Bee Rock Campground in Kentucky on map
Bee Rock Campground
Bee Rock has been a getaway for travelers since the early 1800s.
Vacationers have been coming to Bee Rock for a couple of hundred years to get away from it all. In the early 1800s, Sublimity Spring Resort Hotel was located where the campground now lies. Columbus Graham, a hero in the War of 1812, ran the resort, which offered an escape from malaria, yellow fever, and other plagues of the lower South. It was described as "an Eden for children, a sanitarium for invalids, a paradise for lovers, and a haven of rest for the tired." How does that sound?
Bee Rock Campground may not cure anything, but it is an attractive respite for tent campers. The cliff known as Bee Rock got its name from being a giant hollow beehive. Local beekeepers tired of "wild" bees getting into their hives, so they destroyed the hollow part of the cliff with dynamite. Legend has it that so much honey flowed that it reached the Rockcastle River. Not to worry—a great view remains of the rocks and cliff along the Rockcastle River at Bee Rock via foot trails that start right at the campground. The Rockcastle River also offers fishing and boating.
The Rockcastle divides the campground. Coming from the east, you will first reach the smaller East Side Campground, composed entirely of walk-in tent sites. Drive up the dead-end road, and soon you will come to roadside parking areas for the tent sites, which are up the hill away from the river. Come to vault toilets and the Sublimity Bridge, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. More good sites lie up the hill. These sites are all far from one another and are heavily wooded.
The West Side Campground road passes Sublimity Bridge and enters the camping area. Come to a solo site alongside the river, and then swing around a hollow, passing one end of the Bee Rock Loop Trail and some vault toilets. Other shady lakeside sites lie along the Rockcastle. The understory is limited, cutting down on privacy. The campsites are generally spacious; pop-up trailers often occupy some of the larger ones.
Come to an auto turnaround and notice the large boulders that add natural landscaping. Of special note is campsite 15. It is surrounded by many of these gray boulders, adding a special touch. The sites away from the lake are more heavily wooded and also less popular. Water spigots are located throughout the campground. Local campers favor Bee Rock—and that is a good sign. Campers can generally find a site anytime, especially in the East Side
Campground. Many folks come to get a little of that relaxation touted back in the 1800s. Other campers will be seen bank-fishing for bass, bream, and catfish. There is a boat launch here, for this campground stands at the uppermost reach of Lake Cumberland. Upstream of here the Rockcastle flows free and is a designated Kentucky Wild River. You can explore it via the Rockcastle Narrows Trail. The path starts near the boat ramp and follows the river upstream past Cane Creek. Here, hikers can go left to reach The Narrows, some of the most challenging white water in Kentucky. To the right is the Winding Stair Gap Trail, which passes wildlife clearings and the foundation of the old resort hotel.
You can also reach The Narrows from the west side of the Rockcastle via Trail 503, Rockcastle Narrows West Trail.
It allows hikers to reach secluded fishing spots before it turns away from the river and connects to the must-do path of Bee Rock, the Bee Rock Loop. This path climbs steeply to a scenic view of
the Rockcastle, then circles back to the campground. Maybe after a good look around at the scenery of the Rockcastle valley, you may understand why folks have been coming here all these years.
Key information about Bee Rock Campground
ADDRESS: 135 Realty Ln., Somerset, KY 42501
OPERATED BY: U.S. Forest Service
CONTACT: 606-679-2010, www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf
OPEN: East Side: year-round; West Side: April-October
SITES: 9 walk-in tent sites; 19 tent/trailer sites
SITE AMENITIES: Picnic table, fire ring, lantern post, tent pad
ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served; no reservations
REGISTRATION: Self-registration on-site
FACILITIES: Water spigots, vault toilets; water during warm season only
PARKING: At campsites only
FEE: $8
ELEVATION: 730 feet
RESTRICTIONS in Bee Rock Campground
¦ Pets: On 6-foot leash only
¦ Fires: In fire rings only
¦ Alcohol: At campsites only
¦ Vehicles: No more than 2 per site
¦ Other: 14-day stay limit
Getting to Bee Rock Campground
From Exit 38 on 1-75 near London, head west on KY 192 18 miles to the bridge over the Rockcastle River. The campground is on both sides of the river.
GPS COORDINATES N37°1.703l W84° 19.081'
