Half Moon Rock, Red River GorgeThe Daniel Boone National Forest embraces some of the most rugged terrain west of the Appalachian Mountains. The forest lies within the Cumberland Plateau, where steep forested slopes, sandstone cliffs and narrow ravines characterize the land.

Visitors come here to hike, camp, picnic, rockclimb, boat, hunt, fish, ride, target shoot and relax. The forest contains three large lakes (Cave Run Lake, Laurel River Lake and Lake Cumberland), many rivers and streams, Clifty Wilderness, Beaver Creek Wilderness, Red River Gorge and the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail that extends across the length of the forest.

Spread across 21 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky, more than 708,000 acres of national forest system lands are managed within a 2.1 million-acre proclamation boundary. The forest is divided into four ranger districts: Cumberland, London, Redbird and Stearns. The forest is host to three Job Corps Centers.

Know Before You GoWe want your visit to the forest to be safe and enjoyable. When planning your trip, review the rules and safety information.

The Daniel Boone National Forest is part of the Forest Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages national forests and grasslands to provide the nation with a sustained yield of natural resources, including wood, water and wildlife. 

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All Forest Service sites have implemented a new web design to provide information in a more consistent and uniform manner. If you have any questions, concerns, come across something that is not working or have an idea of something that you would like added to the site, please contact us or visit our web information page.

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