[Jump to the main content of this page]

USDA Forest Service
Daniel Boone
National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391

Phone: 859-745-3100
FAX: 859-744-1568

Camping on Cumberland Ranger District

Protect our forests. Don't move firewood...

Recreation Schedule and Fees

Notice: Motorized vehicles (golf carts, ATVs, scooters, etc) are not to be used for travel within campgrounds on the district. 36 CFR 261.14 (o).

The following is prohibited: Operating a motorbike, motorcycle, or any other motor vehicle for any purpose other than entering or leaving the site.) Learn about campground rules and regulations.

Note: Please contact Ranger Stations in early and late season to verify campgrounds are open.

Cave Run Lake Camping:

Clay Lick | Twin Knobs | Zilpo | Clear Creek | White Sulphur

Red River Gorge Camping:

Koomer Campground

Clay Lick Boat-In Campground
Description	Primitive camping, pit toilets, tent area, grill, lantern pole, drinking water. Boat moorings.
Season/Fees	Recreation Schedule and Fees
Phone	606-784-8816 (Seasonal)
Directions	From I-64 at Exit 133 (Farmers) Proceed south on KY 801. Follow to KY 1274, follow east 1.5 miles to Clay Lick Road. Turn right, go 1.5 miles to Clay Lick boat ramp where parking is available with Recreation Pass. Campground is walk-in only and is approximately .5 miles from the parking lot.

Twin Knobs Campground
Description	Scenic shorelines and camping on 700-acre wooded peninsula on Cave Run. Some electrical hookups, showers, sandy beach, trail, interpretive programs, group use area. Boat moorings.
Phone	Seasonal number: 606-784-8816
Reservations	Loops C, G, H and I contact http://www.recreation.gov/ or call 1-877-444-6777 or 1-877-833-6777 (for hearing impaired).
Season/Fees	Recreation Schedule and Fees
Group Use Areas	These areas are available for use by groups. West Group Area: (up to 180 people). Day use only. Pavilion, grills, flush toilets, horseshoes, volleyball, softball. East Group Area: (up to 100 people). Overnight or day use. Pavilion, grills, flush toilets and showers, horseshoes, boat dock, tent pads. Tent Group Area: (up to 60 people). Overnight use. Fire ring, tent pads, horseshoes, flush toilets and showers. No pavilion.
Directions	From I-64 at Exit 133 (Farmers) proceed south on KY 801. Campground is 9 miles on the right.
ROG/Map	Twin Knobs Campground (pdf)

* No passport discounts on surcharge fees. "Passport" refers to discount cardholders of the Federal Recreation Passport Program.

Zilpo Recreation Area
Description	Scenic vistas of Cave Run on 335 acres. Lakeshore camping, sandy beach. 42 electrical hookups, country store, interpretive programs, boat moorings.
Phone	Seasonal number: 606-768-2722
Reservations	http://www.recreation.gov/ or call 1-877-444-6777 or 1-877-833-6777 (for hearing impaired).
Season/Fees	Recreation Schedule and Fees
Directions	Take KY 211 south from Salt Lick 4 miles. Turn left (east) on Forest Road 129. Go 2.5 miles to Forest Road 918. Follow 918 approximately eight miles to Zilpo Recreation Area.
ROG/Map	Zilpo Campground (pdf)

* No passport discounts on surcharge fees. "Passport" refers to discount cardholders of the Federal Recreation Passport Program.

Clear Creek Campground
Description	Near the remains of an old iron furnace and Pioneer Weapons Wildlife Management Area. Vault toilets, drinking water, tent pads, grills, lantern poles.
Phone	Seasonal number: 606-768-2722.
Season/Fees	Recreation Schedule and Fees
Directions	From US 60 take KY 211 south from Salt Lick for 4 miles. Turn left (east) on Forest Road 129. Go 2 miles to Clear Creek.

White Sulphur Horse Camp
Description	100 miles of trails nearby. Primitive area for overnight camping. Vault toilets, watering trough, horse trailer parking, picket lines, gravel lot. No drinking water.
Phone	Seasonal number: 606-768-2722
Season	Open Year Round Camping with Horse ONLY
Fee	Recreation Schedule and Fees
Directions	From US 60 take KY 211 south from Salt Lick for 4 miles. Turn left (east) on Forest Road 129. Go 2 miles to Clear Creek Market, turn left on Forest Road 105, go 2.5 miles.

Camping in the Red River Gorge

Koomer Ridge is the only developed campground in the Red River Gorge. Read about dispersed camping in the Gorge.

Camping and Firebuilding is prohibited in rockshelters. Read more>

Koomer Ridge Amphitheater opens Memorial Day weekend and features a program each Saturday until Labor Day weekend. The program usually begins at dusk. Please check the Cumberland District events page or information board located in the campground for exact times. Programs contain information about the Red River Gorge and surrounding areas.

Koomer Ridge Developed Campground
Description	Koomer Ridge Campground features semi-primitive camping in a tranquil woodland setting. Located just off the Mountain Parkway, Koomer Ridge is within the Red River Gorge Geological Area and offers access to the Red River Gorge National Recreation Trails. It is also near Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Koomer Ridge features primitive tent camping, 19 trailer sites, vault and flush toilets, bath house with showers, drinking water, grills, lantern posts, and picnic tables.
Phone	606 668 7939
Season/Fees	Recreation Schedule and Fees
Sites	54; all suitable for tents; 19 for trailers.
Directions	On KY 15 between the Slade exit (#33) and the Beattyville exit (#40) off the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway. From Mountain Parkway at Slade exit, take KY 15 east for 5 miles to the campground.
Other Amenities	Hydrants available during camping season. Pay phone available near bath house Restrooms: Vault and flush toilets; showers Trash Receptacles Accessibility Site 46 is accessible. An accessible vault toilet is nearby.
Map	Koomer Ridge Recreation Opportunity Guide

Make your visit enjoyable for you and others by following these rules:

Payment must be made within 30 minutes after obtaining a site. Up to 6 people may stay at a single site and up to 12 people may stay at a double site. Check-in instructions are on the information board at entrance.
Park vehicles in designated areas only. Only 2 vehicles may park at a single site and no more than 4 vehicles at a double site.
Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. No visitors are permitted during these hours except those camping here.
Campers may stay a maximum of 14 days without special permission.
Check out time is 2:00 p.m.
Obey posted speed limit of 15 mph and watch for children at play.
Please keep noise at a reasonable level. Be courteous to your fellow campers.
Fireworks and loud radios are not allowed.
Do not discharge firearms, including BB guns or bows and arrows, within the campground.
Use only dead and down wood. Do not cut or damage standing trees. No chainsaws are allowed.
Always use a flashlight when walking at night, due to snakes, high cliffs and other hazards.
Fires must be contained in grills or stoves.
Keep all trailers and tents on the pad, not on the grass. Do not dig up tent pads for any reason.
Do not move picnic tables.
Place all garbage in trash receptacles.
Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Hikers and backpackers, please park in the trailhead parking lot.

Dispersed camping in the general forest area of Red River Gorge is permitted as long as you observe the following:

GET YOUR PERMIT! - A recreation fee is required for backcountry camping. All vehicles on KY 15 or in the Red River Gorge and Indian Creek areas north of KY 15 must display a recreation permit between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Permits are available at local stores, the Gladie Cultural-Environmental Learning Center, and Forest Service offices.

CAMPING - Camping is NOT permitted:

In any picnic area or parking area.
Within 300 feet of any road or developed trail.
Within 100 feet of the base of any cliff, or the back of any rockshelter. Why? Read More>
Within 600 feet of Gray’s Arch.
Within any area posted “No Camping

CAMPFIRES - Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire within 100 feet of the base of any cliff or the back of any rockshelter is PROHIBITED in the Red River Gorge.

Camping on Cumberland Ranger District

Clay Lick Boat-In Campground

Twin Knobs Campground

Zilpo Recreation Area

Clear Creek Campground

White Sulphur Horse Camp

Koomer Ridge Developed Campground