490.28 ft, is from 2026-09-09. The top of the dam sits at 554.0 ft. When the pool drops, shoreline beaches grow and shallow ramps can run out of concrete.

490.28 ft trend not available

Reading of Sep 9, 2026 · source: USGS

4.7 ft below full poolFull pool 495.0 ft

Full water level record for Rough River Lake

About Rough River Lake

Rough River Lake sits at 37.6116, -86.4840. Releases go downstream into the Rough River. It lies at roughly 492 feet of elevation. It reaches roughly 65 feet at its deepest.

Around Rough River Lake this guide maps 1 named swimming spot and 5 public recreation areas. Recreation areas nearby include Laurel Branch, State Park and Axtel. They include Rough River Lake. These come from Recreation.gov (RIDB). Fees and opening dates are set by each park, not by the agency that runs the water.

Season dates vary by park; the operating agency publishes them each spring. If the water looks like pea soup or paint, stay out and report it to the managing agency. Water temperature is not measured at this lake by any public agency we read.

If Rough River Lake is busy, the nearest alternatives here are Nolin River Lake (Kentucky, 25 mi), Barren River Lake (Kentucky, 53 mi) and Patoka Lake (Indiana, 58 mi). Kentucky has 18 lakes on this site in total.

Recreation areas on Rough River Lake

5 public recreation areas mapped around the lake by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Facilities vary by area; check the managing office for opening dates and fees.

Laurel Branch State Park Axtel Cave Creek North Fork

Source: USACE Recreation Areas

Questions about Rough River Lake

Can you swim in Rough River Lake?

Yes. This guide maps 1 named swimming spot around the lake, including Rough River Lake. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

How big is Rough River Lake?

About 5,100 acres. Maximum depth is around 65 feet.

What other lakes are near Rough River Lake?

The closest in this guide is Nolin River Lake, about 25 miles away in Kentucky.