Campground Camping

Campground Camping Areas

• Cumberland District

  The office, located on Cave Run Lake, provides maps and information about the Daniel Boone National Forest. It also serves as the district office for Cumberland Ranger District.

  Cave Run Lake area map

  Avenza Digital Maps

  A Red River Gorge digital map is available from the Avenza Maps online map store. For the best user experience, use our maps within a GPS-enabled mobile app such as Avenza Maps.

  Cumberland District Vicinity Map

• Cave Run Lake

  Cave Run Lake is nestled among the rolling hills of northeastern Kentucky. It is located on the Cumberland Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. This 8,270-acre lake provides flood protection and a clean water supply to area communities. Tourists enjoy the lake for its scenery and excellent recreation opportunities. Boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing are some of the activities enjoyed by visitors.

  Campgrounds: The Twin Knobs and Zilpo campgrounds provide nearly 400 campsites, some with RV hook-ups. The campgrounds also have swimming beaches and group-use picnic areas.

  Boat ramps: Cave Run Lake has 12 ramps for boat launching. A Claylick (area is unavailable), Poppin Rock, Longbow, Scott Creek and Warix boat ramps. Passes may be purchased at local vendors.

  Picnic areas: The Billy Branch and Boat Gunnel picnic areas are popular locations near Cave Run Lake. 

  Trails: Several trails are developed in the Cave Run Lake area. These trails wind through the forest, providing scenic views and glimpses of wildlife. 

  Some of the most popular recreation areas around Cave Run Lake include:
  Twin Knobs Recreation Area
  Zilpo Recreation Area

  White Sulphur Horse Camp
  Clear Creek Recreation Area
  Clay Lick Boat-in Campground

• Claylick Boat-in Campground
• Clear Creek Campground
• Paragon Dispersed Camping Area
• Twin Knobs Recreation Area

  Twin Knobs is a 700-acre campground that provides outdoor recreation with lots of amenities. Nearly 200 campsites are developed to accommodate RVs and tent camping. Twin Knobs is located at Cave Run Lake on Cumberland District. 

  The campground facilities include bath houses with showers and flush toilets; three group-use areas; scenic foot trails with overlooks; and nearby boat ramps with vehicle and boat trailer parking. The campground also has volleyball courts, basketball goals and horseshoe pits. A sandy beach with a roped swimming area offers visitors a spectacular view of the lake. Boats are allowed outside of the swimming area. The beach and bath house are accessible.

  The Twin Knobs store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week. Your one stop shop to purchase food, floats, ice, wood, etc. during your beach and camping stay. Restrictions: No more than 4 customers at a time in store.

  3 Group Use Areas: East (capacity up to 100 persons), West (capacity up to 180 persons), and Tent Area (capacity up to 60 persons)

  View Twin Knobs Campground map (pdf)

  Nearby Trails:  

  • Twin Knobs Shoreline Trail #1702
  • Knob Overlook Trail #1700

  Cave Run Lake is nestled among the beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky. Built for flood protection by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this 8,270 lake provides flood protection to the lower Licking River valley and supplies water to area communities, improves water flow conditions on the Licking River, and offers habitat for many species of fish and wildlife. The lake is known for its excellent muskie fishing.

• Twin Knobs West Group Use Area
• White Sulphur Horse Camp
• Zilpo Recreation Area
• Red River Gorge Geological Area

  The Red River Gorge is a unique, scenic natural area that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Spectacular rock features, including sandstone arches and towering cliffs, are just part of the attraction. Outdoor enthusiasts come to the gorge year-round to enjoy hiking, camping, canoeing, wildlife viewing and other recreation opportunities.

  The Red River Gorge is a federally-designated National Geological Area, National Natural Landmark, National Archaeological District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gorge is also home to the federally-designated Wild and Scenic Red River and Clifty Wilderness.

  The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources regulations allow hunting and trapping in the gorge. All visitors should take appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and pets when using the gorge during hunting and trapping seasons. Inspect all backcountry campsites carefully before using the site. Avoid leaving food debris that may attract small animals. 

• Koomer Ridge Campground
• London Ranger District

  The London Ranger District encompasses 208,044 acres sandwiched between the Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers and spread across eight counties: Laurel, Whitley, Rockcastle, Jackson, Estill, Owsley, Lee, and Pulaski.

  The London Ranger District provides trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and numerous water recreation activities centered around Laurel River Lake, Lake Cumberland, and two state-designated Kentucky Wild Rivers - the Cumberland River and Rockcastle River. There are also numerous heritage sites across the District, including historic Camp Wildcat.

  Explore the District using the London District Vicinity Map

• Bee Rock Recreation Area

  Bee Rock Recreation Area, located on the London Ranger District, includes a network of 12 miles of interconnected trails centered around Bee Rock Campground and the historic Sublimity Bridge. From these trails, which range from easy to strenuous in difficulty, visitors can take in scenic overlooks, majestic cliffs, seasonal wildflowers, and views of the Rockcastle River. The Rockcastle River, whose flow forms the border of Rockcastle and Laurel counties, is cuts through the heart of the area and provides smallmouth bass and rock bass populations for fishing at the Bee Rock Boat Ramp.

  Explore the Bee Rock Recreation Area trail network using the Bee Rock Area Trails Map & Guide

• Bee Rock Campground
• Laurel River Lake

  Laurel River Lake is located on London Ranger District and features 5,600 acres of clear, deep water and nearly 200 miles of tree-lined shore. The quiet coves and cliff-lined shores offer relaxation and quiet reflection, as well as boating, fishing, skiing and scuba diving in one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in Kentucky. Fishing for black bass, walleye, crappie, blue gill and catfish is excellent.

  The U.S. Forest Service administers the lake and surrounding shoreline. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees the operation of the lake's dam and nearby recreation facilities, including a picnic area and a swimming beach at the spillway.

  Campgrounds nearby:

  • Drive-in Campgrounds - Holly Bay and Grove
  • Boat-in Campgrounds - Grove and White Oak
  • Group Campground: Craigs Creek Group Campground

  Boat Ramps nearby:

  • Craigs Creek Boat Ramp
  • Flatwoods Boat Ramp
  • Grove Boat Ramp
  • Hightop Boat Ramp
  • Holly Bay Boat Ramp
  • Laurel Bridge Boat Ramp
  • Marsh Branch Boat Ramp

  Marinas:

  • Grove Marina
  • Holly Bay Marina
• Grove Boat-In Campground
• Grove Drive-in Campground
• Holly Bay Campground
• White Oak Boat-In Campground
• Little Lick Campground
• S-Tree Campground
• Turkey Foot Campground
• Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail
• Stearns District

  The Stearns District encompasses more than 171,000 acres of national forest land in four counties of southeastern Kentucky. Much of the district lies within the Big South Fork region of the Cumberland River, located in the remote foothills of the Jellico Mountains. Steeply-sloped ridges and narrow ravines characterize the land. The terrain is rugged but scenic.

  Visitors will enjoy camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Dense hardwood forest, cascading waterfalls and towering sandstone cliffs are some of the area’s best natural attractions.   

  Two Kentucky Wild Rivers (Rock Creek and Cumberland River) and two candidates for National Wild and Scenic River designation (Marsh Creek and Rock Creek) occur in the area. The district surrounds the northern portion of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

  Three campgrounds, three picnic areas and more than 120 miles of trails provide for multiple outdoor activities. 

  Stearns District Vicinity Map

  Special features on the district are:

  • Rock Creek - a "Blue Ribbon" trout fishery
  • Alpine Picnic Area
  • Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail
  • Barren Fork Accessible Heritage Trail
  • Natural Arch Scenic Area
  • Beaver Creek Wilderness Area
  • Cumberland River
• Barren Fork Horse Camp
• Bell Farm Horse Camp
• Great Meadows Campground