Daniel Boone National Forest

Daniel Boone National Forest is a large federally managed forest in eastern Kentucky that preserves extensive hardwood forests, sandstone gorges and karst landscapes across roughly 700,000 acres. It was created to conserve watersheds, timber resources and outdoor recreation opportunities across a broad, mostly rural region.

The forest offers hiking, climbing, horseback riding, water recreation and dispersed camping, with notable concentrations of scenic rock formations and natural arches that draw outdoor enthusiasts. Key recreational areas include canyon and gorge country, river corridors and extensive trail networks providing access to viewpoints and climbing routes.

The national forest was established in the 20th century as part of the U.S. Forest Service system and named to honor the pioneer Daniel Boone; management has focused on multiple uses including conservation, recreation and resource stewardship. Over time protected areas and designated wilderness units have been added to safeguard particularly scenic or ecologically important tracts.

The forest is spread across much of eastern Kentucky, with access points from towns such as Stanton, Whitesburg and Beattyville; the landscape is dominated by dissected plateaus, river valleys and exposed sandstone formations.

• Scale and terrain: The forest spans a large part of eastern Kentucky and is named for frontiersman Daniel Boone; it protects extensive sandstone gorges and cliffs that are popular for hiking and rock climbing.

What to See#

• Red River Gorge: A rugged network of sandstone gorges, cliffs, natural arches and alcoves that are popular with hikers and climbers and are noted for their geological formations.
• Recreation areas and trailheads: An array of campgrounds, trailheads and scenic overlooks that provide access to the forest’s backcountry areas and waterways.
• Scenic landscapes: A mixture of forested plateaus and deeply incised river valleys that support diverse hardwood forests and limestone and sandstone features.

• Aim for early morning or weekday visits to popular sections such as Red River Gorge-parking at trailheads fills quickly on weekends and afternoons.
• Check the U.S. Forest Service Daniel Boone National Forest webpage before you go for area closures, fire restrictions and maps; some recreation sites are seasonally or temporarily closed.
• Download offline maps or an app with offline trails before you go-cell service is patchy across the forest and many trail junctions are sparsely signed.