Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine visits the Red River Gorge

Particularly for those of us who live on the eastern flank of the Appalachian Mountains, we have so many outdoor destinations in our own backyard, we don’t think of driving four hours into Kentucky to get our boots dirty. But we should. The Red River Gorge is a federally designated “Geological Area,” with the highest concentration of natural stone arches east of the Rocky Mountains. There are more than 100 of these stone bridges scattered throughout the 29,000-acre area, popping out of the forest like a sketch in Dr. Seuss’ notebook. It’s as if a slice of the arch-rich Utah landscape has been transplanted to the Southern Appalachians. And every one of them is off limits to climbers, which means the lion’s share of Red users don’t bother tracking them down.
Forget climbing, the Red River Gorge is a paradise for hikers. This is your guide to making the most of your time in the Red, whether you’re looking for a scenic cruise in your car or a weekend-long backpacking excursion.
Lay of the Land
The Red River Gorge Geological Area sits inside the Daniel Boone National Forest, less than an hour east of Lexington. The Big South Fork National Recreation Area is to the south and Breaks Interstate Park is to the east.
The Red isn’t a single gorge, it’s a maze of narrow ridges and valleys separated by steep slopes and sandstone cliffs.
“The terrain is steep and navigation is really tough in the gorge, even if you know the area well. When you get into one of those hollows, it’s easy to get turned around,” says Stephanie Ross, a climber and adventure racer who has been exploring the gorge for years. The trails are impeccably maintained and signed, thanks to the Red River Gorge Trail Crew. But getting off trail in the Red is half the fun, since there’s rock every- where you look. Giant boulders, 200-foot cliffs, caves, and arches are often hidden right behind a layer of rhodo as you pass by on the trail.
Scenic backcountry roads form a loop through the gorge, making trailhead access quick and easy, and the Coombs Mountain Parkway is a four-lane road leading right to the Red’s front door.
Start Here: Slade, Ky. There’s not much to the town of Slade, which has as many go-cart tracks as it does restaurants, but the small burg serves as the hub of all things Red. Before you start exploring, pick up a set of maps ($16) at the Shell Station, the unofficial welcome center to the gorge. They’re waterproof with all the topo info and hiking details you’ll need. When you’re finished with a long day of trekking the steep slopes of the Red, grab a slice of pie at the world-famous Miguel’s Pizza (606-663-1975).
Why so many arches? The cliffs in the Red River Gorge are made up of tough sandstone and a shale deposited from the erosion of the Appalachian Mountains 300 million years ago. Over time, streams cut through the area eroding the shale, but leaving the harder sandstone intact. After millions of years of water and wind, we’re left with the strikingly smooth, bizarre arches we see today. According to the Natural Arch and Bridge Society, Kentucky likely has the second highest number of arches in the country, behind Utah and ahead of Arizona. Many of those arches are in the Red.

The Digs

Koomer Ridge Campground: The only forest service campground in the Red, Koomer Ridge puts you in the heart of the action, with its own set of hiking trails and arches just beyond your tent.

If you’re looking for something more primitive, there’s plenty of car-side “backpacking” on Chimney Top Road and Auxier Ridge Road. You’ll be just a hundred yards from your car, but you won’t have to listen to RVs or neighbors, assuming you can land one of these coveted spots. Check out the campsite along the short, unofficial trail to Half Moon Arch, which sits on a ridgeline and has partial views of Chimney Top Rock.

True North Inn: This hostel has bunk beds and private rooms as well as a restaurant and in-house climbing guide service, all of which sits just a couple of miles from the border of the Clifty Wilderness.

Natural Bridge State Park Lodge: The lodge has resort-style state park digs complete with a swimming pool and buffet dinner. The park is just a couple of miles south of the Red, across the street from Miguel’s Pizza.

The Casual Tourist

The Red is bisected by a loop of scenic, low traffic roads with trailheads branching off in every direction. You could drive the loop without stopping in about an hour and see a number of cliffs, the Wild and Scenic Red, and Nada Tunnel without leaving your air-conditioned car. Or you could take your time and explore a few of the trails that begin just off the edge of the asphalt. We suggest the latter, particularly if you’re traveling with your family. Many of the most impressive arches in the Red are easily accessible by short “nature” trails that offer democratic hiking with big payoffs. Follow this “flight plan” and you’ll get a scenic cruise and a few leg stretching hikes in just one afternoon.

The Drive Starting in Slade, head east on Route 15, then north on Route 715, which is where the action begins. Route 715 is a narrow, winding mountain road that cuts through the Red, passing by massive cliffs before joining the Wild and Scenic Red River. Complete the loop by taking Route 77 back to Route 15, passing through the 900-foot Nada Tunnel in the process, which is only 12 feet wide and 12 feet tall.

The Hikes Route 715 is packed with hiking opportunities, both long and short. Here are three quick leg stretchers with grand finales.

Rock Bridge Loop: In just 1.5 miles, you’ll drop down a series of steps to the bottom of a creek gorge, walk into a small rock shelter, pass by high cliffs, see Creation Falls (an arch in the making), and peep Rock Bridge Arch. Swift Camp Creek runs through the middle of this sandstone arch, making a perfect natural bridge.
Princess Arch Trail: At the end of Chimney Top Road off Route 715, the .5-mile Princess Arch Trail finishes with a small cave and big cliff. Princess Arch is only eight feet high, but it’s 32 feet long, and as impressive as any other rock feature in the Red. You almost feel guilty for getting this big a payoff after such a short hike.
Angel Windows: Directly off Route 715, a .3-mile trail leads you to Angel Windows, a cliff with a series of recessed caves and small arches. If there’s been rain, keep hiking past the windows and you’ll find a small trickle of a waterfall over a rock shelter.

The Day Hiker

Aside from the Sheltowhee Trace, Kentucky’s long trail, the 60 miles of trail within the gorge are ideal for day hiking. For the most part, distances between points of interest are manageable and the high number of intersecting trails makes loops easy to configure.

“With all the short circuit hikes, it’s as if the trail system was built with day hikers in mind,” says “Mad Mountain” Mike Hughes, a backpacker and hiker who’s been leading trips into the gorge for three decades. Set up camp at a central location, like Koomer Ridge Campground, and then choose from dozens of gorgeous day hikes within the Red. Here are three you shouldn’t miss.

Gray’s Arch Trail: If you’re only going to see one arch in the Red, make it Gray’s. Gray’s starts on the edge of a cliff and spans 80 feet long and 50 feet high. Leading up to the base of the arch is a massive rock shelter with a fine sandy floor littered with boulders for scrambling. It’s a relatively remote arch, tucked into a ravine at the end of a 1.3-mile one-way hike on the Gray’s Arch Trail. The arch and rock shelter are so large, they create an echo when you talk.
Auxier Ridge: Combine the Courthouse Rock Trail and Auxier Ridge Trail for a 5-mile loop that keeps you high on a ridgeline for good views of mini gorges and plenty of interesting rock features. Auxier Ridge is a cliff top hike that narrows onto a sandy, rocky ridge with views of Haystack Rock and Double Arch and Raven’s Rock. The trail ends at the base of Courthouse Rock, which has a maze of boulders and an optional scramble to the top of the massive rock feature. Pick up Courthouse Rock Trail for a walk through the woods back to the trailhead. You could also tack on Auxier Branch and Double Arch Trails if you wanted to turn this into an overnighter.

Sheltowee Side Trip: Just west of the Clifty Wilderness off Route 715, hike the 0.8-mile Bison Way Trail, then hang a left on the Sheltowee Trace Trail, a rugged backcountry path that runs for 268 miles through Kentucky. You’re only hiking the Sheltowee for a little over a mile on this trip. Head west on the Sheltowee, passing a couple of unmarked side trails on your way to Indian Arch, a short but impressive sandstone span along the trail. Head back the way you came, except this time take the first unmarked trail on your left, heading steeply up the bank of the mountain. You’ll quickly find yourself at a rock and root scramble that will lead you to the base of the Indian Staircase, a series of hand carved rock “steps” cut into the side of an almost vertical sandstone face. At the top of the cliff, you’ll find a large rock house that’s 60 feet high and at least 100 yards long. The unofficial trail continues east and west; both directions will take you back to the Sheltowee.

“I’ve found lost hikers in there twice,” says David “Flyingfishman” Fisher, a backpacker who’s been exploring the Red since the ‘70s. He spends most of his time bushwhacking in search of little-known arches, many of which sit inside Clifty. “They start out on a nature trail and end up deep inside the Clifty Wilderness. It’s a wild area. There’s a sign at one of the trailheads: ‘We guarantee neither your comfort nor your return.’ That says it all.”

Hike the 6.5-mile Swift Camp Creek Trail to get into the heart of this lush forest packed with rhodo thickets, tall pine trees, and young healthy hemlocks. The trail hugs the side of the ridge 50 feet above the creek of the same name for much of the way. Short cliffs bank the wide, slow river, while taller cliffs reach toward the sky on either side of you. Swift Camp Creek Trail will give you the opportunity to bushwhack to see lesser known arches and outcroppings, but the trail also passes by a couple of highlights, like Pooch’s Falls, a 25-foot vertical drop over a cliff face with a hollowed out belly the color of rust.

Take your pick from primitive campsites as well as swimming holes with sandy beaches abutting sheer rock faces. You’re looking at a 13-mile out and back, but this is one trail you’ll want to hike in both directions as there’s so much to explore in this tiny rain forest.

Rough Trail: The 8.6-mile Rough Trail begins off of Route 77 near the Nada Tunnel and cuts through the Red to Route 715, acting as a sort of spine for the intricate trail system. Take two cars for a shuttle, or knock this out as a 17-mile out and back. Either way, this route gives you the best opportunity to see the most arches in the gorge.

The only major feature you’ll pass on the trail is Gray’s Arch, which is worth it on its own, but you’ll have the opportunity for a side trip almost at every turn. Check out Military Wall, a massive cliff popular with climbers near Rough Trail’s western trailhead.

Then pop down the Daniel Boone Hut Trail to see the cave linked to the American Legend. With possible side trips to places like Pinch-em-Tight, Hanson’s Point, and 22 Windows. Your 17-mile weekend backpack could turn into a week-long exercise in speed hiking. Campsites are plentiful and so is water, so Rough Trail offers relatively care-free backpacking.