When you think of relaxing islands in Kentucky… Well, most people don’t put island and Kentucky in the same sentence, but believe it or not, we have a nice little collection of both manmade and naturally created islands. Some were made when dams failed, others were carved out by the flow of the river. Our islands do not have palm trees or tropical fruits, but you will find some trees, local waterfowl and a variety of fish.

Here are 9 relaxing islands in Kentucky:

9. Henderson Island

Henderson is a little island in Wilson, whose creation was aided during the break of a 30’ cofferdam on the Ohio River. No lives were lost, but quite a few river vessels met their demise.

8. Deadman's Island

This little patch of land was created in 1913 when Dam #48 burst near Madisonville. The rush of the water took several houseboats and workers along for a ride. Witnesses said thick cables used to tie up vessels just snapped like yarn.

7. Stewart Island, or Bird Island in Livingston

This little island is upstream from the Smithland Lock, and is surrounded by a waterfowl refuge. There is some hunting allowed on nearby islands and the area is accessible via the Birdsville ramp off KY 137.

6. Laughery Island

This is one of the many alluvial islands in Kentucky, meaning it consistently changes over time due to the river’s flow. This particular spot is privately owned in Boone County, so no visiting without permission. The name came from Archibald Lochry, and the little spot is known as Lochry’s Defeat. During 1781, part of the Pennsylvania militiamen fell under the assault of Natives during the American Revolutionary War.

5. Six Mile Island Turnaround and...

This is the turnaround point for the Great Steamboat Race during the Kentucky Derby Festival.

...Six Mile Island Nature Preserve

It was turned into a preserve in 1979 and a variety of waterbirds are known to frequent the island. It is only accessible by boat but offers a beautiful view of local nature in a serene, untainted environment.

4. Diamond Island

This island use to be a diamond in the rough for Kentucky river pirates. In the 1790s, it was the perfect spot for them to hide out, especially the Samuel Mason and his crew. The Harpe Brothers were known to frequent the island with Mason as well.

It is also the home of the Diamond Island Massacre from 1803. A family was using the river to travel from Virginia and one of the sons shot a deer on the isle’s bank. The tale goes there were a mother, father and three children, the Barnards. When they stopped to collect the deer, they were supposedly attacked by Native, though river pirates were known to frequent the island. The parents were both killed, and James survived, but there is no record of what happened to the other siblings.

3. Land Between the Lakes

There are quite a few little isles scattered about in LBL. These massive manmade lakes are a fertile breeding ground for a variety of fish and wildlife. They also offer serene spots like Caspian Terms, which provide a beautiful spot to do some bird watching. It is a perfect escape from the city.

2. Floating Mill Island in Mammoth Cave

This little island on Green River is a perfect place to go for small mouth bass. It is also a great place to just relax and soak up the serenity of the area. It is a favored spot for kayaks and canoe enthusiasts who crave the perfect paddling experience.

1. Nolin River Lake

There are some little islands along the Green River that we use to stop at to swim about 35 years ago. As far as I know, they don’t have actual names, but they were pleasant excursions that allowed the elders to fish and the kids to entertain ourselves.

There are quite a few relaxing islands in Kentucky if you enjoy that type of serenity. The downside… you really need a boat to get to pretty much all of them. Fortunately, you can usually rent a boat pretty easily. What is your favorite island to visit in Kentucky?