Established Camping
Rockcastle
About
National Forest
Rockcastle Campground is temporarily closed due to the hazardous road conditions and deteriorating campsite conditions. The February 2019 Rockcastle River flooding further increased the damage to the area. In 2018, the ash trees that were infected with the Emerald Ash Borer were eliminated. Because of the extensive amount of work needed, and the lack of funding available, the campground will remain closed until further notice. The boat ramp remains open. Rockcastle Campground is located on the backwaters of Lake Cumberland at the mouth of Rockcastle River on London Ranger District. Large, towering beech and hemlock trees provide plenty of shade and a sense of seclusion. Fishing and hiking are popular activities. The campground is bounded on one side by the lake and on the other side by massive sandstone cliffs. Rockcastle Boat Ramp is nearby. A picnic shelter located at the campground entrance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Make this page look nicer by submitting photos of your visit to Rockcastle Campground. Learn more... Most of the 27 campsites are designed for tent camping although a few are large enough to accommodate pop-up campers. Each site has tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and lantern poles. The sites are near the water’s edge. CAUTION: Low lying areas are prone to flooding, so be alert for flooding when driving, camping or crossing streams in this area. Swift currents and undertows can make swimming and wading very hazardous. Some of the most popular hiking trails on the London Ranger District lead from this campground. Dutch Branch Trail #404B leads hikers through a rich cove forest of mostly beech and hemlock. Scuttle Hole Trail #404 climbs through a crack in the cliffs to reach overlooks of the lake. Lakeside South Trail #412 follows the shore of the lake and connects with Twin Branch Trail #406 and Ned Branch Trail #405 to form an 8.5 mile loop around the campground.
Access
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Fires
Closed
Campground is closed, but the boat launch is open. Might be able to park in boat launch parking. Clean pit toilets.
Nice campground off the beaten path
We found this campground almost by accident late at night. The site are well spread out for the most part, the view is very nice if you get to camp on the water, and we were able to find space on a major holiday which was very welcome. There was some trash scattered around due to inconsiderate campers and the vault bathrooms were pretty rough. But besides that it will be on our "no-fail" list next time we're in the area.
Location
Rockcastle is located in Kentucky
Directions
From I-75 at London exit 38, travel west on KY 192 for 14.2 miles. Bear left onto KY 1193, and then travel straight ahead on KY 3497 for 6 miles to the end of the road.
Coordinates
36.96200093 N
84.34800075 W