USDA Forest Service · Kentucky
Boat Gunnel Group Campground
USDA Forest Service · Kentucky, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 electric
- Season
- April 10 to November 1
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 807 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BOAT GUNNEL (NFSR 1102) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Daniel Boone National Forest
- Nearest town
- MOREHEAD
- Address
- 5195 KY HWY 801 SOUTH, MOREHEAD, KY, 40351
- Activities
- Camping
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Boat Gunnel Group Campground is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest on Cave Run Lake. Widely known for its scenic beauty and varied outdoor recreation opportunities, Cave Run Lake is home to Kentucky's state record Muskie. This 8,270-acre lake is jointly operated and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service.
Recreation
Nearby Twin Knobs Campground offers a boat ramp and beach.
Scenic foot trails in the area include the Boat Gunnel Shoreline Trail, the Oak Ridge Trail and the Wildlife Trail.
Facilities
Boat Gunnel Group Campground offers a bathhouse with flush toilets and showers, picnic shelter, horseshoe pit and drinking water. The camping area accommodates large groups of up to 100 people and is available by reservation only. The picnic shelter is equipped with a grill, serving table and electricity.
Natural Features
The 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 in this region.
Cave Run Lake is in the Cumberland District in the northernmost part of the forest. The lake is surrounded by the rolling hills of northeastern Kentucky.
Nearby Attractions
The Morehead Office Visitor Center offers information about the Daniel Boone National Forest in addition to interpretive exhibits. A popular attraction within the Daniel Boone National Forest is the Red River Gorge Geological Area, which features more than 100 natural sandstone arches.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39° | 27° | 0° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 47° | 30° | 15° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 58° | 37° | 18° | 77° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 69° | 48° | 30° | 84° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 76° | 59° | 40° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 65° | 52° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 71° | 63° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 70° | 61° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 82° | 65° | 52° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 48° | 36° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 38° | 21° | 72° | 5 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 32° | 6° | 67° | 10 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
- Twin Knobs Group Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Twin Knobs Recreation Area · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Twin Knobs Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 208 sites
- Zilpo - Daniel Boone Nat. For. · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 169 sites
- Zilpo Recreation Area · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
All public campgrounds in Kentucky · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.