Daniel Boone National Forest

The Daniel Boone National Forest is a national forest in Kentucky. The Daniel Boone National Forest embraces some of the most rugged terrain west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Understand
The Daniel Boone National Forest stretches over of land in eastern Kentucky.

History
It was created on February 23, 1937 as the Cumberland National Forest, comprising 350,000 acres. The name was changed to the Daniel Boone National Forest in 1966. The forest has grown to its present size primarily through the acquisition of land from coal and timber companies.

Landscape
The forest lies within the Cumberland Plateau, where steep forested slopes, sandstone cliffs and narrow ravines characterize the land.

Get in
Major highways providing access to the Daniel Boone National Forest include I-75, I-64, and the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway.

Do

 * Boating With many miles of streams and lakes, the forest offers many opportunities for motorized and non-motorized boating. Bodies of water include Cave Run and Laurel River lakes, as well as the Red, Kentucky, Cumberland, and Rockcastle rivers.
 * Climbing Rock climbers come from around the world to climb the sandstone cliffs of eastern Kentucky. The overhanging rock faces offer the ultimate climbing challenge. Before climbing, make sure you are properly equipped with the right gear and know-how. There are many regulations in place for climbing in the forest, make sure to check for specific rules for the area you will be climbing in.
 * Hiking The national forest offers over 600 miles of hiking trails to explore. Most of the trail system is anchored to the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail.  The 290-mile Sheltowee Trace runs from just north of Morehead Kentucky to the Tennessee border at Pickett State Park.

Buy
Being a natural area, there are very few opportunities for shopping outside of the small towns and cities in the region.

Eat
Food can be found in the communities and state parks within the forest. In the natural areas, the majority of the forest, food must be brought in by the visitor.


 * Corbin
 * London
 * Morehead
 * Williamsburg
 * Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
 * Natural Bridge State Park

Drink
Kentucky law prohibits consumption and open containers of alcohol in public places, including national forest land and Kentucky lakes and waterways. So you cannot drink alcohol legally inside the national forest. However, this is a state law, not a federal law, and law enforcement within the park is generally handled by the US Forest Service. Some of the surrounding communities are "dry" as well.

Sleep
The large size of the forest provides many options for getting some sleep.

Cumberland Ranger District

 * Morehead
 * Natural Bridge State Park

London Ranger District

 * Corbin
 * London
 * Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
 * Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park

Stearns Ranger District

 * Williamsburg
 * Big South Fork National Recreation Area

Backcountry
Backcountry camping is allowed throughout the forest with some exceptions. Permits are required for camping within the Red River Gorge Geologic area. Campsites may not be within 100 feet (30 m) of cliffs or in rock shelters and must be 300 feet from forest service trails. Camping is prohibited within 300 feet of the shorelines of Cave Run and Laurel River Lakes.

Go next

 * Big South Fork National Recreation Area
 * Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
 * Natural Bridge State Park
 * General Burnside Island State Park
 * Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
 * Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
 * Pickett State Park