Clifty Wilderness
Clifty Wilderness is a rugged area characterized by miles of high cliffs, steep valleys, numerous sandstone arches, rock shelters, and boulder-strewn creeks. This Wilderness is located within the scenic Red River Gorge Geological Area and features the Red River, a National Wild and Scenic River that bisects the Wilderness. In the geological area, cliffs tower 200 feet above the mature hemlocks, hardwoods and rhododendron thickets. This unusual geology has created an environment for abundant wildlife and more than 750 flowering plants. Backpacking, primitive camping, canoeing, fishing, and hunting are popular activities in Clifty Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Kentucky |
| Size | 12,371 acres |
| Designated | 1985, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.83° N, 83.58° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 1 paddling access, 1 day hiking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 1 miClifty Wilderness ↗Day hiking
- 1 miCopperas Creek Canoe Launch ↗Paddling access
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
7 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 305 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Sheltowee Trace ↗ | 285 | |
| Osborne Bend Loop ↗ | 6.7 | |
| Swift Camp Creek ↗ | 6.7 | |
| Wildcat | 2.7 | |
| Lost Branch Trail | 1.7 | |
| Rock Bridge | 1.3 | |
| Tower Rock | 0.5 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.5 miHurst, William L., Law Office ↗Campton, KY
- 2.5 miWolfe County High School ↗Campton, KY
- 13.5 miRed River Iron Furnace ↗Fitchburg, KY
- 14.4 miSt. Thomas Episcopal Church ↗Beattyville, KY
- 14.5 miBeattyville Grade School ↗Beattyville, KY
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Kentucky
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Clifty Wilderness?
12,371 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Clifty Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Clifty Wilderness in?
Kentucky.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Clifty Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1985.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Clifty Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Clifty Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.830° N, 83.576° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Clifty Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Hurst, William L., Law Office and Wolfe County High School.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.