Kentucky by Johnny Molloy

Author:Johnny Molloy
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9780897328166
Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
Published: 2006-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

THIS STATE PARK HAS AN interesting history. The area was named for Ambrose Burnside, a Union general during the Civil War. Ol’ Ambrose was a little thin on top, so he made up for it with ample hair on the sides of his face. The style gained in popularity, giving rise to the term sideburns. The nearby community of Burnside, and later the state park, was named for him. At the point where the state park is currently was a high point around which the Cumberland River made a sharp bend. When the river was dammed downstream and Lake Cumberland formed, an island was formed on the high point, creating what has become General Burnside Island State Park. The Big South Fork of the Cumberland meets the main part of the river at the south end of the island, adding another watery venue that can be explored from the park.

The 430-acre island is reached by bridge. The campground is located in rolling wooded terrain and offers a quiet setting. The various loops offer different types of campsites. The two loops as you enter the campground have sites 1 through 50; all are are very large, and most are shaded. A rolling grassy lawn provides the understory, cutting down on privacy. At some sites you pitch your tent on the grass; at others you pitch it under the trees. Like the other loops in this campground, these first two have some really good sites and some not-so-good ones.

The next area, in the center of the campground, has sites 51 through 76. This is where most RVs congregate. There are some nice, shady sites here, but most are a little too close to one another or back up to one another. A better place for tent camping is the overflow area, on the edge of a rock bluff. The sites here are not numbered; each has a picnic table and fire ring. These sites are well wooded by cedars and other trees and have a fence below them to keep campers from dropping off the bluff into the river. I recommend these approximately 30 sites, even though they are a little on the small side. Most times you won’t have a neighbor, as you can camp here even when the campground is not overflowing.

The next area has sites 77 through 94. These have electricity, except for 88A and 88B, which are designated as tent sites. Sites 95 through 103 are also tent sites; they are large and set back in their own area. Watch for pitching your tent on a slope. A gravel road leads to the final primitive set of camps, 104 through 110. These are on a hilltop of sorts.

This is one place where you’ll have to drive around to find the site you like. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the site selection, though I wouldn’t want to have to choose among the last 10 unclaimed sites on a busy weekend. Get here early on nice summer weekends.

The gently rolling campground roads make for good walking or bicycling venues.

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