National Park Service · Kentucky
Blue Heron Campground
National Park Service · Kentucky, United States · in Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
- Sites
- 45
- Hookups
- 45 electric, 45 with water
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- Camping Fee: $20. This fee covers one night of camping for up to 6 persons.
- Max RV length
- 61 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,286 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
- Phone
- (423) 286-7275
- Activities
- Backpacking, Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking
43 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Blue Heron Campground is a rustic and spacious campground, situated on the Kentucky side of The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area--a vast and scenic expanse of land that offers visitors countless recreational activities.
Recreation
Numerous trails snake through the Recreation Area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors.
The main river of the Big South Fork is also a short drive away, offering fishing opportunities.
Facilities
Blue Heron Campground combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups. Sites can accommodate both RV and tent camping.
The campsites are spacious and provide picnic areas and plenty of shade.
Natural Features
The Big South Fork is located in north central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres of both rocky gorges and forested plateaus.
Numerous pristine streams unite with the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. Over thousands of years, this ceaselessly moving water has carved the sandstone of the plateau into impressive cliffs, arches and chimneys that are found throughout the park.
Nearby Attractions
Just a few miles from the campground 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.
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.
Additional attractions include the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, offering additional recreation opportunities.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 27° | -4° | 66° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 50° | 32° | 15° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 61° | 41° | 12° | 79° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 49° | 32° | 83° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 77° | 60° | 41° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 83° | 65° | 52° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 70° | 61° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 70° | 60° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 83° | 65° | 51° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 48° | 35° | 87° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 58° | 40° | 20° | 75° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 50° | 32° | 11° | 66° | 9 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
- Bear Creek Campground - KY · National Park Service · 3 mi · 22 sites
- Alum Ford Campground · National Park Service · 6 mi · 6 sites
- Sandhill RV Park & Camp · City, County & Regional Parks · 9 mi
- Station Camp Campground · National Park Service · 11 mi · 24 sites
- Great Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 12 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.