Cabin camping is an amazing way to experience Blue River, while still enjoying a little rustic luxury. The Dyrt is the ultimate place to find cabins for your next outdoor adventure near Blue River. When you're looking for a quiet location in nature, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect cabin rental.
This recreation area is part of Dewey Lake
Zilpo, a large, fun-filled campground on Cave Run Lake, is a prime destination for families. The scenic campground offers a cabin rental, tent camping, RV sites with electric hookups and a selection of lakefront sites. Views of the lake are enjoyed by those who relax on the sandy beach. Tater Knob, a fire tower open to the public, is nearby, offering outstanding views of the area.
Water skiing and swimming are wonderful ways to enjoy the lake. Muskie, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish attract avid anglers. Hikers are fans of the Zilpo Mountain Loop Trail that extends for 2.25 miles, connecting to a network of other trails around the lake. Nature programs are regularly scheduled during peak season and wildlife watching is rewarding.
Zilpo sits on a peninsula in the middle portion of Cave Run Lake at an elevation of 800 feet. The lake spans 8,270 acres with soft, sandy beaches. The campground is shaded by a stand of mixed hardwoods, and campsites have good privacy.
The nearest community is 12 miles away.
$28 - $94 / night
$20 - $30 / night
Nestled on the shores of Cave Run Lake, this camp is part of the larger Twin Knobs Recreation Area. There are more than 200 sites spread out over 10 loops under a dense forest of mixed conifer and deciduous trees. The recreation area includes two reservable group picnic areas. Group camping is also available.
Summer amphitheater programs and scheduled campground activities provide family fun and entertainment. The campground also has volleyball courts, basketball hoops and horseshoe pits. There is a boat ramp and beach. Popular lake activities include fishing, swimming, motor boating, windsurfing, sailing and water skiing. Scenic foot trails include the 2.5-mile Twin Knobs Shoreline Trail and the 1.5-mile Knob Overlook Trail.
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.
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.
$31 - $128 / night
Red River Gorge Campground is known for its picturesque surroundings and range of outdoor activities. The campground is located in the heart of Red River Gorge, a geological wonderland with soaring sandstone cliffs, natural arches and deep gorges. The area is popular with hikers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering numerous trails for all levels of experience, as well as opportunities for rock climbing, kayaking and fishing. Red River Gorge Campground provides a one-of-a-kind camping experience in Kentucky.
$10 / night
Beyond all of the basic camping amenities... a friendly staff, clean hot showers, well kept grounds, and a diverse selection of campsites, the Falls Campground offers a one of a kind camping experience. The main attraction and centerpiece of the campground is "The Falls of Blaine Creek". While this natural wonder is not tall in stature, it makes up for it in breadth and depth. And what it produces from its sandstone and fresh clean water is something very much worth experiencing... The sound of the water rolling and tumbling over the falls creates a peaceful oasis of rest and relaxation. The sight of white water dancing and swirling between the nooks and crannies of the falls is totally mesmerizing. The sandy beach below the falls is a wonderful spot to soak up some sun or wade in the creek. Waking to the beautiful mornings with the misty fog rising off the water as the sunrise glimmers on the glass like surface above the falls. The exceptional opportunity to fill your stringer with an rich variety of fish in the deep pools below the falls. Come visit us when you get the chance and see for yourself why camping at The Falls Campground is... Simply Relaxing.
$37 - $72 / night
$20 - $50 / night
Natural Bridge Campground is Under New Management!
Take some time to orient yourself with our spacious red river camping experience and Red River Gorge weather. Bring your family on a walk and find out all the different locations that you can spend the day at while staying with us at Red River Gorge Campground. Spend the day exploring and come back and sit around the campfire. Make sure to bring some s’mores for the little ones to enjoy. Go around the circle telling scary stories or share old stories from your childhood with your family and friends.
$20 - $40 / night
$15 - $75 / night
$10 - $160 / night
Scout
We have been camping at Pappys for 2 yrs now! We always have a great time, the folks out there are so nice and friendly it literally feels like a family reunion everytime!! We ride with the WV Outlaws and they take you on awesome trail and creek rides!! Kids love the creeks on hot days they have so much fun!!
I definitely would recommend Pappy’s to everyone looking for an awesome camping / cabin experience and WV Outlaws for Awesome trail riding.
Guide
Chief Logan has a lot of interesting things to see, including an outdoor animal exhibit, a lodge, a pool, a theatre, and a museum all close together.
Our site was full hook up and very level. There was creek nearby and walking paths all over. We went over to the lodge and was able to swim in the pool and hot tub as part of the price of our campsite. There was solar event with super rare aurora light show for this part of the world while we were there.
Legend
"Zilpo, a large, fun-filled campground on Cave Run Lake, is a prime destination for families. The scenic campground offers a cabin rental, tent camping, RV sites with electric hookups and a selection of lakefront sites.
Views of the lake are enjoyed by those who relax on the sandy beach. Tater Knob, a fire tower open to the public, is nearby, offering outstanding views of the area."
We were planning on staying multiple night because of the reviews online but it ended up being a whole lot of families with kids running around like wild beasts for hours on end. it truly annoyed us the entire time we were there and left early in the morning. I'm sure we could have spoke to some one and moved sites. It is advertised as above as fun for the whole family so we felt like dicks haha. whatever. moving along now.
ScoutStayed at cabin D11. Nicely maintained. A bit on the small side but good for a place to lay your head. This cabin is directly opposite the restrooms for this loop. Cabin is about 10 x 20. The front room has two chairs a bench and table and the air conditioner. The second room has four single bunk beds.
The grounds around the cabin are nice with gravel area for setting up an outdoor kitchen or tent or lounge chairs.
Ranger
The Breaks are considered the “Grand Canyon of the south”. Great mountaintop views, hiking, geocaching, kayaking, paddle boats, a zip line, and seasonal white water rafting all available. A few miles from the campground you’ll even find river access with a sandy beach for summer fun. A wonderful getaway when you want to be away from it all. Several campground sections to choose from with primitive sites to full hookup with electric, water, and sewer. Dump stations are available also. There are laundry facilities and bathhouses (didn’t use either so not sure on condition), playgrounds, picnic shelters, cabins, and inns. Each campsite had a fire ring and picnic table. Spots are definitely not level, so bring a variety of blocks—you’ll need them. No outside lights at the sites so when it’s dark it’s d-a-r-k. Beautiful campground.
ScoutNice primitive cabin with luxury
LegendThis campground has it all:) I picked this campsite as it is further south in the Daniel Boone National Forest so it isn't near the chaos of the climbing that is found further North.
"Peak Season Rates as listed on website - https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232370?tab=fees
Cabin Electric$75.00 Standard Electric$30.00 Standard Electric Other$41.00 Standard Nonelectric$22.00 Standard Nonelectric Other$27.00 Standard Nonelectric Double Site$33.00
Limit 6 people and 2 vehicles per single campsite; additional vehicles will be charged$8/night; additional campers will be charged$1/night A$5 nightly fee is charged for electric hookups Each cabin has 2 double bunk beds with out mattresses, Please bring your own sleeping bags or other bedding."
We wanted to check out the cabins as they looked so darling. We couldn't quite tell if the cabins had AC or heat.
As for the beach, it was a blast and we spent pretty much the whole day there and every day with the heat. At night the beach is sadly closed but if you go up a little more on the road you will find another "beach" spot that isn't closed so you can look at the stars over the lake.
It is a pain to get back to town in my opinion so make sure you have what you need.
Scout
We stayed in a cabin, didn't have any mattress in lol but the view was amazing
Guide
beauty in ever direction. get a back country pass and head for one of the many trails or stay at one of the campgrounds in the area...cabins in area also.
ScoutWe fell in love with The Gorge in April and will be back in September and at Christmas! Several kid friendly (ages 8, 4, & 2) spots and while we went the cabin route, we'll be tent camping next round!
TravelerIt’s peaceful and the area we were in was not too close to each other. They have spots for tents, campers and they also have cabins. It’s surrounded by a huge lake with fishing and a boat ramp. You do have to make sure you have all your supplies, the closest store is 30 to 40 minutes away.
TravelerWe’re very familiar with twin knobs. Zilpo is the backwoods cousin. A bit more remote, but we found the campground to be fantastic. It is more densely wooded than twin knobs. The sites are generally just as good, but there is more variety between primitive/hookup/cabins. The beach is not quite as big, but plenty big, and wasn’t crowded over July 4 weekend. The beach store has bare essentials. There doesn’t seem to be ranger programming. Not all the loops have showers in the bathroom buildings.
Traveler
Several cabins, RV spots and grassy tent areas. The staff are very easy to work with - they will sell and chop the wood you need, let you put your tent in any of the open grass areas around the lot and they are flexible on arrival.
ScoutI would give it a zero if possible. The cabin we stayed in was absolutely filthy-dirt and dead bugs on the floor, coffee pot was nasty, extremely small counter was dirty, no access to running water(no even a sink in the bathhouse) and I could go on but I think you get the point. The bathhouse looked like a shed and was also dirty. Were told there were groups going out every weekend, all day long and also night riding. Trails are not marked so you really can't go out on your own. We paid for 3 nights, but only stayed for 2. And of course, we were never offered a refund or partial refund. Like Share
LegendThis park has some nice campsites, which can make your camping experience an awesome time, but that’s not why you should go there. Like a lot of state parks, it’s got the usual wooded picnic table, fire ring, the electrical hook-up thing if you need it (or BYOS - bring your own solar), even nice bathrooms with showers and everything. What it offers in terms of a get away from it all makes it the go to destination for everyone who’s just about had enough of everything average.
First of all, where the heck is it? About 200 miles from anywhere you’ve ever heard of, unless you’re lucky enough to have been born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or you’ve just nursed along a love of two-lane winding roads, it rewards the traveler who says“let’s take a road trip.” The closest town is Haysi, Virginia, which offers a selection of small regional grocery stores, gas stations and a few restaurants...but not much more.
The park sits atop an ancient canyon cut through time by the Russell Fork River some 1000 feet below. The trails wonder through sandstone formations laid down some 250 million years ago when the area was covered by a shallow inland sea. The views as well as the geological significance instills awe in the best sense.
The park offers a short scenic drive loop with a dozen or so stops all offering some look into the amazing scope of natural science. But in case that doesn’t inspire your 10-year-old, the mountain bike trails near to the campground will sure take some energy out of them. And in case they want to just go to the outdoor pool, or sit in the well-appointed cabin or guestroom, these are also available at this park offering a widely diverse accommodations for nearly anyone willing to make the drive to get there. The Russell Fork is also a world class river offering everything from class 2-3 fun to serious Appalachian creekin’ paddling. But don’t tell anyone about this place, because I don’t want anyone else to find out about it.
Ranger
The park’s along the lake and has hiking, birding, a restaurant, and a nice surprise: an open air theatre with shows outside all summer. The park is kind of famous for having elk, which are common out west, but we didn’t get to see any. If you have horses there are trails but AFAIK the park doesn’t let you hire them (not sure about outside companies). None of the campsites are alone or very close to the lake. All the ones we saw were very open but along the trees, so no lakeside views either. They also have cabins. Nice built-up modern KY state park with enough to do to fill a whole weekend for all of your family. Never been in the water so can’t comment on Carrie J’s assessment of the lake being gross.
LegendWe camped here for 3 nights with our dogs. Our site was in the B loop and had no water or electricity. It was surrounded by a lot of trees, so it had shade. It was a short walk to the bathhouse which was very clean with nice showers.
The campground has 4 different loops. I personally liked the B loop the best because everything was very close to it like hiking trails, laundry facility, basketball court, and a little camp store which has ice and firewood available.
The state park also has a lodge, cabins, and a beautiful lake. There is a restaurant in the park. We tried it for lunch and it was good. The landscape in the park was just beautiful. The overlooks, especially the tower overlook, are gorgeous. There are several hiking trails. Be aware that the loop is extremely strenuous and takes 4 to 5 ours. I really liked that the trails are not heavily trafficked.
We would definitely camp here again. All the park staff, hosts and volunteers were super nice and very helpful.
RangerVery clean and fun lake, close to campgrounds, boat rentals, marina, and hiking close.
Scout
Good place to get away for the weekend.
ScoutMy husband and I go to Red River Gorge any time we are looking to get away for a couple nights!
GuideNestled in the Mountains of Eastern Ky, this is a nice little getaway. The fishing on Dewy Lake is awesome. The water is muddy a lot. But if you like catfishing, this is your Lake .
Guide
Tight sites with some rowdy neighbors. Nice place to go with friends for a local weekend getaway. Not too far from Red River Gorge for more hiking and beautiful KY scenery.
Traveler
Fantastic campground, quiet, safe, surrounded by woods, clean and nice laundry facilities and bathhouse. Affordable, with electric, water and sewage hookups. Very nice retail shop in the check in office. Offers kayak and stand up paddle board rentals and tours. 5 minute from lake access.
GuideBeautiful, quiet spot. The staff was very easy to work with and very friendly. The wildlife exhibit is a fun detour ($2/person). We saw a water slide, putt-putt, and enjoyed the restaurant at the lodge. They have tours for the local elk there too. The town itself is cute and we enjoyed a date night at the local steakhouse. Great spot, perfect getaway!
Traveler
We stayed one night in Spruce Creek Campground at Cabwaylingo SF in April of 2023. The campground is small, tucked into a side hollow just off the main road through the State Forest with tiny Spruce Creek flowing right through it. Be advised: heavy rains can cause the creek to partially flood the campground and the moderate rains we experienced turned some of the sites into a soggy mess. Site #1 is a paved, level pull-through that easily accommodated our 21' campervan, and that site has electric and water hookups. It's a short walk from any of the sites to the nice playground and the older but completely serviceable showerhouse. Firewood was available from the camp store/office, which has limited hours as of this writing. The wood was okay, cut & split but a touch damp to truly burn well.
There are multi-use trails and hiking-only trails that run right through the Spruce Creek campground, and we saw light ORV/ATV traffic driving through in the late afternoon of our stay. This is a real bonus if you're wishing to drive those trails during your stay, I'm sure! Our goal was fishing, which was a bust. We only discovered after our arrival that Twelvepole Creek - while described as a stocked trout stream - has nearly all of the trout caught & removed by overzealous anglers within a few days of each stocking, according to the rangers. Additionally, the streams and creeks in the State Forest were all pretty heavily littered with refuse, a real shame considering the potential natural beauty to be had.
All of the staff with whom we interacted were courteous, polite and extremely helpful - really wonderful people work at Cabwaylingo! The cabins looked nice from the outside and the other facilities seemed pleasant but rather dated. There are no good gas stations or markets in the immediate vicinity so definitely plan accordingly!
GuideWe love this place! Close to home, easy to get away for the weekend. Very friendly campground, everyone you meet is nice, and very helpful if you need it. Very kid friendly, beautiful views, and Halloween there is GREAT!
As of 9/10/2021 the Wi-Fi has been fixed. It's not the best but way better than before As of our past stay, 6/10-6/12, the Wi-Fi is great. They installed new antennas throughout the campground
GuideFull disclosure 1st time here and last minute (night before) booking. The whole campground is nice depending on how you're camping. Some site are better than others in general, but some are better fitted for campers and other for tents. I'm not talking about electric/water hookup vs primitive, just layout. We booked Thursday night on a last minute cancellation for Friday-Sunday. A site with electric in the H loop. It was clean and the sites are nicely spaced so you're not right on top of another. Problem is it was all booked up online so we expected a busy campground and over 1/2 the sites booked were empty all weekend. Not that that was a bad thing. It just that better site were available. I think this is a problem with the online booking system that can be fixed. They have a mix of sites and small cabins. We will probably book one of those on a return trip. Despite what the maps show there are no sites that are "waterfront". The sites next to the water have steep drop offs so no back door fishing. It's easy to get to the water just not right at the sites. The swimming beach was a disappointment. The water was nice but the beach itself left a ton to be desired. It's lined with gravel that's not real bare foot friendly. In the heat of the summer when we were there the gravel was extremely hot and hard to walk on. Once I. The water was fine, but if you plan to lay out and tan bring something padded to lay on. Also. The goose poop.. Man was there a ton of goose poop on the beach. I mean all over the place. There is another sand beach that's a boat up to beach by the boat dock that's also accessible by shore but depending on the water level may not be that great. It was sand not gravel and didn't have much "beach. More like field next to water. It was much better. Still goose poop but not as much. The lake water was close to clear and clean. The staff was nice. There are a moderate amount of shower house bathrooms but some site may have a decent walk. There is one store in the campground by the beach but didn't have much in it. Boat traffic for the time didn't seem bad. Overall it was a good trip, and we will probably be back.
Cabin camping near Blue River, Kentucky offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Blue River, KY is Jenny Wiley State Park Campground with a 3.3-star rating from 15 reviews.
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