Tent camping near Marshes Siding, Kentucky offers varied terrain from the dense woodlands of Daniel Boone National Forest to the shorelines of Lake Cumberland and Laurel River Lake. The region sits at elevations between 900-1500 feet, creating temperature variations that can drop 10-15 degrees cooler at night than daytime highs. Most primitive campsites feature natural forest floor with minimal development, often requiring campers to pack in all supplies including potable water.
What to do
Swimming and beach access: Pulaski County Park offers swimming at its small beach area along with volleyball courts and disc golf courses. According to one camper, "There's a very large walking trail, and archery area. You can put a boat right in at their little dock as well. The lake view is gorgeous. There's many places for kids to play, a basketball court, volleyball court, disk golf, and a small beach area."
Horseback riding: Trail rides are available during seasonal operations at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park from May through October. While personal horses aren't permitted on Cumberland Falls trails, nearby options exist. As one visitor noted, "I saw 3 riders on horseback when I was driving to the camp store. The stables are in two spots on the road down to Ridgeline."
Hiking to natural arches: Backcountry Camping in Big South Fork allows access to impressive geological features. A camper shared: "We parked at the Twin Arches Loop National Recreation Trail head, then made our way down into the valley to view the two gorgeous and huge arches there... Fair warning, some of the 'stairs' down into the canyon are steep so be prepared."
What campers like
Secluded tent sites: Campers seeking privacy can find isolated spots at Clifty Campground. One reviewer stated, "Best site for privacy is 49 plus it's pretty big. Sites 40-47 have electric and water. Sites 48-50 do not but all sites are close to the bath house. In my opinion, the privacy of site 49 was worth the lack of electricity and water."
Waterfront camping: Shoreline access for tent camping is valued by visitors to several parks in the area. At White Oak Boat-In Campground, "Great spacious sites, beautiful and wooded. It's a medium sized campground... wonderful atmosphere here, potable water provided, pit toilets."
Boating access: Water recreation is a major draw for campers. One visitor to Grove Boat-In Campground reported: "My first experience to a boat in and did it all on my own! My boat was my kayak. I parked at the Grove marina and packed all I could on my kayak and headed to the sites. This was a pretty decent paddle away and I waited til too late to get there."
What you should know
Campsite spacing: Many campgrounds in the region have sites in close proximity. At Clifty Campground, one visitor noted: "The sites are inconsistent between their sizes on the Clifty campground. We had two small tents and one car. If we had any more gear or people it would have been uncomfortable."
Trail difficulty and maps: Local trails can be challenging to navigate without proper resources. A camper advised: "I would pre-download maps for the area on All Trails as that was extremely helpful... Ask for a map at the lodge as I didn't see them at the campgrounds or even signs explaining what trail 12 vs 2 was in the area."
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds operate on limited schedules. A visitor to Rockcastle Campground reported: "Campground is closed, but the boat launch is open. Might be able to park in boat launch parking. Clean pit toilets."
Tips for camping with families
Spot selection: Choose sites strategically based on amenities and proximity to attractions. One family camper recommended: "The perk about the Clifty campsites is that they are close to the pool. You can easily walk to the pool with your family when it opens. The pool is free for campers."
Wildlife awareness: Raccoons and other wildlife frequent camping areas. A visitor observed: "There are a lot of raccoons that visit the dumpster area so expect it to be a little messy if your fellow campers aren't shutting the dumpster lids."
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary significantly between campgrounds, affecting family comfort. One reviewer cautioned: "Shower facilities reminded me of middle school camp... kind of mildewed... and well... rustic. Everything functioned and it wasn't 'gross' just old. Water was hot. Toilet stalls (ladies) were small. I weight 130 and at 5 foot 2 it was a tight squeeze for me."
Tips from RVers
Site length limitations: Many campgrounds near Marshes Siding have restrictions on RV sizes. At Pulaski County Park, improvements have been made but limitations remain: "More RV sites have been added. More are needed. Great place to go camping and priced well."
Water and electric hookups: Availability varies significantly between campgrounds and even between sites at the same facility. One camper noted: "We looked at the tent site map on the state resort park map and nothing looked GREAT except for Clifty Campground spots 050, 048, and 049... The majority of the sites do not have so much as a weed between them although the sites themselves are very roomy for car camping."
Cell service: Coverage can be unreliable depending on provider and location. A visitor reported: "We did have cell phone service (Verizon) at the campground. My friend that was T-Mobile did not have cell service. There are areas in the park where I did not have a signal such as when we went hiking or exploring."
