🌤 Weather at Carr Creek State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33–77 °F | 60–86 °F | 34–79 °F | 26–49 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Skyline 1 SE, 13 mi away, elevation 1,083 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Carr Creek State Park is a public state park in Kentucky near Sassafras in Knott County. It sits on a 750-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir in the mountains southeast of Hazard and has the longest sand beach in the Kentucky State Parks system.
Quick Facts
| State | Kentucky |
| Nearest City | Sassafras |
| County | Knott County |
Location & Getting There
Carr Creek State Park is located near Sassafras, Kentucky. The park’s coordinates are 37.2667, -83.0833.
Things to Do
Carr Creek is a small park with one big asset: Kentucky State Parks calls its strip of sand “the longest sand beach in the Kentucky State Parks system,” on a mountain reservoir 15 miles southeast of Hazard on KY 15. The lake itself goes by two names — the state calls it Carr Fork Lake and puts it at 750 acres, the Army Corps of Engineers, which built and runs it for flood control on the North Fork Kentucky River, calls it Carr Creek Lake and counts 710. Either way it is narrow, deep and steep-sided, with miles of wooded shoreline and no towns on the water.
Fishing is the other draw: the Corps’ species list runs to smallmouth and largemouth bass, black and white crappie, walleye, channel catfish and bluegill, with threadfin shad stocked yearly since 1986 to feed them and trout stocked monthly through summer in the tailwater below the dam. A Kentucky license is required. Note what the state park does not own: the marina, the Littcarr boat ramp, the Sugar Branch Trail (six miles from the dam to Sugar Lake Road) and the two short nature paths are all Corps recreation areas with their own fees and phone numbers, and Carr Creek is not among the 13 state-park marinas that rent boats.
Best Time to Visit
The beach is a summer place — lifeguards have traditionally been on duty from Memorial Day weekend through the season, and the campground’s peak-rate window runs May 20 to September 7 and again through October 2026. Walleye and crappie anglers come in spring; fall brings the Sugar Branch ridge into color and the lowest crowds. The park is open year-round, but the campground goes to non-peak rates from mid-September to mid-May.
Visitor Tips
There is no admission fee to the park or the beach. The campground has 39 back-in sites, all with electric only (no water or sewer hookups at the site), at $28 Sunday to Thursday, $33 Friday and Saturday and $35 on holiday weekends as of 2026, plus a $6 reservation fee and Kentucky taxes; bathhouse, showers, laundry, playground and fire rings are on site, and there are no cabins. Book up to 12 months ahead at the Kentucky State Parks reservation site. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the campground but not on the beach, under statewide rules.
The address is 2086 Smithboro Road, Sassafras, KY 41759; phone (606) 642-4050. The nearest state park with a lodge is Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, about 36 miles north. Rates and dates were checked against parks.ky.gov and the reservation system in September 2026; beach and ramp details come from the Corps of Engineers and are worth a call to confirm.
Explore More Kentucky State Parks
Carr Creek State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Kentucky. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Kentucky guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Wildlife & Nature
Carr Creek SP — 39 acres on Carr Creek Lake (710 acres) in the Appalachian Mountains. The park’s lake, mountain forest, and streams support black bears, wild turkeys, and white-tailed deer. Bass, bluegill, and catfish fill the lake.
Nearby Attractions
Hindman — nearby — home of the Hindman Settlement School (oldest settlement school in America, founded 1902). Knott County — surrounding.
More parks nearby: Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park is within about an hour’s drive, while Kingdom Come State Park lies within about an hour’s drive.
⛺ Camping at Carr Creek State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | 39 sites — All 39 sites are Standard Electric (multiple amp options, water hookup, no sewer hookup listed), back-in only, 30-60 ft equipment length. Multiple ADA-accessible sites. |
|---|---|
| Reservations | Kentucky State Parks/ReserveAmerica online booking; minimum 1 day ahead of arrival, up to 12 months in advance; 1 night minimum weekdays, 2 nights Friday/Saturday; max 8 occupants per site (4 adults + children 16 and under in base rate, additional adults $5/night). |
| Special sites | Dump station within 1 mile of the park; multiple ADA-accessible sites. |
| Season notes | Peak season May 20–September 7 and October 1–31, 2026 (May 16–September 5, 2027); non-peak September 8–30, November 1, 2026–March 14, 2027, and March 15–May 15, 2027. |
Camping questions about Carr Creek State Park
Can you camp at Carr Creek State Park?
Yes. Carr Creek State Park has 39 campsites. All 39 sites are Standard Electric (multiple amp options, water hookup, no sewer hookup listed), back-in only, 30-60 ft equipment length. Multiple ADA-accessible sites.
How do you reserve a campsite at Carr Creek State Park?
Kentucky State Parks/ReserveAmerica online booking; minimum 1 day ahead of arrival, up to 12 months in advance; 1 night minimum weekdays, 2 nights Friday/Saturday; max 8 occupants per site (4 adults + children 16 and under in base rate, additional adults $5/night).
Source: parks.ky.gov (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Carr Creek State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas of Kentucky state parks but must be leashed in all public areas.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash required in all public areas (official policy does not state a maximum length)
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are restricted from beaches, nature preserves and some historic sites
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pet-friendly rooms and cabins available at select lodges for a $50-per-accommodation fee, max two pets, 80 lbs per pet
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; $50 pet fee per accommodation for lodging (undisclosed pets: $150 per incident)
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Pets banned from State Nature Preserve trails at parks including John James Audubon, Natural Bridge, Cumberland Falls, Carter Caves and Pine Mountain
Are dogs allowed at Carr Creek State Park?
Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas of Kentucky state parks but must be leashed in all public areas. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parks.ky.gov. More: Kentucky state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Carr Creek State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
