U.S. Forest Service · Daniel Boone National Forest · Kentucky

Barren Fork Horse Camp

Barren Fork Horse Camp is a popular campground for horseback riders who enjoy the forest setting. Several interconnecting trails provide miles of riding pleasure. A nearby pond has water for horses. Visitors can also enjoy fishing at a nearby pond. Campers without horses are welcome to camp here. There are no hookups or dumping stations. Barren Fork Area Trail Map, 11x17. The campground offers 41 campsites that accommodate horse trailers and RVs up to 35 feet. A picnic shelter at the campground is available for group-use. Negative Coggins Test Required.

Open nowPartly reservable41 sitesFrom $15 per nightTents only

Some sites take reservations. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Kentucky · reservable in Kentucky · tent only in Kentucky · accessible sites in Kentucky

Barren Fork Horse Camp
Photo from the area. Nyttend (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
1fire
active
Ste - Goodin Ridge Rx (prescribed burn) · 13 mi away · 2,604 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-26
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesThere is a $15/night fee for overnight camping. Pay at site using fee envelope. Recreation Passes and Permits
AccessibilityOne toilet facility is accessible for persons with disabilities. Area trails do not meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril 1 to November 15
ForestDaniel Boone National Forest
BookingThe Barren Fork Picnic Shelter may be reserved for group-use, with no more than 10 in a group, by calling the Stearns office at 606-376-5323.
FeesThere is a $15/night fee for overnight camping. Pay at site using fee envelope. Recreation Passes and Permits

Daniel Boone National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Barren Fork Horse Camp30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 4.78 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.46 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.17 inches of precipitationApril: 4.69 inches of precipitationMay: 5.51 inches of precipitationJune: 5.25 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.12 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.67 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.65 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.27 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.76 inches of precipitationDecember: 5.75 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.5°F averageFebruary: 37.1°F averageMarch: 45.7°F averageApril: 54.7°F averageMay: 63.6°F averageJune: 70.5°F averageJuly: 74.4°F averageAugust: 73.1°F averageSeptember: 67.0°F averageOctober: 55.4°F averageNovember: 44.8°F averageDecember: 37.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Stearns 2S, 7 miles from the campground at 1,220 feet, station USC00157677 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 56 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, April 1 to November 15.

Getting there

Coordinates36.7756° N, 84.4680° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Ste - Goodin Ridge Rx

    13 mi from the campground · 2,604 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearSheltowee Trace Outfitters ↗12.4 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗22.2 mi
RV sales & serviceWeekend RV Center ↗52.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Barren Fork horse camp

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Barrenfork Accessible Heritage ↗
    0.6 mi trail
  • 0.2 mi
    Arabian Loop
    4 mi trail
  • 0.2 mi
    Canter Loop
    2.2 mi trail
  • 0.4 mi
    Flat Rock Ridge
    1.1 mi trail
  • 0.5 mi
    Draft
    0.8 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
    Canter Loop A
    0.2 mi trail

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Beaver Creek Wilderness begins about 7.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for Daniel Boone National Forest and Kentucky

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Day Hiking the Daniel Boone National Forest
    Johnny Molloy, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Kentucky
    Falcon Guides and Carrie Stambaugh, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Kentucky's Red River Gorge
    Sean Patrick Hill, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Barren Fork Horse Camp?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Barren Fork Horse Camp?

There is a $15/night fee for overnight camping. Pay at site using fee envelope. Recreation Passes and Permits

Source: Forest Service

Is Barren Fork Horse Camp open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season April 1 to November 15.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Barren Fork Horse Camp have?

41 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Barren Fork Horse Camp?

Barren Fork Horse Camp is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

Are there accessible sites at Barren Fork Horse Camp?

One toilet facility is accessible for persons with disabilities. Area trails do not meet accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.

Source: Forest Service

What if Barren Fork Horse Camp is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Alum Ford Campground (4.4 mi), Blue Heron Campground (7.3 mi), and Bear Creek Campground - Ky (9.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby