Editing Daniel Boone National Forest

{{short description|National forest in Kentucky}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Daniel Boone National Forest
| photo = Daniel Boone National Forest Tater Knob.jpg
| photo_caption = View from Tater Knob in the Daniel Boone National Forest
| image_map = {{maplink-road|from=Daniel Boone National Forest.map}}
| relief = 1
| map_caption = 
| location = [[Kentucky]], US
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coord|37|17|17|N|83|52|31|W|display=inline, title}}
| area_acre = 2100000
| area_ref = (proclamation boundary); {{convert|706000|acre|ha}} (Forest Service)
| established = February 23, 1937<ref>{{cite web |title=The National Forests of the United States |publisher=ForestHistory.org |url=http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf |access-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028014355/http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2012 }}</ref>
| named_for = [[Daniel Boone]]
| visitation_num = 2,507,000
| visitation_year = 2004
| governing_body = [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]]
| website = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf Daniel Boone National Forest]
}}

The '''Daniel Boone National Forest''' (originally the '''Cumberland National Forest''') is a [[United States National Forest|national forest]] in [[Kentucky]], United States. Established in 1937, it includes {{convert|708000|acres|ha}} of federally owned land within a {{convert|2100000|acres|ha|adj=on}} proclamation boundary. The name of the forest was changed in 1966 in honor of the explorer [[Daniel Boone]].

The terrain of the forest is generally rugged, and includes multiple prominent water features. It is home to a range of plant and animal species, although many areas still bear evidence of industrial logging and other practices which took place mostly prior to federal protection. It is a popular recreational and tourist destination which serves a million or more visitors a year, and contains several widely recognized areas which are protected in their own right, including state parks, trails, wilderness areas, and landmarks.

==Physical geography==
As of 2017 the Daniel Boone National Forest encompasses {{convert|708000|acres|ha}} of federally owned land within a {{convert|2100000|acres|ha|adj=on}} proclamation boundary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daniel Boone National Forest|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf|website=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> The land within the proclamation boundary contains both publicly and privately owned land, along with thousands of miles of marked boundary lines between the two.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forest Boundaries|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5276999|website=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> Most privately owned land, accounting for about {{convert|1378410|acres}} is held by individuals and ranges from {{convert|100|acres}} to {{convert|300|acres}} in size.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-8}}

The forest is formed by two main areas: a {{convert|140|mi|km|adj=on}} wide strip of land along the western edge of the [[Cumberland Plateau]], and the Redbird Purchase, located on the east of the Cumberland Plateau.<ref name="impact">{{cite book|title=Daniel Boone National Forest (N.F.), Proposed Plan: Environmental Impact Statement|date=1985|publisher=[[National Forest Service]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xaU2AQAAMAAJ|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>{{rp|S-8}} The terrain is generally rugged, hilly and mountainous, with [[Terrain#Relief|reliefs]] of as much as {{convert|200|ft}} in the north and {{convert|2000|ft}} toward the south.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-1}} Administratively, the forest is divided into four ranger districts: Cumberland<ref>{{cite web|title=Cumberland Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=stelprdb5296143|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> London,<ref>{{cite web|title=London Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_032651|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> Redbird,<ref>{{cite web|title=Redbird Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_032653|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> and Stearns.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stearns Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=stelprdb5340919|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>

=== Counties ===
The Daniel Boone National Forest includes land across 21 Kentucky counties, namely:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}} 
# [[Bath County, Kentucky|Bath]]
# [[Clay County, Kentucky|Clay]]
# [[Estill County, Kentucky|Estill]]
# [[Harlan County, Kentucky|Harlan]]
# [[Jackson County, Kentucky|Jackson]]
# [[Knox County, Kentucky|Knox]]
# [[Laurel County, Kentucky|Laurel]]
# [[Lee County, Kentucky|Lee]]
# [[Leslie County, Kentucky|Leslie]]
# [[McCreary County, Kentucky|McCreary]]
# [[Menifee County, Kentucky|Menifee]]
# [[Morgan County, Kentucky|Morgan]]
# [[Owsley County, Kentucky|Owsley]]
# [[Perry County, Kentucky|Perry]]
# [[Powell County, Kentucky|Powell]]
# [[Pulaski County, Kentucky|Pulaski]]
# [[Rockcastle County, Kentucky|Rockcastle]]
# [[Rowan County, Kentucky|Rowan]]
# [[Wayne County, Kentucky|Wayne]]
# [[Whitley County, Kentucky|Whitley]]
# [[Wolfe County, Kentucky|Wolfe]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Kentucky Map|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5277042.pdf|website=[[National Forest Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Water===
[[File:USACE Laurel River Dam and Lake.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the dam at [[Laurel River Lake]]]]
Major river systems include the [[Licking River (Kentucky)|Licking River]], [[Kentucky River]], and [[Cumberland River]], all of which flow into the [[Ohio River]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-10}} Four reservoirs are located within the forest, administered by the [[US Army Corps of Engineers]]. These are [[Cave Run Lake]], [[Buckhorn Lake (Kentucky)|Buckhorn Lake]], [[Lake Cumberland]] and [[Laurel River Lake]]. Taken together, at normal water levels these reservoirs comprise {{convert|63850|acre}} of water.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-2}} The forest additionally encompasses thousands of miles of smaller [[streams]], many of which flow only after heavy rain.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-1}} About {{convert|12500|acre}} are classified as [[riparian zones]], while {{convert|7000|acre}} are classified as [[floodplains]] or [[wetlands]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-11}}

Water is of an overall good quality, but is impacted by activities related to mining, and exploration for oil and gas.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-10}} The area averages {{convert|46|in}} of rainfall annually, with [[thunderstorms]] occurring an average of 46 days per year.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-2}} Due to shallow soil, heavy rains may result in severe local flooding, and conversely, many tributaries may become completely dry during periods of little rainfall.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-5}}

===Air===
Air quality in the forest is considered "excellent", due to the comparatively sparse population and lack of industry.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-6}} The majority of air pollution results from the 128 average annual forest fires,{{efn|Of these 128, the Forest Service estimated in 1985 that 126 were man made, and on average burned a total of {{convert|1869|acre}} per year. Approximately 1% of fires were believed to be caused by lightning strike.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-11, S-12}}}} in addition to [[controlled burning]], the residential burning of [[coal]], and dust from [[Dirt road|unpaved roads]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-11, S-12}}

==History==
===European exploration until statehood===
By the early 16th century both the [[French colonial empire|French]] and the [[British Empire|British]] had laid claim to the land that would become the Daniel Boone National Forest. Among the first Europeans to enter the area was the French [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]] in 1669.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|1}} He was later followed by the party of the English [[Thomas Walker (explorer)|Thomas Walker]] in 1750, who would go on to make the first European discoveries of the [[Cumberland Gap]], Cumberland River, and the pass through [[Pine Mountain (Appalachian Mountains)|Pine Mountain]]{{efn|near modern day [[Pineville, Kentucky]]}}<ref name="usfs">{{cite book|last1=Collins|first1=Robert F.|editor1-last=Ellison|editor1-first=Betty B.|title=A history of the Daniel Boone National Forest, 1770-1970|date=1975|publisher=[[United States Forest Service]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUN8AAAAIAAJ|access-date=1 December 2017|ref=usfs}}</ref>{{rp|1–3}} Several others made expeditions in the area over the following decades with mixed success.{{efn|This included John Findley from 1752 to 1753; James McBride in 1754; a party of 19 unnamed Virginians in 1761, 1763, and 1764; Isaac Lindsey in 1767; and John Swift in 1761, 1762, 1764, 1764-68, and 1768-69.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|4–7}}}}

Around 1760, Daniel Boone reached an understanding with [[Richard Henderson (jurist)|Richard Henderson]] for the exploration and preparation of the wilderness beyond the [[Appalachian Mountains]], so that it may be more easily settled by those who sought to move westward.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|15–6}} Boone made an expedition in 1767 into the area of modern-day [[Prestonsburg, Kentucky]],<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|17–8}} and then in 1769, he set out with five others on an extended expedition through the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky, where he stayed until March 1771.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|21–2, 30}} Boone set out on a failed attempt at settlement in 1773, and then again in 1774, where he served as an [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] in [[Lord Dunmore's War]].<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|33–4, 37–8}}

On March 17, 1775, the [[Transylvania Colony]], founded by Henderson, and for which Boone was employed, reached an agreement (over the objections of the governors of [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]] and [[Province of North Carolina|North Carolina]]) with a grand counsel of the [[Cherokee Nation (1794–1907)|Cherokee Nation]] to purchase all land from the [[Kentucky River]] to the Cumberland River, including large part of modern-day Kentucky and [[Tennessee]], an area known as the Transylvania Purchase.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|47–50}}{{efn|The land was purchased for 10,000 [[Pound sterling|pounds]] in currency and trade goods.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|52}}}} In anticipation of this purchase, Boone and a party were dispatched on March 10, marking and clearing trails in the newly acquired lands, and eventually founding Fort Boone, near the confluence of Station Camp Creek and the Kentucky River.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|57–66}}{{efn|Near modern day [[Irvine, Kentucky]]<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|63–4}}}} This became the fledgling Transylvania Colony,<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|73–85}} until being eliminated in 1778 by the [[Virginia House of Delegates]], becoming [[Kentucky County, Virginia]], and by 1792, the Commonwealth of Kentucky.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|93, 126}}

===Industrial use===
Up to the beginning of the 20th century, the Daniel Boone and surrounding forest were the subject of extensive logging, with logs sent downstream for processing in the [[sawmill]]s of [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Nashville]], [[Frankfort, Kentucky|Frankfort]] and [[Cincinnati]], only to be overtaken as rail extended into the area around the turn of the century.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|178–80}} The industry reached its peak in 1907, with almost one billion [[Board foot|board feet]] of lumber production.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|181}} The forest was additionally harvested to provide [[charcoal]] for the developing iron industry, and as the railroad advanced, to produce [[Railroad tie|crossties]], and lumber for the building of bridges in addition to [[Railroad car|rail cars]].<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|181}}

===Federal protection===
[[File:Boone_National_Forest_Bounds_2016.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Daniel Boone National Forest as of 2016. The black line is the proclamation boundary. Green represents Forest Service land. White areas within the boundary are privately or locally owned. The inset map shows the ranger districts.]]
In 1900, [[United States Congress|Congress]] appropriated $5,000, and again in 1907, $25,000 for the investigation of areas in southern [[Appalachia]], for potential purchase as a national forest.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|183–4}} These efforts were further strengthened in 1911 by passage of the [[Weeks Act]], which allocated millions in additional funding. As part of the [[United States Forest Service|Forest Service]]'s examination of the area, E. Murray Bruner published in 1914 an extensive report covering {{convert|900000|acres}} of land in Kentucky, and concluded in part:

<blockquote>Because of the general rugged topography of this section and very great influence it exerts upon navigation of the Kentucky River, it is very essential that its protection from extensive clearing be assured.  For these reasons the section is eminently desirable as a purchase area, and therefore, in view of the fact that the prices of land now prevailing are very reasonable, there is a favorable prospect for making large purchases...<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|186–8}}</blockquote>

Land acquisition began in 1933, based largely on the purchase of {{convert|48000|acres}} from Stearns Coal and Lumber, {{convert|27000|acres}} acres from Castle Craig Coal, and {{convert|22000|acres}} from the Warfork Land Company.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|210}} By the time the area was officially declared the Cumberland National Forest in 1937, the tract spanned {{convert|409567|acres}} of federally owned land across 16 Kentucky counties.<ref name="fs1">{{cite web|title=Boone History|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/learning/history-culture/?cid=stelprdb5291202|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>

Both Daniel Boone{{efn|Both stylized as his full name, as well as shortened to simply "Boone"<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|208}}}} and [[Henry Clay]] were originally put forth in the 1930s as potential namesakes.<ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|206}} However, it was not until 1966, following, among other things, a resolution to the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] by the [[Kentucky Senate]], that the name was officially changed by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] to Daniel Boone National Forest on April 11.<ref name="fs1"/><ref name="usfs"/>{{rp|247–8}} The same year, some {{convert|300000|acres}} of the Redbird Unit were added.<ref name="fs1"/>

==Ecology==
The Daniel Boone National Forest contains around 40 commercial species of trees, and as many non-commercial species of trees and shrubs.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-14}} These include mixed [[hardwood]]s such as [[oak]]s and [[Hickory|hickories]], in addition to white and yellow [[pine]]. Because much of the area was intensely logged prior to federal land protections, much of the forest is of low quality, although areas of younger growth is of a higher quality, having been always a part of protected lands.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-8}} As of 1985, when the forest service published their environmental evaluation of the area, about 92% of the land was considered "tentatively suitable" for the production of timber.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-10}}

The area is home to 54 species and subspecies of [[mammals]], 194 of [[birds]], 44 of [[reptiles]], 41 of [[amphibians]], and 150 of [[fish]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-19}} Notable animals that inhabit this forest frequently seen by visitors include [[American black bear|black bear]], [[coyote]], [[bobcat]], [[white-tailed deer]], [[wild turkey]], [[gray squirrel]], [[muskrat]], [[quail]], [[Virginia opossum|opossum]], [[ruffed grouse]], [[rabbit]], [[red fox|red]] and [[gray fox]] species, [[raccoon]] and [[mourning dove]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-8}} Other species present are the [[groundhog|woodchuck]], [[red-cockaded woodpecker]], [[American mink|mink]], [[bald eagle]], [[Virginia big-eared bat]], [[Indiana bat]] and [[gray bat]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-10}} Venomous species include the [[Eastern copperhead|copperhead]], [[timber rattlesnake]], and [[Vaejovis carolinianus|southern devil scorpion]]. Fish species include [[rainbow trout]], [[Largemouth bass|large]] and [[smallmouth bass]], [[bluegill]], [[crappie]], and [[muskie]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-8}}

==Recreation==
[[File:Summary of major developed recreation facilities by development level and capacity, National Forest Service, Daniel Boone National Forest.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Summary of major developed recreation facilities by development level and capacity, from the [[United States Forest Service|US Forest Service]]<ref name="plan"/>{{rp|3–242}}]]
The Daniel Boone National Forest provides a range of recreational activities, including approximately 100 developed recreation areas and {{convert|600|mile}} of trails, that see more than a million visitors per year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daniel Boone National Forest, KY|url=https://www.recreation.gov/recreationalAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=1042|website=recreation.gov|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Manning|first1=Dean|title=Daniel Boone National Forest turns 80|url=https://www.thenewsjournal.net/daniel-boone-national-forest-turns-80/|access-date=5 December 2017|agency=[[News Journal (Kentucky)|News Journal]]|date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>{{efn|Erwin, writing in 2014 put the number of annual visitors at five million; however, because this report appears to conflict with that given by the Federal Government, it's not clear what the source of the five million figure might be.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Erwin|first1=Chris|title=Camping Kentucky: A Comprehensive Guide to Public Tent and RV Campgrounds|date=Nov 4, 2014|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9780762787999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sq-DBQAAQBAJ|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>{{rp|57}}}} Across the forest, developed recreation sites have a combined capacity to accommodate 15,830 visitors at-a-time, in addition to the capacity of dispersed recreational activities such as [[hiking]], [[mountain biking]], [[rock climbing]], [[boating]] and [[horse riding]].<ref name="plan">{{cite book|title=Daniel Boone National Forest (N.F.), Proposed Revised Land and Resource Management Plan: Environmental Impact Statement|date=2003|publisher=[[United States Forest Service]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=46Q2AQAAMAAJ|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>{{rp|3-241, 3-243}}

Within the forest's boundaries lie three state managed parks, [[Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park|Buckhorn Lake]], [[Cumberland Falls State Resort Park|Cumberland Falls]], and [[Natural Bridge State Resort Park|Natural Bridge]]. There is one designated [[National Recreation Area]], the [[Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area|Big South Fork]], located in the southwest corner of the forest,<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-2}} and one [[National Recreation Trail]], the [[Sheltowee Trace Trail|Sheltowee Trace]], which stretches almost {{convert|290|mi}} from northern Kentucky to [[Pickett CCC Memorial State Park]] near [[Jamestown, Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=70839|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>{{efn|[[National Geographic]] reported the length of the trail at {{convert|269|mi}}<ref>{{cite book|title=National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States|date=2009|publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]|isbn=9781426203930|url=https://archive.org/details/nationalgeograph00nati_1|url-access=registration|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>{{rp|95}}}} There are two designated [[National Wilderness Preservation System|wilderness areas]], [[Beaver Creek Wilderness|Beaver Creek]], consisting of {{convert|4877|acre}} set aside in 1975,<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-13}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Beaver Creek Wilderness|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recarea/?recid=70793|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> and [[Clifty Wilderness]], consisting of {{convert|12646|acre}} near the [[Red River Gorge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Clifty Wilderness|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=39460|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> The Red River Gorge itself is a designated [[National Natural Landmark]], along with the Rock Creek Natural Research Area.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-14}}

[[Hunting]] is also popular as a recreational activity.<ref name="plan"/>{{rp|3–242}} The Pioneer Weapons Wildlife Management Area, representing {{convert|7610|acre}} near Cave Run Lake, was created as a partnership between [[Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources]] and the US Forest Service, and is an area where hunters are permitted to use only comparatively primitive weapons, such [[muzzleloader]]s, [[bow and arrow]], or [[crossbow]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daniel Boone National Forest|url=https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/daniel-boone-national-forest|website=nationalforests.org|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pioneer Weapons Wildlife Management Area|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recarea/?recid=39554|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
* [[List of national forests of the United States]]
* [[Peabody, Kentucky|Red Bird Purchase Unit]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage}}
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf Daniel Boone National Forest home page]
* [http://www.easterncougar.org Eastern Cougar Foundation]

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{{Protected areas of Kentucky}}
{{National Forests of the United States}}
{{EMCF Attractions}}

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[[Category:Daniel Boone National Forest| ]]
[[Category:National forests of Kentucky]]
[[Category:National forests of the Appalachians]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Clay County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of McCreary County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Laurel County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Rowan County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Jackson County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Menifee County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Whitley County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Pulaski County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Bath County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Rockcastle County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Wolfe County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Powell County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Morgan County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Lee County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Estill County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Owsley County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Wayne County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Eastern Kentucky Coalfield]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1937]]
[[Category:National Natural Landmarks in Kentucky]]