Kingdom Come State Park Campground in Kentucky on map
Kingdom Come State Park Campground
This is Kentucky's highest campground.
This land of superlatives deserves more business. I rate it one of Kentucky's finest state parks. The natural setting is ideal: the heavily wooded ridgetop of Pine Mountain, with numerous rock outcrops offering scenic vistas of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. Not only is Kingdom Come the state's highest park, it also has the highest campground. And park lookouts offer vistas onto Kentucky's highest point, Black Mountain, more than 4,000 feet high. This is also bear country—don't be too surprised if you run into a bruin on the trails here. The small but excellent campground makes for a fine base from which to explore the
trails and roads that run through the high country here.
Before you grab a campsite, stop by the stone gazebo at the park entrance and grab a quick view. This vista looks east, across the Poor Fork Cumberland River Valley to the even higher mountains of eastern Harlan County. Down below is the town of Cumberland. Save that trip to Log Rock for later, after you are situated. Keep climbing the mountain a little more, and take a left turn into the camping area. Immediately dip down to reach four well-groomed, well-kept campsites at the head of a small hollow. While the hollow itself isn't level, the campsites have been leveled for better eating and sleeping. Overhead is a forest of maple, pine, and oak. Bathrooms for each gender are just a few steps down the hollow. The water spigot is a few steps farther down, toward a picnic shelter that would make a good respite in a rainstorm. And a horseshoe pit lies across from the campground.
The fact that there are only four sites at this first-come, first-served campground may keep you from driving a long way to get here. Don't worry: The park staff assured me that no campers are ever turned away. In fact, they encourage visitation, and, if the four sites are full, they'll simply put you at a site in the adjacent picnic area. The picnic sites resemble the campsites, lacking only tent pads and lantern posts. The bathroom and water spigot are just as close. Remember to keep your food stored in the trunk of your car overnight or if you leave the campsite for a while. This is not to scare you off—the bears want your food, not your flank. And it helps the bears because a wild bear that eats wild food stays wild. On the other hand, as the saying goes, "a fed bear is a dead bear." Bears habituated to human food become brazen in their quest for it and ultimately end up being relocated, shot, poached, or all of the above.
So now that you've put your food away, take a hike. Several interconnected trails cover the highlights of Kingdom Come. The Log Rock Trail is just across the road from the camping area. Take it for another view to the east. It ends up at the stone gazebo and the park lake, where trout, bass, and catfish can be caught. Pedal boats are also available for rent. The Laurel Trail leads from the lake to the cave amphitheater, which is actually a giant rockhouse outfitted for events taking place in a totally natural setting. For more views, keep up the Powerline Trail to access Raven Rock, at the top of the rock house. The rock face angles down the side of Pine Mountain. Several other trails roam the park. Once, while hiking the Raven Rock Trail, I enjoyed some blueberries. And on the way down, on the Groundhog Trail, I came upon some fresh bear scat. (The bear had been eating blueberries too.) The Little Shepherd Trail is open to hikers, bikers, and cars. It leads 13 miles east to US 119 and another 25 miles to Whitesburg. Allow plenty of time on this road if you drive
it. And allow yourself some time to visit this fine state park. Supplies are available down in the town of Cumberland. Also down in Cumberland are the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum and the School House Inn Historic Site.
Getting to Kingdom Come State Park Campground
From the junction of US 421 and US 119 near Harlan, head north on US 119 22 miles to Kingdom Come Drive. Turn left on Kingdom Come Drive, and go 0.7 mile to Park Road. Turn right on Park Road, and follow it 1.3 miles to the state park.
GPS COORDINATES N36° 59.479' W82° 59.007'
Key Information about Kingdom Come State Park Campground
ADDRESS: P.O. Box M, Cumberland, KY 40823
OPERATED BY: Kentucky State Parks
CONTACT: 606-589-2479, parks . ky . gov
OPEN: Year-round
SITES: 4
SITE AMENITIES: Picnic table, fire ring, lantern post, tent pad
ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served; no reservations
REGISTRATION: At visitor center, or ranger will come by and register you
FACILITIES: Flush toilets, water spigot
PARKING: At campsites only
FEE: $8
ELEVATION: 2,350 feet
RESTRICTIONS in Kingdom Come State Park Campground
¦ Pets: On 6-foot leash only
¦ Fires: In fire rings only
¦ Alcohol: Prohibited
¦ Vehicles: None
¦ Other: 14-day stay limit
