Little Lick Horse Camp in Daniel Boone National Forest sits at an elevation of 1,240 feet on the Cumberland Plateau. The area receives approximately 50 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forests and seasonal streams. Temperatures range from 25°F in winter to 85°F in summer, with spring and fall offering the most moderate camping conditions for equestrians and standard campers alike.
What to do
Trail riding access points: Little Lick Horse Camp connects directly to the Nathan McClure trailhead. According to Shelly S., "Off Ky Rt 80 in Daniel Boone National Forest, keep following the tent signs, they will get you to Little Lick Campground. This is a primitive little campground out in the middle of nowhere, however there are several awesome trailheads in the area."
Water recreation: Clayton Geneva Memorial Campground offers riverside activities on the Cumberland River. Amber H. notes, "River side tent sites on a shaded, sandy river bank. Reserve online, go straight to camping!! Self serve, no fuss. Fire rings provided. Local guy delivers firewood to your site with one call!! Trails, canoe, kayak, swim, fish, relax."
Wildlife viewing: Great Meadows Campground provides opportunities to observe local fauna. One camper mentions, "Got surprised by a bear while gathering firewood nearby," while another states there are "nice wildlife" viewing opportunities around the campground.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Bear Creek Horse Camp offers ample camping room. Shelly S. reports, "Very horse oriented :) Stayed here in April, very quiet! Off to itself. Totally set up for the horse crowd with plenty of horse room :) there is a day use parking and unloading area and direct access to the horse trails."
Dark skies: The remote location of these campgrounds provides excellent stargazing. At Little Lick Horse Camp, Shelly S. describes, "Quiet and dark and STARS." Another camper, Tombo T., appreciates the "silence" noting it's a "Campers paradise, with a FREE campground."
Clean facilities: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park maintains high standards for their amenities. Lori H. mentions the park has "nice clean bathrooms, excellent staff!" Another visitor notes, "The grounds are kept pretty decent" with "very friendly staff."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to some equestrian campgrounds requires preparation. For Little Lick Horse Camp, one reviewer cautions, "You will drive and drive and drive...and drive on the gravel road. However the road is good and the signage will get you there!"
Primitive amenities: Most horse camps have limited facilities. Little Lick Horse Camp is described as "primitive, to include no toilet so bring your bucket or whatever you use.....remember Leave No Trace ;)"
Weather considerations: Bandy Creek Campground experiences significant temperature variations. One camper reports, "When we arrived at the campground it started snowing and the temperature dropped to 29 overnight," highlighting the need to prepare for changing conditions.
Reservation systems: Several campgrounds have different booking requirements. Clayton Geneva Memorial Campground offers a "Self serve, no fuss" system where you can "Reserve online, go straight to camping!!"
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park provides numerous family-friendly features. Lori H. shares, "Plenty of park hosted activities for kiddos and adults. A lot of trails, good clean pool, nice clean bathrooms, excellent staff!"
Campsite layout: Some campgrounds are designed specifically for group camping. One visitor explains Dale Hollow's unique setup: "Campsites are on loops off the main loop/road. It puts 7-8 sites in a circle so it's possible for families to rent multiple site in same loop. Plenty of room for kids to play and also has a swimming pool!"
Site selection for little ones: S-Tree Campground offers large sites but consider activities for young children. A reviewer notes the campground has "huge sites with available fire pits and restrooms," though another mentions it's somewhat isolated.
Tips from RVers
Hookup access: Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park has specific amenities for RVs. One camper advises, "I wish they would have mentioned the length to water hookup. We ended up having to go buy a longer water hose bc the hookup was more than 30 foot away."
Generator use: Barren Fork Horse Camp has minimal electrical options but flexible generator policies. A visitor points out "There are no rules on generator use, so beware that your neighbor may run the generator all day and night."
Site spacing: Consider the layout when selecting an RV site. At Dale Hollow, a full-time traveler observed, "The only issue I had with this camp was the way the sites were situated. They were in sets, like a cul-de-sac shape, and put you really close to your neighbors."
