Alum Ford Campground

The campground is nice and clean. there is a vault toilet and each of the sites have a bear proof cabinet. It was slightly hard to find as there is not a sign at the turn but we found it by turning around st the boat ramp area and taking the previous unmarked turn. We were the only ones there so it was private.

This was a beautiful little site at the west end of Kentucky 700 above the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. We had it to ourselves Wed-Fri of the last week of March. The Sheltowee Trace goes right through the campsite. If you hike north along the river, then turn up to Yahoo Falls and Yahoo Arch, it's a gorgeous few miles. A few miles to the south there are the remains of a little homestead, and past that is Cotton Patch Creek, which is really pretty as well.

The sites are packed grit with new tables, lantern hooks, fire rings, and huge bear boxes. They even have recycling (glass, plastic, aluminum). The pit toilets were the cleanest ever... they even had air fresheners going in there.

There is a little town, Marsh(es?) Siding, a few miles back with convenience stores and restaurants, although we didn't stop there. You can follow Kentucky 700 east almost all the way to Cumberland Falls, which is a pretty drive and of course Cumberland Falls is spectacular.

My wife (who doesn't have tinnitus...) could hear coyotes, owls, trains, and a few sirens from US 27.

I occasionally had a bar of Extended 3G with Verizon, but you couldn't count on it, and I left my phone off basically the whole time.

This small campground has become one of our favorites. Only 6 sites, designed for tent camping. Vans and truck campers can fit in 3 of the sites. Don't drive up to the campground with a trailer or any big RV, there is no place to turn around. It is located up a small hill overlooking Lake Cumberland (looks like a river).

We arrived mid afternoon on a Thursday in April and got the next to last site. Last site was taken on Friday, full for the weekend but quiet.

Nice trails in both directions, can hike to Yahoo Falls, highest falls in Kentucky.

All the other reviews have nailed it. So I don't need to repeat.
Great spot. Water is clean enough to swim (per the ranger). Pit toilets were clean with toilet paper.
$2.50 if you have National Park Pass.
Hiking and friendly rangers.