Best Dispersed Camping near Columbia, KY

Planning a dispersed camping trip near Columbia? Dispersed camping gets you off the grid so you can disconnect from the hecticness of everyday life. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the trees or wide open spaces, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect dispersed campsite.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Columbia, Kentucky (2)

Show More
Showing results 1-2 of 2 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Columbia, KY

3 Reviews of 2 Columbia Campgrounds


  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo at First Creek Dispersed Camping — Mammoth Cave National Park near Columbia, KY
    Apr. 28, 2020

    First Creek Dispersed Camping — Mammoth Cave National Park

    All down hill

    First Camp Dispersed tent sites are an enjoyable hike down into the First Creek ,creek bed of Green River in Mammoth Cave National Forest, Ky

    If you go early enough in the season you will see some awesome rock formations. Once all the foliage fills in its not as picturesque .

    Find Ollie Rd on the back side of Mammoth and take the gravel road straight at the hard right turn. First Creek can be hiked to from two different parking areas and it’s part of the Loop trail used by hikers and horseback riders alike. A map is very useful for distances and trail directions because the markers are not always where they are supposed to be. There is an beautiful pond/lake at the bottom of the hike that empties into the Green River. Realize of course water = snakes and take precautions. Two choices of tent sites. Both have a fire ring , lantern hook and tent pad. Firewood is all around :) tote in your water or filtration system and everything you need cause the hike back up that hill ain’t short! It gets DARK here! You should have some beautiful star gazing opportunities and some wildlife interactions. Once again take precautions with your food, it’s a long hike back up that hill! Bug spray! Enough said! Love this out of the way area but it can be quite spooky ;) Enjoy ;)

  • Matthew H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Matthew H.'s photo of a dispersed camping area at Trace Branch Dispersed - Rock Creek Road near Columbia, KY
    Mar. 2, 2025

    Trace Branch Dispersed - Rock Creek Road

    Great Spot

    Visited here in the middle of January with all the snow and I was hot tent camping. You can only set up your tent on the designated tent pad, luckily we had heavy duty stakes that could get through the ground. The entire river was frozen over and ponds were frozen too. There were a few cars that drove through the middle of the night but no issues. We left our site unattended for hours to check out the streams and rivers and nothing was missing. Lots of beer bottles left over and shattered so I have to pick up the trash before letting my dog out. There are more sites down the gravel road but we went with the first one we came to.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Columbia, KY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Columbia, KY is Trace Branch Dispersed - Rock Creek Road with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.