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

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

Stearns Ranger District Campgrounds

These campgrounds are located on Stearns Ranger District.

Stearns Ranger Station
3320 US 27 North
Whitley City, KY 42653
606-376-5323

Learn about campground rules and regulations. Kentucky law prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public places and prohibits open containers of alcohol.

Protect our forests. Don't move firewood.

2009 Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf).

Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROGS) are letter-sized information sheets about our campgrounds, recreation areas and trails. The front page of the ROG will tell you how to get there, what facilities are available, if a fee is required, contact information, safety tips, historic information and much more. The back page of the ROG has a map of the campground. These ROGs are available in PDF formats. If you don't have a PDF reader, Download FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Barren Fork Horse Camp | Bell Farm Horse Camp | Great Meadows Campground

Note: Please contact District Offices in early and late season to verify campgrounds are open.

Barren Fork Horse Camp
Description	The area near the horse camp was the site of a coal mining town operated by Barren Fork Mining and Coal Company from 1881 to 1935. Here they mined what was considered some of the best quality low sulfur coal in McCreary County at the time. Over 100 families were thought to have lived and worked in the mining community. The mines were sold to Eagle Coal Company in 1895. The mines were closed in 1935 due to labor disputes. The land was then sold to the United States in 1936, but the minerals were reserved by the company and small mining operations continued until 1948. In this vicinity you may find the old foundations of some of the buildings that were part of the community. You may find mine portals in this area. DO NOT ENTER these, they may not contain sufficient oxygen and are not safe to enter.
Amenities	Fire grates, lantern holders. Water is available from five faucets found throughout the campground. Watering pond for horses. Restrooms are vault toilets. No trash pickup - Pack it out. Parking at campground. Picnic tables are at some sites. The picnic shelter can be reserved at the Stearns Ranger Station.
Facilities	Campsites, vault toilets, water, picnic shelter, trails, fishing
Phone	Stearns Ranger Station, 606-376-5323
Season/Fees	2009 Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf)
Sites	41 sites that can accommodate horse trailers. Campers without horses are welcome too.
Restrictions	Recreation Area is closed, except for campers, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Use pickets, highlines or electric fences to tie horses up. If a highline must be strung between trees, the horse must be tied so that it cannot reach any trees. Violators will be fined. Trails closed to motorized vehicles.
Directions	Take Barren Fork Road beside the Ranger Stationfor 0.8 miles, turn right at split in road. Go 0.1 mile. Campground will be on the right.
ROG/Map	Campground and Trails	11x17 version of map

Bell Farm Horse Camp
Description	The area near the horse camp was a logging and mining town in the early 1900's. During the 1930's there was a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp located here. The walnut trees you see here today were planted in 1953. Rock Creek, a State Wild River, runs along the camp. It is stocked with rainbow and brown trout year round. This camp is a popular place for wagon train riders from Tennessee to rest a spell.
Amenities	Picnic tables at campsites Water is available for horses from Rock Creek. No drinking water is available. Vault toilets and chemical toilets No Trash pickup. Pack it out. Parking at campground
Facilities	Campsites, vault toilets, trails, fishing
Phone	Stearns Ranger Station, 606-376-5323
Season	2009 Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf)
Fees	None
Sites	Five group sites, capacity 60 people
Restrictions	Recreation Area is closed, except for campers, from 11 pm to 6 am. Use hitching posts and corrals to secure horses. Do not tie horses to the trees. Horse must be tied so that it cannot reach any trees. Violators will be fined. Trails closed to motorized vehicles.
Directions	Take US 27 south for 4.7 miles to KY 92. Turn right and go 1.2 miles then turn right on KY 92 at the Fastway Store. Go 5.3 miles to KY 1363, turn left and go 11.4 miles to the end of blacktop. Turn left and go 0.2 mile. Campground is on the left.
ROG/Map	Bell Farm Horse Camp

Great Meadow Campground
Description	Great Meadow of is a no-fee, first-come, first-served campground. The stream alongside the campground at Raccoon loop, Rock Creek, is a State Wild river and a proposed Federal Recreation river. Rock Creek is stocked with rainbow and brown trout year-round.
Amenities	Tables: Picnic tables are at the campsites. Horseshoes: 2 pits. Water is available from April through October. Restrooms are vault toilets. No trash pickup - Pack it out. Parking at campground
Facilities	Campsites, vault toilets, water, horseshoes, trails, fishing
Phone	Stearns Ranger Station, 606-376-5323
Season	2009 Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf)
Fees	None
Sites	14 single, 2 double
Restrictions	Recreation Area is closed, except for campers, from 11 pm to 6 am. No horses allowed in the campground. Trails closed to motorized vehicles.
Directions	Take US 27 south for 4.7 miles to KY 92. Turn right and go 1.2 miles then turn right on KY 92 at the Fastway Store. Go 5.3 miles to KY 1363, turn left and go 11.4 miles to the end of blacktop. Turn right on Forest Road 564, go 1.2 miles then turn left on Forest Road 137 and go 4.4 miles. Area is on both sides of the road, first area (Deer loop) is on the right; second area (Raccoon loop) is on the left.
ROG/Map	Great Meadow Campground

Note: Please contact District Offices in early and late season to verify campgrounds are open.

Author: Recreation Staff
Last Updated: February 10, 2009

Stearns Ranger District Campgrounds

Barren Fork Horse Camp

Bell Farm Horse Camp

Great Meadow Campground