Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Jamestown, Kentucky

Note that this trail is impassable during high pool seasons of Lake Cumberland, from around March to October. Exercise caution and observe the water level. This route provides access through one of four roads to the Lake Cumberland WMA at Oil Center. Please keep in mind that this area is maintained ...
Learn more about Oil Center WMA Main Via Ringgold Road

Woods Road is a great area that offers dispersed camping, campground camping, hiking, and fishing options all along the 7 mile stretch of gravel. Woods Road parallels Rock Creek for most of its length and provides a great base to further explore Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork. Gobbl...
Learn more about Woods Road

Bell Farm Road is a well-maintained, two-vehicle-wide gravel road that turns off of a Y in the road. This is a beautiful ride along some pastureland, and there is a nice overlook along the way. I did not see any camping opportunities along this route, although the map says it is permitted within 300...
Learn more about Bell Farm Road - FS 564

Parker Mountain Road is a well-maintained, improved, two-vehicle-width gravel road that can be used to travel between Bell Farm Road on the east and Highway 167 on the West end. Along the way, there are two overlooks with nice views and also a great, easy two-mile hike to the beautiful Buffalo Arch....
Learn more about Parker Mountain Road

Dolan Mountain Road ascends from Rock Creek towards the south. Outside of a few large pot holes, it's a well-maintained gravel road wide enough for two vehicles to pass. When the trees are without leaves you can catch some great views of the valley below. Dolan Mountain connects the Peter's Mountain...
Learn more about Dolan Mountain

Starting at the Tennessee / Kentucky boarder, this easy gravel road transitions you from Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area into the Daniel Boone National Forest. Easy single lane drive through the woods. This connnecting trail has many cool side trails to old cemeteries and trailhead...
Learn more about Peters Mountain Road - FS 569

Rock Creek Road parallels the stream from which it gets its name for approximately 8.2 miles. While there are several day use and dispersed campsites along the road it also passes by some private property. Rock Creek is stocked with rainbow by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife throughout ...
Learn more about Rock Creek Road

Lexton Mountain Road is a 2.5 gravel two-track that dead-ends at a nice campsite that could accommodate three to four trucks. Different from a lot of the road in the area this one travels along the top of the ridge versus the in the bottom of a valley. Be prepared for the possibility of small trees ...
Learn more about Lexton Mountain

This is a mostly well-maintained Forest Service road, with various developed water crossings. It provides access to Williams Siding Road (Williams Siding ATV trail) as well. Entry is through a residential area, so be courteous to the locals. This trail ends at a large turnaround/ undeveloped campin...
Learn more about 646A Straight Creek

Access to a beautiful waterfall into the Rockcastle River. Characteristics of an old Forest Service Road. Large gravel, dirt, and shallow water crossings. Some washouts around one foot deep. Beautiful drive through a less-trafficked area of Daniel Boone National Forest. There is a possibility of dow...
Learn more about Bear Creek Falls (5138)

This is a combination of dirt, gravel, and single-track in-the-woods roads. There really aren't a lot of difficult obstacles to make a note of other than a few areas that are washed out on Duncan Hollow Road. We had cell service off and on during this drive (Verizon). There weren't any great views a...
Learn more about Bandy Creek Trek

This section of the trail takes you back to a scenic waterfall. The trail winds around a ridge with some tight turns but is not technical in nature. The waterfall is a cascade type that you can climb and is a great place to take photos or eat a light lunch.
Learn more about Waterfall Trail

The trail follows along the edge of a field before dropping down by the water's edge. You may encounter a few small mud holes on your way. The beach is rocky and big enough to fit several vehicles. There are optional steep climbs to return to the main trail if you want a challenge.
Learn more about River Beach Access

4005 is a mostly well-maintained Forest Service road, with large gravel for around three quarters of the road. Past that is a less-maintained but in good condition dirt trail. Access to 4005A is at the end of this trail. It would appear that some small cabins are being built towards the end of the r...
Learn more about DBNF 4005

This is a scenic and well-maintained Forest Service road that is also a part of the Kentucky Adventure Trail Main 2 Route. This road leads south of the Laurel Lake area and into some of the great waterfall hikes around the Cumberland Falls area. It's an absolutely gorgeous area any time of the year.
Learn more about Curd Garden (FSR 193)

One of the best waterfall hikes in Kentucky lies along this well-maintained gravel forest road. Dog Slaughter Tail connects to Cumberland Falls Trail, with a great view coming along the bottom of the falls towards the State Park. There is a very heavy vehicle presence all along this road for hiking...
Learn more about Dog Slaughter (FSR 195)

Ryans Mountain Road is a well-maintained gravel route that's two vehicles wide for the majority of its nearly six-mile length. It climbs from Kentucky State Highway 1470 before dropping back down from the ridgeline in the last mile or so. Unfortunately, there are only a few small pull-offs along the...
Learn more about Ryans Mountain Road

This road starts as a gravel road and leads to Rooks Road, which is slightly tighter. Part of the Scenic Kentucky Adventure Trail Main Section 2, this road has a beautiful waterfall to see, a pair of natural arches, and a shallow creek crossing. This portion of the KAT really offers a lot of beautif...
Learn more about Dog Branch to Rooks Road

Stephens Knob is relatively unassuming for the majority of its 7.7-mile length. It's a very well-maintained gravel road. During the winter, nice views are available off of the north side. There's a split at the end of the gravel, and both options lead back to a small grassy campsite. Cell service is...
Learn more about Stephens Knob

This is a dead-end Forest Service road. It likely has spectacular fall foliage, and there is a small cave entrance labeled on the Forest Service map. The "cave entrance" is less than expected, with litter and beer bottles spread around the area. Otherwise, this is a simple out-and-back trail with a ...
Learn more about Sand Gap Road (FSR 731)

Note that this trail is impassable during high pool seasons of Lake Cumberland, from around March to October. Exercise caution and observe the water level. This route provides access through one of four roads to the Lake Cumberland WMA at Oil Center. Please keep in mind that this area is maintained ...
Learn more about Oil Center WMA Main Via Ringgold Road

Access to a beautiful waterfall into the Rockcastle River. Characteristics of an old Forest Service Road. Large gravel, dirt, and shallow water crossings. Some washouts around one foot deep. Beautiful drive through a less-trafficked area of Daniel Boone National Forest. There is a possibility of dow...
Learn more about Bear Creek Falls (5138)

This is a combination of dirt, gravel, and single-track in-the-woods roads. There really aren't a lot of difficult obstacles to make a note of other than a few areas that are washed out on Duncan Hollow Road. We had cell service off and on during this drive (Verizon). There weren't any great views a...
Learn more about Bandy Creek Trek

This section of the trail takes you back to a scenic waterfall. The trail winds around a ridge with some tight turns but is not technical in nature. The waterfall is a cascade type that you can climb and is a great place to take photos or eat a light lunch.
Learn more about Waterfall Trail

Note that this trail is impassable during high pool seasons of Lake Cumberland, from around March to October. Exercise caution and observe the water level. This route provides access through one of four roads to the Lake Cumberland WMA at Oil Center. Please keep in mind that this area is maintained ...
Learn more about Oil Center WMA Main Via Ringgold Road

Access to a beautiful waterfall into the Rockcastle River. Characteristics of an old Forest Service Road. Large gravel, dirt, and shallow water crossings. Some washouts around one foot deep. Beautiful drive through a less-trafficked area of Daniel Boone National Forest. There is a possibility of dow...
Learn more about Bear Creek Falls (5138)

This is a combination of dirt, gravel, and single-track in-the-woods roads. There really aren't a lot of difficult obstacles to make a note of other than a few areas that are washed out on Duncan Hollow Road. We had cell service off and on during this drive (Verizon). There weren't any great views a...
Learn more about Bandy Creek Trek

This section of the trail takes you back to a scenic waterfall. The trail winds around a ridge with some tight turns but is not technical in nature. The waterfall is a cascade type that you can climb and is a great place to take photos or eat a light lunch.
Learn more about Waterfall Trail