Passes and Permits
Daniel Boone National Forest
The Daniel Boone National Forest offers many camping options. Back-country camping within the forest is free except in Big South Fork NRA. The Forest Service operates many established campgrounds along the Trace. Some are free, some require you to pay at the site, and some are able to be reserved online. Click the buttons below for the best resources on camping in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Big South Fork National Recreation Area
Back-country camping permits:
$5 per group
For more information on user fees and front-country camping in Big South Fork, click below.
Red River Gorge Geological Area
Back-country camping is free and no permit is required.
When parking overnight in the Red River Gorge on national forest land, a pass must be displayed in on your vehicle. Passes can be purchased at any DBNF office or at local vendors such as the gas stations in Slade.
Koomer Ridge Campground is the only established campground in RRG that is run by the forest service. It has first-come-first-serve sites, facilities, and is only a 3-mile hike from the Sheltowee Trace Trail.
Overnight Parking Pass:
$5 - 1 night
$7 - 3 nights
$50 - annual pass
Koomer Ridge Campground Fees:
2nd Friday in March through 1st Sunday in November. $8 per additional vehicle per night.
$20 - Tent Site (non-electric)
$25 - Single (non-electric)
$30 - Double (non-electric)
Winter - 2nd Monday in Nov. until 2nd Friday in March the following year. $10 per additional vehicle.
$15 - 1 Night
For more information on camping in the Daniel Boone National Forest, click below.
Natural Bridge State Park
No back-country camping or pets are allowed within the state park. The state park offers 2 wonderful established campgrounds with facilities that are right on the Sheltowee Trace Trail. Miles 83-87 of the trail run through this park.
For more information on this state park's campgrounds, click below.
Cumberland Falls State Park
This park offers an established campground with many facilities including a grocery store.
For more information on this campground, click below.