Lake Malone is a hidden scenic gem in western Kentucky – a 788-acre lake walled by sandstone bluffs and rock shelters, with dark, tannin-tinted water reflecting the cliffs and pines. The centerpiece of Lake Malone State Park, it’s a quiet, beautiful destination for swimming, paddling and bass fishing, far off the usual tourist track in the coalfields of Muhlenberg County.
This guide covers Lake Malone: the fishing, the state park and its cliffs, and access. It’s part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.
Lake Malone at a glance
- Surface area: ~788 acres, ringed by sandstone bluffs
- Location: Muhlenberg, Logan & Todd counties, western Kentucky
- State park: Lake Malone State Park – beach, campground, marina & trails
- Top fish: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish
The cliffs and the state park
Lake Malone State Park is built around the lake’s most striking feature: 60-foot sandstone bluffs and rock shelters that line the shore, best seen by boat or kayak from the water. The park offers a swimming beach, a campground, a marina with rentals and a boat ramp, and a hiking trail to Penile Falls and the cliffs. The dark, clean water and the canyon-like coves make it one of the prettiest small lakes in western Kentucky – and one of the least crowded.
Fishing Lake Malone
Lake Malone is a quiet bass-and-panfish lake: largemouth bass along the bluffs and cover, plus crappie, bluegill and catfish. A Kentucky fishing license is required. The clear-but-tannin-stained water and rocky structure reward anglers who work the shoreline and coves.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lake Malone is off the Western Kentucky Parkway near Dunmor, about 1.5 hours southwest of Louisville and an hour northwest of Bowling Green. It’s a peaceful detour in coal country, near the Green River and the Lake Malone communities.
Frequently asked questions
What is Lake Malone known for?
Its scenic 60-foot sandstone bluffs and rock shelters, best seen from the water, and a quiet state park with a beach and campground.
What fish are in Lake Malone?
Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.
Where is Lake Malone?
In western Kentucky off the Western Kentucky Parkway near Dunmor, about 1.5 hours southwest of Louisville.
Related: explore more of the small lakes of Kentucky, or head back to the Kentucky Lakes Database.
Explore more Kentucky lakes: the largest lakes in Kentucky and the deepest lakes in Kentucky.