Daniel Boone National Forest

Daniel Boone National Forest is located along the Cumberland Plateau in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky.  The forest encompasses about 2.1 million acres (8,500 km²) of mostly rugged terrain, characterized by steep forested ridges, narrow valleys, and over 3,400 miles (5,470 km) of sandstone cliff line. 

The forest contains both public and private land in 21 eastern Kentucky counties extending from Rowan county in the north to McCreary county in the south. Over 706,000 acres (2,860 km²) are managed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

Several state parks, the Red River Gorge, and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area are located within the Forest. The forest also contains three large lakes (Cave Run Lake, Laurel River Lake, and Lake Cumberland), many rivers and streams, two wilderness areas, and the 269-mile (433 km) Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail that extends across the length of the forest.

Little Wolf Nature Preserve is located on private land fully within the Daniel Boone National Forest. The southern half of Little Wolf Preserve borders and is surrounded by over 10,000 acres of public national forest.

Maps

Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky has two major pieces:

Source: Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer

Districts

Daniel Boone National Forest is divided into four districts:

Cumberland

As the northernmost district on the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Cumberland District is known for its recreational facilities on Cave Run Lake. It’s also known for the Red River Gorge Geological Area, a primary recreation destination on this forest for hiking, camping, canoeing, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, and sightseeing. It is adjacent to Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

London

This district is best known for Laurel River Lake, a 5,600 acre reservoir. This District contains two state designated Kentucky Wild Rivers, the Cumberland and Rockcastle.

Stearns

The Stearns District features two state Wild Rivers, (Rock Creek and Cumberland), and two federal candidates for National Wild and Scenic River designation (Marsh Creek and Rock Creek). The district surrounds the northern portion of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Redbird

The Redbird District is best known for the Redbird Crest Trail, a 64-mile multiple use loop trail. Fees are charged for off highway vehicles under 50 inches to use the Redbird Crest Trail.

Source: USDA Forest Service

History

Daniel Boone National Forest was established in 1937 with about 1.3 million acres (5,260 km²) within its proclamation boundary, of which 336,692 acres were owned by the United States Forest Service.

Most of the early purchases were large tracts owned by lumber and coal companies. These lands were relatively isolated and unpopulated. The Forest Service has had difficulty acquiring more land within the proclamation boundary, the bulk of which was, and still is, made up of small owner-operated farms of about 100-300 acres.

Due in part to World War II, funds for land acquisition was curtailed in the early 1940s. Substantial acquisition efforts did not resume again until the middle 1960s. Part of the reason for the forest’s highly fragmented ownership pattern is due to the lengthy cessation of land acquisitions starting shortly after the national forest’s creation.

In 1967, a large and disconnected addition to the national forest was created, called the Redbird Purchase Unit, after the key purchase from the Red Bird Timber Company.

Source: Wikipedia

Name

The forest was originally named the Cumberland National Forest, after the core region called the Cumberland Purchase Unit. The name “Cumberland” came to Kentucky in 1750 when the Cumberland River was named in honor of Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, who had defeated the Scottish Highlanders in the 1746 Battle of Culloden. The aftermath of the battle was noted for its brutality and many Scottish families fled to America and ultimately Kentucky, according to the Forest Service’s investigation. Some of these families, the Forest Service noted, still live in eastern Kentucky and find the name “Cumberland” distasteful.

The name “Daniel Boone National Forest” was suggested and advocated by various people during the 1930s, even before its establishment as the Cumberland National Forest. A majority of local leaders in Kentucky favored the name “Daniel Boone” when polled in the 1930s. Protests about the Cumberland name began immediately after the national forest was established.

During the 1960s, a new movement to rename the national forest took place. The Kentucky Senate passed a resolution in 1966 urging the Forest Service to change to name to “Daniel Boone National Forest.” In late 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation renaming the forest to “Daniel Boone National Forest.”

The forest was named after Daniel Boone, a frontiersman and explorer in the late eighteenth century who contributed greatly to the exploration and settlement of Kentucky.

Source: Wikipedia

Activities

The Daniel Boone National Forest is one of the most heavily used forests in the South, with over 5 million visitors annually. People come here to backpack, camp, picnic, rockclimb, boat, hunt, fish, ride and relax. Over 600 miles of trails provide a quiet escape to more remote places within the forest. Abundant wildlife, lush vegetation, magnificent scenery, and numerous recreation opportunities offer visitors much to enjoy.

SAFETY NOTE: Our national forests are a refuge for wild animals, including dangerous animals like bears and venomous snakes. Wild animals can be upset by human presence and can unexpectedly become aggressive. Do not give them a reason or an opportunity to attack. Always keep your distance. Your safety is your responsibility.

Mission

Forest Service Motto: Caring for the Land and Serving People

The mission of the Daniel Boone National Forest is to sustain the ecological health and productivity of the lands and waters entrusted to its care and provide for compatible human uses.

The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.