Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10005354
When Cave Run Dam Tailwater reopens
Cave Run Dam Tailwater's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
39
Only 39 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 2 monitored sites
Of the 366 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 81 open for online reservation · 15 reserved · 270 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
77.9% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 81 of 366 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online77.9%
Open reservation dates81 / 366
Reserved (of online inventory)15 / 96
Weekday openings54
Weekend openings27
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 54 fall on weekdays and 27 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027November shows no online availability. 0 of 60 tracked reservation dates are open there — 60 on sites not offered online.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 shelters| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked date. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked date. New Year: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by shelter
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Brown Shelter | 42 |
| Green Shelter | 39 |
The 2 shelters with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
November0 of 60 · not offered online
The next bookable date is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
81 available reservation dates across 2 shelters at Cave Run Dam Tailwater, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 2 shelters with current availability
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Shelter | 42 | 14 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 3, Oct 4 +30 more |
| Green Shelter | 39 | 13 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +27 more |
About Cave Run Dam Tailwater
Overview
The Tailwater Recreation Area is located below Cave Run Lake Dam. Located within the scenic Eastern Highlands Region of Kentucky and is almost completely surrounded by the norther-most section of the Daniel Boone National Forest. An earth and rockfill dam built across the Licking River created Cave Run Lake.
Recreation
The Tailwater area is a general use day use recreation site. Provides boat access to the Licking River and fishing opertunities. The area has two picnic shelters, five first come first serve uncovered picnic sites, and a swing set. The area does not allow hunting.
Facilities
The shelter facilites are located along the retreat channel of Cave Run Lake Dam seperated by a small stand of maple trees. The shelters have a access road right up to the shelter to allow ease of access upon request.
Natural Features
The norther-most section of the Daniel Boone National Forest surrounds the Cave Run Lake project and offers visitors many scenic, natural and historic points of interest. Over 300 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can be found in the hardwood-covered hills, forest openings, streams, ponds and caves of the scenic National Forest.
2 monitored sheltersDay useWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKMax party 50
Getting there
The lake is about 60 miles east of Lexington, Ky. Exits 123,133 and 137 off of Interstate 64 provide the primary access routes to the lake.
Morehead, KY 40351606-784-9709
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cave Run Dam Tailwater?
Reservations for Cave Run Dam Tailwater are made through Recreation.gov. 77.9% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation; 81 of 366 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 39 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the shelter on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 15:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Cave Run Dam Tailwater?
Campsite Sniper detected 39 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at Cave Run Dam Tailwater?
October 2026, with 56 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 62.
When is the next open date at Cave Run Dam Tailwater?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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Pick dates
Choose the reservation dates you want at Cave Run Dam Tailwater.
Watch
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.