National Park Service · Kentucky
Alum Ford Campground
National Park Service · Kentucky, United States · in Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
- Sites
- 6
- Hookups
- 6 with water, 6 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 837 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
- Phone
- (423) 569-9778
- Activities
- Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Kayaking, Motor Boat, Paddling, Photography
About
Overview
Alum Ford Campground is located in the Kentucky portion of Big South Fork seven miles west of Whitley City, Kentucky at the end of Highway 700. The campground consists of six campsites each with picnic table and fire ring.
Recreation
The campground is located adjacent to the Alum Ford Boat Launch, providing access for motorized and non-motorized watercraft to this remote section of the Big South Fork River where it becomes Lake Cumberland. The Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail also passes through the campground. The Sheltowee Trace is a 260-mile back country trail through Daniel Boone National Forest, Big South Fork NRRA, and Natural Bridge, Cumberland Falls, & Pickett State Parks in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Facilities
Alum Ford Campground has six sites with tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, bear-proof garbage cans, and food storage lockers. A vault toilet facility is also available.
Natural Features
This small campground sits above the Alum Ford Boat Ramp which provides access to the Big South Fork River.
Nearby Attractions
The Big South Fork Scenic Railway Depot is located about 9 miles away in the town of Stearns, which offers train rides and other educational opportunities for campers. More information can be found online at https://bsfsry.com.
Just a few miles from Stearns is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s.
Additional attractions include the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offering additional recreation opportunities.
Fees
Campsite Fee: $5. This fee is for one night of camping for up to six persons per site. Holders of the Interagency Access/Senior Passport pay only half the fee per night.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 28° | -1° | 67° | 9 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 34° | 17° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 62° | 42° | 15° | 80° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 70° | 50° | 33° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 79° | 62° | 43° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 84° | 67° | 53° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 71° | 63° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 87° | 71° | 62° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 67° | 53° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 69° | 49° | 37° | 88° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 59° | 41° | 22° | 76° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 51° | 34° | 12° | 67° | 8 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Blue Heron Campground · National Park Service · 6 mi · 45 sites
- Sandhill RV Park & Camp · City, County & Regional Parks · 8 mi
- Bear Creek Campground - KY · National Park Service · 9 mi · 22 sites
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park · Kentucky State Parks · 13 mi · 50 sites
- Great Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi
All public campgrounds in Kentucky · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.