U.S. Forest Service · Daniel Boone National Forest · Morehead, KY

Boat Gunnel Group Campground

Boat Gunnel Group Campground is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest on Cave Run Lake. Widely known for its scenic beauty and varied outdoor recreation opportunities, Cave Run Lake is home to Kentucky's state record Muskie. This 8,270-acre lake is jointly operated and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service.

More like this: electric hookups in Kentucky · reservable in Kentucky · pets allowed in Kentucky · group sites in Kentucky

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Boat Gunnel Group CampgroundBOAT GUNNEL GROUP CAMPGROUNDBOAT GUNNEL GROUP CAMPGROUNDBOAT GUNNEL GROUP CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of US Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group standard electric1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadePowerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
Boat GunnelPavedFull30/50 ampLakefront100 / 12YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes

Boat Gunnel Group Campground offers a bathhouse with flush toilets and showers, picnic shelter, horseshoe pit and drinking water. The camping area accommodates large groups of up to 100 people and is available by reservation only. The picnic shelter is equipped with a grill, serving table and electricity.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonFirst Friday in March to First Sunday in November
ForestDaniel Boone National Forest
BookingReserve through https://www.recreation.gov
Fees$130/night (100 person capacity). Recreation Permits and Passes

Daniel Boone National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Boat Gunnel Group Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.56 inches of precipitation, 4.3 inches of snowFebruary: 3.56 inches of precipitation, 3.4 inches of snowMarch: 4.60 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowApril: 4.69 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.81 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 5.92 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.87 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.89 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.41 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 3.23 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowDecember: 4.08 inches of precipitation, 2.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.9°F averageFebruary: 36.0°F averageMarch: 44.2°F averageApril: 54.8°F averageMay: 63.5°F averageJune: 71.4°F averageJuly: 75.0°F averageAugust: 73.8°F averageSeptember: 67.6°F averageOctober: 56.4°F averageNovember: 45.3°F averageDecember: 37.2°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cave Run Lake, 2 miles from the campground at 840 feet, station USC00152791 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 51 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 12 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Lexington, Kentucky, on I-64, take exit 133. Turn right at the top of the exit ramp to proceed south on KY-801. Proceed 8.4 miles on 801. The campground entrance is on the right.

Nearest townMorehead, Kentucky
Coordinates38.0993° N, 83.5023° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗24 mi
Outdoor gearMiguel's Pizza Restaurant ↗24 mi
RV sales & serviceBluegrass RV ↗52.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

Video of Boat Gunnel Group Campground, KY from Daniel S.

Worth a stop

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.

  • under 0.1 mi
    Boat Gunnel Shoreline
    0.6 mi trail
  • 0.1 mi
    Wildlife Habitat
    0.5 mi trail
  • 0.1 mi
    Oak Ridge
    0.5 mi trail
  • 0.5 mi
    Lakeview Ridge
    2.3 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
    Shallow Pond Trail
    0.1 mi trail
  • 0.6 mi
    Shallow Flats Trail
    0.09 mi trail

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

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.

Recreation

Nearby Twin Knobs Campground offers a boat ramp and beach. Scenic foot trails in the area include the Boat Gunnel Shoreline Trail, the Oak Ridge Trail and the Wildlife Trail.

Guidebooks for Daniel Boone National Forest and Kentucky

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

  • Day Hiking the Daniel Boone National Forest
    Johnny Molloy, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Kentucky
    Falcon Guides and Carrie Stambaugh, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Kentucky's Red River Gorge
    Sean Patrick Hill, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Sites at Boat Gunnel Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reserve through https://www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

$130/night (100 person capacity). Recreation Permits and Passes

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Boat Gunnel Group Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season First Friday in March to First Sunday in November.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Boat Gunnel Group Campground have?

1 site, including 1 group standard electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Boat Gunnel Group Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Does Boat Gunnel Group Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Boat Gunnel Group Campground offers a bathhouse with flush toilets and showers, picnic shelter, horseshoe pit and drinking water.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Boat Gunnel Group Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Nearby Twin Knobs Campground offers a boat ramp and beach. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Boat Gunnel Group Campground?

Morehead, Kentucky. The Morehead Office Visitor Center offers information about the Daniel Boone National Forest in addition to interpretive exhibits.

Source: Getting there