NPS · Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area · Oneida, KY

Bear Creek Campground - Ky

Bear Creek Horse Camp is located in the Kentucky portion of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

More like this: electric hookups in Kentucky · reservable in Kentucky · big rigs in Kentucky · pets allowed in Kentucky

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Trees shadow over gravel parking pad with picnic table nearbyWooden building entrance with a ramp and railings leading to a covered porch, a closed door, posted signs, and a window displaying notices.Bear Creek Campground - KyBear Creek Campground - Ky
Photos courtesy of NPS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

equestrian electric22
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

22 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001Back-in55GravelPartial30 ampYes / –Springs6 / 2YesStandard
002Back-in60GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
004Back-in60GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
006Back-in100GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
007Pull-through60GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
008Pull-through62GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
011Back-in47GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
015Back-in50GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
016Back-in48GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard
017Back-in54GravelPartial30 ampYes / –6 / 2YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length100 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Bear Creek combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern conveniences of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups. Sites can accommodate both RV and tent camping. Tie-stalls are available on each site.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Bear Creek Campground - Ky30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 4.78 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.46 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.17 inches of precipitationApril: 4.69 inches of precipitationMay: 5.51 inches of precipitationJune: 5.25 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.12 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.67 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.65 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.27 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.76 inches of precipitationDecember: 5.75 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.5°F averageFebruary: 37.1°F averageMarch: 45.7°F averageApril: 54.7°F averageMay: 63.6°F averageJune: 70.5°F averageJuly: 74.4°F averageAugust: 73.1°F averageSeptember: 67.0°F averageOctober: 55.4°F averageNovember: 44.8°F averageDecember: 37.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Stearns 2S, 3 miles from the campground at 1,220 feet, station USC00157677 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 56 inches a year.

Getting there

Nearest townOneida, Kentucky
Coordinates36.6411° N, 84.5236° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Ste-Wildlife Openings Rx

    10 mi from the campground · 8 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗16.4 mi
Outdoor gearSheltowee Trace Outfitters ↗20.1 mi
RV sales & serviceWeekend RV Center ↗45.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Bear Creek Provincial Park Review. Camping in Kelowna, BC

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Big South Fork is located in north-central Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. The park encompasses approximately 125,000 acres including rocky gorges and forested plateaus.

Recreation

Numerous trails snake through the recreation area, offering mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding for visitors.

Nearby

Just a few miles from the campground is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum. Visitors can hear audio presentations from actual people who lived in the community in the 1950s.

Guidebooks for Kentucky

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Sites at Bear Creek Campground - Ky are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Bear Creek Campground - Ky have?

22 sites, including 22 equestrian electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Bear Creek Campground - Ky have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Bear Creek combines the experience of traditional woods camping with the modern conveniences of flush toilets, hot showers and electric hookups.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Creek Campground - Ky. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is the nearest town to Bear Creek Campground - Ky?

Oneida, Kentucky. Just a few miles from the campground is Blue Heron Mine, also known as Mine 18, a historic abandoned mining town that has been rebuilt as an outdoor museum.

Source: Getting there

What if Bear Creek Campground - Ky is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Blue Heron Campground (2.6 mi), Bell Farm Horse Camp (8.2 mi, first-come), and Alum Ford Campground (8.7 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Bear Creek Campground - Ky in?

Bear Creek Campground - Ky is a Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area