Counties & Ownership

Visitors to the Forest may pass a roadway sign that says "Entering the Daniel Boone National Forest." However, all areas beyond this sign are not national forest system land.

The Daniel Boone National Forest consists of nearly 708,000 acres within a 2.1-million acre proclamation boundary. Federal ownership within this boundary is highly fragmented with private lands, and visitors often travel in and out of national forest land while on a road, lake, river, or trail.

The Daniel Boone National Forest spreads across 21 counties in eastern Kentucky. These counties receive Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) from the U.S. Government. PILT payments help local governments to finance public goods and services. Some of these counties are also eligible to apply for Title II funding through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Topographic maps are the most useful resource to determine ownership of a particular area. Each District office will have a Land Status Atlas available to the public or you can download or purchase a map online. If you have specific questions about ownership, contact the appropriate Daniel Boone National Forest office.