Hiking in the Red River Gorge

I love the gorge.  Since I moved down here in 2010, I have hiked all of the official trails and most of the unofficial ones.  There is something about this place that makes me smile and gives me energy.  Below is a list of the drives, walks and hikes that I love.  I hope you get a chance to wander out into the gorge.

There are two areas down here not to be confused with each other.  Natural Bridge Sate Park and Red River Gorge Recreational Area.  The Natural Bridge is to the right of the exit 33 and the Red River Gorge is to the left (I’m assuming you are coming in from Lexington…you easterners switch those left and rights).

The Red River Gorge is a big loop.  If you turn left off the exit and left again at the intersection and then start making right turns any time you come to a road you will be following the loop.  You will eventually end up back at the Shell Gas Station.  The gorge is a large area…about 29,000 acres.

Natural Bridge is a State Park that revolves around the large natural arch called “Natural Bridge”.  They are more commercialized with gift shops/lodge/campgrounds/sky lift.  It’s a much smaller area.

First, here is a map of the Red River Gorge and it’s official trails: CLICK HERE  You can see Natural Bridge to the left in the purple shaded area.  Natural Bridge has trails as well…they aren’t marked on this map, though.

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Driving Tour

The gorge is more “rugged” than the State Park.  It does not have restaurants or places to get food.  Bathrooms are far and few between.  But the scenery is amazing!  I suggest packing a picnic lunch, put on your walking shoes (steer clear of flip flops), fill up your water bottles and hit the road.  Directions:  From the Gallery 33 turn left out of the parking lot and go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Ky-77.  Your first stop will be the Nada Tunnel about 2 miles in.  Stop and take some photos… continue on Ky-77 until you cross over a green iron bridge…steer right and go about another mile and turn right onto ky-715.  This is the lower part of the gorge with many pull offs.  You will come to the Gladie Center (look for a big barn on your right just after a bridge).  At the Gladie Center you will see the Gladie Cabin, a Barn with some cool farming tools inside and the Learning Center.  Continue on Ky-715 until you start heading up a steep hill…at the top to your right is the Sky Bridge Recreation Area…take this road and stop at the pull offs…they are worth it!  At the very end is a picnic area for you to enjoy your lunch…and restrooms, finally!  Head out onto Sky Bridge…it’s a rather easy hike and it’s worth seeing!  Once in your car head back out to ky-715 and continue right.  When you get to Chimney Rock Road turn right and head out to the very end to the Chimney Top Rock walk…another easy hike.  Head on back out to Ky-715 and turn right and continue until you reach Ky-15 and turn right…follow this road until you reach Gallery 33 again.  This trip would take about 3 to 4 hours.

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Moderate Walking and Hiking Trails

Rock Bridge – This is where Dave and I had our first date.  It’s a 1.4 mile loop that heads down to the Rock Bridge…a natural arch that crosses the Rockbridge Branch creek.  Also worth noting is Creation Falls.  Directions: Mountian Parkway to exit 40 (go eastward if you are at the slade exit).  Right off exit 40.  Go .7 miles and turn right onto 715.  Go .4 miles and turn right onto Rock Bridge Road (gravel).  Go 3 miles until you reach the very end at a picnic area.  Look for the trailhead.

Chimney Rock Overlook –  Beautiful sunset location.  This is a mostly paved trail that is relatively flat.  .33 miles.  Directions: Right off exit 40.  Go .7 miles and turn right onto 715.  Go 2.2 miles and turn left onto Chimney Rock Road.  Go 3.6 miles to the very end to a parking look.  Look for the trailhead #235 (about 11 o’clock from the entry of the parking lot.

Princess Arch – This is right next to Chimney Rock Overlook…they share the same parking lot.  This trail is a dirt path…fairly level…  Follow the same directions to get to Chimney Top Rock Overlook.  The Princess Arch Trail is about at the 5 o’clock position the the parking lot entry.

Sky Bridge Recreation Area – This section of the gorge has many overlook pull-offs to enjoy.  There is a picnic area towards the end on the left.  At the very end, the trail to the Sky Bridge is the star of the show.  Easy hike…paved/flat trail to the top of the bridge… If you want a little more of a challenge, continue over the bridge and follow the dirt path to head down under the bridge.  Stairs to come back out.  .68 miles…easy.  Directions: Right off exit 40.  Go .7 miles and turn right onto 715.  Go 4.9 miles to Sky Bridge Recreation Area (big sign on your left).  The overlooks are at the pull-offs on either side   Follow the road until the very end (.8 miles) and park for the Sky Bridge Trail (at the 12 o’clock position from the parking lot…over by the round about).  Sky Bridge trail is about .68 miles.

Whistling Arch Trail – .24 miles.  Love the overlook that is just beyond this arch.  Nice dirt path with little elevation changes.  Good hike for kids (careful around the cliff edges).  Directions: Right off exit 40.  Go .7 miles and turn right onto 715.  Go 4.7 miles and turn left into the Whistling Arch parking lot.  Look for the trailhead.

Gray’s Arch Trail – This is a dirt path and has some elevation changes throughout.  Not a hike for people who are limited in their physical capabilities, but small children will enjoy this challenge.  Roughly 1.5 miles in and 1.5 miles out.  Directions:  From Gallery 33 turn right out of the parking lot and go 3.5 miles to Tunnel Ridge Road on your left.  Go .9 miles to the Grays Arch Parking area on the right (it’s the first parking lot on your right).  Look for trailhead.

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Advanced Hiking Trails

Looking for more of a challenge?  Here are a few of my favorites…

…ok…before I tell you my favorite hikes in the Red River Gorge…you will need some more guidance than what I can simply give you on this website:  For trails this long, I’m not comfortable simply giving you directions to the parking lot…you will actually need directions on maneuvering the trail itself.  These trails can sometimes be tricky and some of the routes I’m going to give you require switching off onto other trails…It’s just best if you have a guidebook with you.  The Marathon Gas Station off exit 33 sells guide books to the area with detailed instructions on maneuvering through these trails.  If you would prefer to purchase a trail guidebook beforehand, here are two trail guides I like: Hiking Kentucky’s Red River Gorge and Red River Gorge Trail Guide.

Osborne Trail – 7 miles (to get back to your car, you will need to hike an additional 2.5 miles on the road).  This is a fun trail and a nice walk in the woods.

Auxier Ridge Area – About 5.2 miles  Courthouse Rock/Haystack Rock/Double Arch

Tunnel Ridge Road to Swift Camp Creek Parking Lot -about 9 miles long (you will need to park a car at the end of each trailhead) – Directions:  From Gallery 33 turn right out of the parking lot and go 3.5 miles to Tunnel Ridge Road on your left.  Go .9 miles to the Grays Arch Parking area on the right (it’s the first parking lot on your left).  As you come into the parking lot, look for the trailhead on your right.  Follow this trail (this is the Sheltowee Trace Trail) about a mile until you reach a fork (Sheltowee to the left and Buck Trail to the right)  go left on the Sheltowee.  About a 1/4 of a mile later the Rough Trail will merge in from the left…the trail is now the Sheltowee/Rough Trail.  Follow this down over the ridge and down the hill.  The Sheltowee will head off on the left…but continue to follow the Rough Trail (this will happen shortly before or after the creek crossing…I’m not sure which).  Follow Rough Trail on up the hill and cross over Chimney Top Road and follow trail through the woods and down into the hollar once again…the trail will slowly go on back up a hill and eventually reach the Swift Camp Creek Parking lot.  If you want to add about 7 more miles to this hike (and an overnite stay in the woods) cross over ky715 onto the Swift Camp Creek trail and follow it to the Rock Bridge Parking Lot.

Martin’s Fork to Miguels Pizza is a great hike as well…about 9 miles long.  You might be able to leave your car at Miguls Pizza and hitch a ride from a climber to Martin’s Fork Parking lot.  Martin’s Fork is the parking lot for a popular climbing area.  Ask around and see if anyone is heading to Left Flank or Military Wall.  Start on the Rough Trail at the Martin’s Fork Parking Lot.  Follow this trail for about 7 miles until it reaches the Sheltowee Trace (the sign may say “Pinch Em Tight Trail” instead) intersection and turn right, (you will hit many intersections before then…just follow the Rough Trail signs)…about a mile later cross over Tunnel Ridge Road (gravel road) and back down the trail.  About an 1/8 of a mile later, head across the parking lot and back into the woods to a trail that will take you back on Tunnel Ridge Road for about a 1/4 of a mile as it crosses over the Mountain Parkway…cross over Ky-15 and back down into the woods.  About 2 miles later you’ll hit the Whittleton Campground and hike on through until you reach Ky-11 and turn right.  About 1/8 of a mile later you’ll hit Miguels Pizza. (if you have dogs, you’ll need a leash for the road walking).