Where is Smoky Valley Lake?

Smoky Valley Lake is a lake in Carter County, Kentucky. Its water-quality measurements are published by Kentucky DOW and shown on this page as reported.

Are there campgrounds on Smoky Valley Lake?

Smoky Valley Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground, Carter Caves State Resort Park Horse Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.

Smoky Valley Lake

Carter County, Kentucky29 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Kentucky DOW for this lake.

Area

29 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

2.5 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Oxygen depletion (low DO)

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Smoky Valley Lake in Carter County, Kentucky has water-quality measurements published by Kentucky DOW, shown here as reported. Surface area: 29 acres.

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Smoky Valley Lake is a 29-acre lake in Carter County, Kentucky.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KY DOW. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Smoky Valley Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Camping2 public campgrounds nearby

Swimming conditions

No reading

Not rated

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Smoky Valley Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Smoky Valley Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Kentucky Division of Water and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Smoky Valley Lake

These are the measurements Kentucky DOW publishes for Smoky Valley Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Smoky Valley Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Surface area

29 acres

Shoreline

2.5 mi

No bathymetric survey has been published for Smoky Valley Lake, so its depth is not documented here.

Recreation & Access

Campgrounds

Public campgrounds near Smoky Valley Lake

Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground0.9 km
Carter Caves State Resort Park Horse Campground1.4 km

Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Smoky Valley Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Smoky Valley Lake in Carter County, Kentucky — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Smoky Valley Lake

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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Follow Smoky Valley Lake’s readings

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Fishing Smoky Valley Lake

→ Smoky Valley Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Smoky Valley Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Oxygen depletion (low DO)

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit KY-1742 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Carter County

Smoky Valley LakeEutrophic0.1 miView →Grayson LakeMesotrophic11.6 miView →Greenbo LakeEutrophic16.1 miView →Cave Run Lake27.3 miView →Yatesville Lake6.1 ft clear—View →Cave Run Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about Smoky Valley Lake

Where is Smoky Valley Lake?: Smoky Valley Lake is a lake in Carter County, Kentucky. Its water-quality measurements are published by Kentucky DOW and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Smoky Valley Lake?: Smoky Valley Lake in Carter County, Kentucky has water-quality measurements published by Kentucky DOW, shown here as reported. Surface area: 29 acres.
Is Smoky Valley Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Smoky Valley Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Smoky Valley Lake?: Smoky Valley Lake has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Carter Caves State Resort Park Campground, Carter Caves State Resort Park Horse Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.