North/South Trail, North End (Land Between the Lakes)

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, USDA Forest Service (North Welcome Station near Grand Rivers to Golden Pond)

The North/South Trail runs the length of Land Between the Lakes, the wooded peninsula between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Its North End covers about 31 miles in Kentucky, from the North Welcome Station near Grand Rivers to the Golden Pond Visitor Center, through what an LBL map calls “single track trails meandering from shoreline to heavily wooded ridges.”

Kentucky Living calls it “the perfect overnight thru-hike for backpackers.” The catch is water: Land Between the Lakes says plainly that “water is not available on trails.”

The hike

The trail starts at the North Welcome Station, according to Kentucky Living, and white blazes mark the main route, with yellow blazes on spur trails to lakes, springs, and shelters. The 2015 LBL map lists three trailheads on the North End, at the North Welcome Station, Jenny Ridge Picnic Area, and Golden Pond Visitor Center, along with seven springs and three backcountry shelters.

Friends of Land Between the Lakes describes the terrain as “rugged, hilly areas in the north” easing to “easier, less strenuous hiking in the south.” Backpacker’s account of the northern section describes the trail following the shores of Kentucky Lake with climbs of up to about 200 feet. LBL’s map lists the North End as multiple-use, open to hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers, on single track, dirt, gravel, and old logging roads.

The shelters are unusual. Backpacker describes them as metal Quonset huts built from large culverts, each sleeping about four hikers, spaced roughly 12 miles apart along the whole trail. Backpackcamp names three camp spots on the North End: Buzzard Wing Springs at mile 9.7, Dead Beaver Camp at mile 12.0, about 0.8 mile off the trail, and Brush Arbor Camp at mile 15.9 near Jenny Ridge.

Storms have reshaped parts of the route. Friends of LBL says a December 2021 tornado closed about 2.5 miles between FS Road 106 and south of FS Road 110, with a 2.6-mile detour on Forest Service roads marked with white posts and diamonds. The 2025 trail map still warns of impassable, tornado-damaged sections.

Backpacker mentions that The Trace, the peninsula’s main road, crosses the North/South Trail, and that LBL holds a bison herd. The LBL backpacking page also lists the Canal Loop, which Friends of LBL describes as an 11-mile loop with four connectors, as open to overnight backpacking. South of Golden Pond, the trail continues about 27 more miles into Tennessee.

Tips

Plan all your water. LBL lists potable water only at the North Welcome Station, Golden Pond Visitor Center, and Hillman Ferry Campground. Springs aren’t reliable, especially in summer.
Check the alerts. Tornado damage and detours change; look at landbetweenthelakes.us before you go.
Go in spring or fall. The LBL map recommends both, and warns that parts of the trail can be underwater in spring.
Share the trail. Mountain bikes are allowed on the North End.
Wear orange in hunting season. The trail map notes firearms are allowed during licensed hunting seasons.
Cell service is spotty, according to the LBL map.

Camping

Every camper 18 and older needs a Basic/Backcountry Camping Permit, sold online, at the Golden Pond Visitor Center, and seasonally at welcome stations, according to LBL’s rules. Camp at least 50 feet from the marked trail and bury human waste 200 feet from it. Backcountry camping isn’t allowed within 200 yards of major roads such as US 68/KY 80 and the Woodlands Trace, or in cemeteries, picnic areas, or day-use areas. The limit is 21 nights in any 30 days. The current rules say campfires must be in fire rings. Pets must be on a leash 6 feet or shorter.

Inside Intel: Backpackcamp describes Buzzard Wing Springs as having “a nice level area for a campsite,” making it a natural first-night stop on the North End. Don’t count on the spring itself for water.

Trail facts

Distance: About 31 miles (North End)
Route type: Point-to-point
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Campsites: Dispersed (50 feet from trail); three shelters on the North End (2015 map)
Water: None on the trail; potable at North Welcome Station, Golden Pond Visitor Center, and Hillman Ferry Campground
Permits: Basic/Backcountry Camping Permit for each person 18 and older
Blazes: White (main trail), yellow (spurs)
Trailheads: North Welcome Station, Jenny Ridge Picnic Area, Golden Pond Visitor Center
Contact: Golden Pond Visitor Center, 270-924-2000
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Boiling Kentucky Lake water at camp:

With no taps on the trail and springs that fade in summer, the lake is your kitchen on the North/South Trail. A stove that boils fast saves fuel. See the stoves testers like.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.