No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Trace Branch Campground continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 364 tracked site-dates (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 279 open for online reservation · 46 reserved · 39 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative). Of the facility's 29 monitored sites, 25 can be reserved online and 3 are first-come, first-served (1 closed).
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 148 fall on weekdays and 120 on weekends (Fri–Sun). The split covers the 268 open site-nights on mapped sites; 279 site-dates are open across all monitored inventory.
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 279 of 364 site-dates are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 27 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| S-02 | 13 |
| S-04 | 13 |
| S-06 | 13 |
| S-07 | 13 |
| S-08 | 13 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Maple Shelter | 11 |
This day-use unit currently has 11 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
27 overnight sites and 1 day-use unit are represented in the current inventory. Day-use inventory is excluded from every night-based figure on this page — site-nights, longest runs, multi-night stays, holiday stays and RV fit; its reservation dates are listed separately below.
Multi-night stays. 27 2-night, 27 3-night, 17 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site S-02.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 70 ft. 27 sites take 25 ft, 16 sites take 35 ft, 13 sites take 40 ft.
All 24 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-02 | 50 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-04 | 50 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-06 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-07 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-08 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-09 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-12 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-13 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-14 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-15 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-16 | 30 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-18 | 35 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-20 | 50 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-21 | 45 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-22 | 35 ft | Yes | 13 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +1 more |
| S-19 | 50 ft | Yes | 12 | 12 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-03 | 50 ft | Yes | 11 | 11 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-11 | 30 ft | Yes | 10 | 6 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-23 | 50 ft | Yes | 10 | 6 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-26 | 50 ft | Yes | 10 | 6 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-25 | 50 ft | Yes | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-24 | 55 ft | Yes | 6 | 5 nights | Sep 18, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
| S-27 | 60 ft | Yes | 4 | 3 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 30 |
| S-28 | 60 ft | Yes | 1 | 1 night | Sep 30 |
Day-use inventory
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Shelter | 11 | 5 dates | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About Trace Branch Campground
Overview
The Trace Branch Campground, located on Buckhorn Lake, is a great launchpad for outdoor activities in Kentucky's lush Cumberland Plateau. The facility features plenty of shade and open grassy areas for spreading out and enjoying the landscape of the Appalachian Mountain Range.
Recreation
Buckhorn lake offers ideal conditions for anglers including seclusion from fishing pressure and boat traffic, producing some of the best muskie fishing in the area.
With comfortable water temperatures,swimming and water skiing are popular in summer months and hikers are encouraged to take advantage of the area's many miles of trails.
Facilities
Trace Branch Campground boasts mostly waterfront campsites with electric and water hookups. Amenities include a shower house, playground, horseshoe pits, and a convenient fishing area.
Natural Features
Buckhorn Lake is situated in the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky. The rugged plateau landscape is deeply traversed by a series of narrow, winding valleys separated by steep watersheds with branching streams. The Kentucky River feeds the lake, originating in the southeast of the state and flowing generally northwestward.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby destinations include the Lilley Cornett Woods, Daniel Boone National Forest, Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geological Area.
Getting there
From Lexington, KY, take I-75 south 83 miles to London. Take exit 41 or 38 to Daniel Boone Parkway east and continue 44 miles to Hyden Spur. Exit towards Tim Couch Pass and turn left towards Thousandsticks onto Bull Creek Road. Go 2.5 miles to KY Highway 257, then head north about 9 miles to the Confluence bridge. Turn right and cross the bridge, then take a left on Mosley Bend Road. Continue 2 miles to Trace Branch Campground on your left.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Trace Branch Campground?
Reservations for Trace Branch Campground are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 279 of 364 tracked site-dates are open (76.6%), though availability can change. Pick a site or unit on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 14:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Trace Branch Campground?
27 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site S-02. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Trace Branch Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
16 of the 27 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 70 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Trace Branch Campground?
September 2026, with 279 open site-dates in the current snapshot of 364.
When is the next open date at Trace Branch Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
We run paced availability checks for Trace Branch Campground. One watch covers every matching online-reservable site.
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.
Alerts monitor online-reservable inventory only; first-come, first-served sites are not included.