Camp, shoot for free at E Ky. site for President’s Day, plus 5 other weekends this year

Matt DiSanto

One of Kentucky’s largest national forests is waiving some of its fees as President’s Day weekend approaches, the park announced in a recent news release.

Daniel Boone National Forest will drop fees for most of its recreation sites on select dates, including to recognize the federal holiday Monday, Feb. 20, though charges will remain for concessions-operated sites and reserved group-use areas. The promotion comes as part of a year-long effort to improve accessibility to Kentucky’s protected lands.

Recreation fees are not required for the following day-use sites between Saturday, Feb. 18 and Feb. 20, according to the park:

  • Cave Run Lake boat ramps

  • Laurel River Lake boat ramps

  • Bee Rock Boat Ramp – Laurel County

  • Clear Creek Boat Ramp – Bath County

  • Natural Arch Scenic Area – McCreary County

  • Appletree Shooting Range – McCreary County

  • Keno Shooting Range – Pulaski County

  • Whitman Branch Shooting Range – Whitley County

  • Redbird Crest Trail – Clay and Leslie counties

Camping fees, meanwhile, will be waived from evening Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19 at the following locations:

  • Backcountry camping in the Red River Gorge – Menifee, Powell and Wolfe counties

  • Koomer Ridge Campground – Wolfe County

  • Claylick Boat-in Campground – Rowan County

  • Bee Rock Campground – Laurel County

  • S-Tree Campground – Jackson County

  • White Sulphur Horse Camp – Bath County

All Daniel Boone National Forest offices are closed Feb. 20 in recognition of President’s Day, the park said. Offices will reopen Tuesday, Feb. 21.

People jump off a rock into the Red River near the Sheltowee Trace trail in the Daniel Boone National Forest near Slade, Ky., on Monday, May 30, 2022.
People jump off a rock into the Red River near the Sheltowee Trace trail in the Daniel Boone National Forest near Slade, Ky., on Monday, May 30, 2022.

Fee-free days continue throughout 2023

In addition to President’s Day weekend, Daniel Boone National Forest will continue offering select “fee-free” days through the fall. The promotion began in January with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The forest will waive recreation fees for the following occasions in 2023:

  • National Fishing and Boating Week (June 3 and 4)

  • National Get Outdoors Day (June 10)

  • Juneteenth (June 18 and 19)

  • National Public Lands Day (Sept. 23)

  • Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

Visit Daniel Boone National Forest’s website to learn more about each date’s free recreation locations.

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About Daniel Boone National Forest

Established in 1937, Daniel Boone National Forest includes more than 708,000 acres of woodlands spread across 21 Kentucky counties. The park’s predominantly rugged terrain features several trails and water features that lend to recreational hiking, biking, rock climbing, boating, camping and horse riding. Popular draws include the Red River Gorge canyon system and the 343-mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, Kentucky’s longest trail.

The park’s offerings largely depend on weather conditions and the current season. A running list of closures is available online.

Daniel Boone National Forest’s interactive visitor map, available online, displays the park’s service roads, trails, recreation sites, wilderness areas, rivers and more.

Do you have a question about recreation in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.

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