You can camp in the Red River Gorge three ways: a developed campground like Koomer Ridge, a state park campground at Natural Bridge, or backcountry camping in the national forest with a recreation pass on your dashboard. Here is how each option works, what the rules are and how to pick.
Your camping options at a glance
The Red River Gorge sits in the Daniel Boone National Forest, with Natural Bridge State Resort Park right next door. Between the two, you can find almost any style of camping, from a site with a hot shower nearby to a quiet ridge with nothing but your own tent.
| Option | Who runs it | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koomer Ridge Campground | U.S. Forest Service | Tent and RV sites, no hookups, seasonal showers, trail access from camp | First-time gorge campers |
| Whittleton and Middle Fork Campgrounds | Kentucky State Parks (Natural Bridge) | Sites with utilities, tent sites, bathhouses with showers | RVs, families, Natural Bridge trips |
| Backcountry (dispersed) camping | U.S. Forest Service | No facilities, recreation pass required for your vehicle | Backpackers who want quiet |
| Tunnel Ridge Road and Indian Creek areas | U.S. Forest Service | Primitive camping; Tunnel Ridge has parking lots and vault toilets | Car campers who want simple |
| Private campgrounds near Slade | Private owners | Varies widely | Groups, cabins, climbers |
Koomer Ridge Campground
Koomer Ridge is the Forest Service’s developed campground in the gorge, and it is the easiest place for a first trip. The Forest Service page places it off KY 15, about 5 miles from the Slade exit (exit 33) on the Mountain Parkway. It is open year-round.
What you get:
- Tent sites, including walk-in tent sites, plus sites that fit RVs. There are no electric hookups and no dump station.
- Picnic tables and fire rings at the sites.
- Drinking water and showers in season. Recreation.gov lists showers and water from April 1 through October 31, with accessible vault toilets year-round.
- Trails right from camp, including Cliff Trail #206, Silvermine Arch Trail #225, Hidden Arch Trail #288 and Koomer Ridge Trail #220.
Reservations are made through Recreation.gov, and unreserved sites go first come, first served. The Forest Service currently lists spring through fall rates of $35 for a single site and $27 for a walk-in tent site, with a lower winter rate. Fees change, so confirm on the official page before you go. On fall weekends, reserve early.
A few rules worth knowing: two pets per site, one vehicle per tent site (extra vehicles pay a fee), and a reminder that this is bear country, so keep a clean camp.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park campgrounds
Just down the road, Natural Bridge State Resort Park runs two campgrounds, Whittleton and Middle Fork. Kentucky State Parks says the two together provide 87 sites with utilities, plus tent sites, dump stations and two central bathhouses with restrooms and showers.
This is the pick if you have an RV that wants power, if you are camping with kids who want a real shower, or if Natural Bridge and the sky lift are high on your list. The park also has a lodge and cottages if part of your group would rather not sleep on the ground. Book through the Kentucky State Parks reservation system, and check current rates and seasonal dates there. Our Natural Bridge State Resort Park guide covers the rest of the park.
Backcountry camping in the gorge
If you want to carry your camp in on your back, the Red River Gorge has plenty of room for it. You just need to follow some specific rules, and they are stricter here than in much of the national forest.
The recreation pass
The Forest Service requires all vehicles on KY 15 or in the Red River Gorge and Indian Creek area north of KY 15 to display a recreation pass for backcountry camping between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Red River Gorge page currently lists $5 per day, $7 for three days or $50 for a year, per vehicle, from Forest offices and local vendors. Interagency Senior and Access pass holders get 50 percent off when buying from a Forest office.
Where you cannot camp
Under the Red River Gorge camping order, camping is prohibited, except at designated sites:
- Within 300 feet of any developed road, including Tunnel Ridge Road
- Within 300 feet of any developed trail in the gorge
- Within 600 feet of Gray’s Arch
Forest-wide rules add two more: no camping, and no fires, campfires or stoves, within 100 feet of the base of any cliff or the back of any rock shelter unless you are at a designated site. Rock shelters are off limits to protect natural and cultural resources, and many hold archaeological history.
The order lists penalties of up to $5,000 for individuals. The bigger reason to follow it is that these rules are what keep the gorge open to campers at all.
How long you can stay
The Daniel Boone National Forest limits camping to 14 consecutive days in a 30-day period. Someone must be at the campsite the first night after it is set up, and gear cannot be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
Parking
Park in designated lots only. The Forest Service says roadside parking on Tunnel Ridge Road is not permitted, and the trailhead lots fill early on busy weekends.
Tunnel Ridge Road and Indian Creek
For something in between a campground and a full backpacking trip, the Forest Service lists primitive camping areas along Tunnel Ridge Road with parking lots and vault toilets, and dispersed camping in the Indian Creek area with creek access. These are rustic, so bring your own water, and the recreation pass and distance rules above still apply. Some forest roads in the area can be gated in winter, so check the forest alerts before you go.
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Black bears are back in the Daniel Boone National Forest, and the forest has a food storage order. When food, trash or scented items are unattended, they must be:
- In a bear-resistant container, or
- In a closed, hard-top vehicle or hard-sided trailer, or
- Hung at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 4 feet out from the tree or pole holding it
For fires, use existing fire rings in campgrounds, buy local or certified heat-treated firewood, and keep fires well away from cliffs and rock shelters. Fire restrictions can be added during dry spells. Also note that the Forest Service safety page says alcohol and open containers are prohibited in public places, including National Forest land, so check the current rules before you plan the evening around a cooler.
How to choose
- First time, tent, want it easy: Koomer Ridge. Trails from camp, water and showers in season.
- RV with hookups, or kids who need a shower: Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
- Want quiet and know your way around a map: backcountry, with the pass on the dash and the distance rules memorized.
- Big group or climbing trip: look at the private campgrounds around Slade and compare what each offers.
Not sure what goes in the car? Our Red River Gorge packing list has a camping section, and the guide to the best time to visit helps you pick a weekend.
Questions people ask
Can you camp anywhere in the Red River Gorge?
No. Backcountry camping is allowed in much of the gorge, but not within 300 feet of developed roads or trails, within 600 feet of Gray’s Arch, or within 100 feet of a cliff base or the back of a rock shelter, except at designated sites.
Do you need a permit to camp in the Red River Gorge?
For backcountry camping, your vehicle must display a Daniel Boone National Forest recreation pass between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Campgrounds like Koomer Ridge charge a nightly site fee instead.
Can you camp in rock shelters in the Red River Gorge?
No. Camping and fires in rock shelters are prohibited to protect natural and cultural resources.
Does Koomer Ridge Campground have electric hookups?
The Forest Service lists Koomer Ridge sites as having no hookups. For electric sites, look at the Natural Bridge State Resort Park campgrounds.
Are there bears in the Red River Gorge?
Black bears live in the Daniel Boone National Forest, and food storage rules apply. Use a bear-resistant container, lock food in a hard-top vehicle, or hang it properly.
Is Red River Gorge camping open in winter?
Koomer Ridge is open year-round, though water and showers are seasonal. Some forest roads may be gated in winter, so check current alerts before you go.
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