USDA Forest Service
 
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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

Picnic Areas on Stearns Ranger District

Stearns Ranger District features many picnic areas for you to enjoy. Some are roadside areas, while others feature more wooded settings, and some have recreation facilities such as playing fields, volleyball, horseshoes, trails and more.

For opening and closing dates, see Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf).

Please help us keep our picnic areas clean. Put your trash in the proper disposal containers or pack it out.

Keep wildlife wild! Don't feed the animals.

Kentucky law prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public places and prohibits open containers of alcohol.

Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROGS) are letter-sized information sheets about trails and recreation areas. Trail ROGS give information on trailhead location, trail length, USGS quad name, county name, hiking difficulty, trail surface, connections and restrictions. The back page of the ROG has a map of the area or trail. ROGs are available in PDF formats. If you don't have a PDF reader, Download FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Hemlock Grove Picnic Area
Description Hemlock Grove was named for the eastern hemlock that surrounds the picnic area. It is a cool respite from the summer heat. You may also enjoy a game of horseshoes. The stream alongside the picnic area, Rock Creek, is a State Wild River and a proposed Federal Recreation river. Rock Creek is stocked with rainbow and brown trout year-round.
Season Open All Year
Fee None
Restrictions This recreation area is for day use only and is closed from 10 pm to 6 am. No horses allowed in picnic area. Trails closed to motorized vehicles.
Sites 6 sites with grills, picnic shelter
Reservations Available on a first-come, first served basis unless reserved. The shelter can be reserved at Stearns Ranger Station. Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf).
Water None
Restrooms Vault Toilets
Trash None - Pack out your trash
Directions Take US 27 South for 4.7 miles to KY 92. Turn right on KY 92 at the traffic light. Go 6.3 miles to KY 1363, turn left and go 11.4 miles to the end of the blacktop, turn right on Forest Road 564. Go 1.2 miles and turn left onto forest Road 137. Go 2.6 miles to the picnic area on the left.

 

Natural Arch Picnic Area
Description Scenic area with sandstone arch and trails. Handicapped accessible toilet, amphitheater
Season/Fee Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf).
Sites 16 sites, capacity of 100
Water Drinking water available
Restrooms Vault toilets
Directions Take US 27 south from Somerset for 21 miles, turn right (west) on KY 927 and follow the signs for 2 miles
Map Natural Arch Recreation Area Guide
(pdf file with map of picnic area and trails)

 

Alpine Picnic Area
Description Roadside setting with picnic shelter, horseshoes, playing field and short loop trail.
Season Recreation Schedule and Fees (pdf).
Fee None
Sites 7 sites, capacity of 70
Water None
Restrooms Vault toilets
Directions Take US 27 north from Whitley City for 11.1 miles. Look for signs.
Map Alpine Picnic Area Recreation Opportunity Guide
(pdf file with map of picnic area and trails)

Author: Recreation Staff  
Last Updated: January 28, 2011

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