Hiking in Red River Gorge KY is absolutely beautiful and can be an underrated destination. The Red River Gorge is located in east-central Kentucky and is mainly located within the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Red River Gorge has over 150 natural sandstone arches and is around 29,000 acres. Due to the variety of rock formations, cliffs, waterfalls, and arches, hiking in Red River Gorge offers gorgeous and unique scenery!
This guide is based on 2 trips hiking in Red River Gorge. One trip was in March of 2021 and the other trip in October of 2023.
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Getting to Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge is driving distance from a few major cities.
- Lexington KY: 1 hour
- Louisville KY: 2 hours
- Cincinnati OH: 2.5 hours
- Knoxville TN: 3 hours
- Columbus OH: 3.5 hours
The closest airport is in Lexington KY (LEX) which is 1 hour away. You will need a car to explore and go hiking in Red River Gorge.
When to Visit Red River Gorge
Hiking in Red River Gorge can be drastically different dependent on the time of year you visit.
Winter can potentially be icy or snowy. The roads could be more hazardous and some trails could be closed, but the park will not be crowded at all. You could also see some beautiful snowy scenery!
Spring has better weather without the peak crowds. The trees may still be bare, but the cooler temperatures can be ideal for hiking in Red River Gorge.
Summer will have beautiful greenery, but can be hot and crowded. Summer temperatures are typically in the 80’s or 90’s.
Fall offers cooler temperatures and colorful foliage. The changing of the leaves makes for very interesting scenery while hiking in Red River Gorge.
I loved both our Spring and Fall trips for different reasons. March had cool temperatures around 45 degrees which was actually great for hiking. The park was also not crowded at all. Our October trip was warmer in the high 70’s and the fall foliage was amazing! Whatever time of year you choose to go hiking in Red River Gorge, you cannot go wrong!
Where to Stay in Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge has a variety of lodging options from cabins, resorts, and campsites. Slade, Rogers, and Campton are the cities I would recommend staying at. These cities will offer close proximity to the popular hiking in Red River Gorge.
Our first trip was just me and my husband, so we stayed at this 2-person cabin here. We loved the proximity to hiking trails & the firepit. The cabin had a comfortable bed and basic kitchen items which was ideal for a quick weekend getaway.
For our second trip, we traveled with a group and stayed in this 8 person cabin here. Our whole group loved the two decks, fire pit, and hot tub. The cabin had 3 bedrooms with queen beds, 2 bunk beds, kitchen essentials, and even a ping pong table!
The Cliffview Resort is another popular lodging option if you would prefer to rent just a room. The resort is located in Campton KY and they offer two queens & one king rooms. Some rooms also have access to a communal wrap around porch and a communal kitchen.
If you would prefer to camp, the Climber’s Campground is a very popular option as it is located next to Miguel’s pizza. The campsite is on a flat & wooded open field. They offer token showers, laundry room, basketball and volleyball courts, Wi-Fi, cooking pavilions, and more.
Hiking in Red River Gorge
There are a wide variety of trails to explore while hiking in Red River Gorge. The trails range in difficulty from easy, moderate, and hard. I tend to stick to the moderately challenging trails as I enjoy a little bit of a challenge, but still want to know that the trail is doable. However, there are trails for everyone no matter ability level!
Natural Bridge via Rock Garden Trail and Devil’s Gulch
- 2.6 miles
- 669 feet of elevation
- Loop trail
- Rated moderate
- Takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete
The Natural Bridge via Rock Garden trail and Devil’s Gulch begins at the Hemlock Lodge. You will park in the hotel parking lot, but keep an eye out to avoid any spots that say they are designated for hotel guests.
We completed this loop clockwise. The beginning of the trail will have a sign stating “Natural Bridge.” The sign will also state that this is the shortest route to the Natural Bridge. You will hike uphill until you reach the Natural Bridge. There is a narrow rock staircase that you will need to climb to reach the top of the Natural Bridge.
Once you reach the top, you are able to walk along the bridge and enjoy 360 degree views! There are no railings along the bridge, but it is very wide so I was not nervous. If you are afraid of heights, the bridge might be something you would want to avoid.
Continue across the bridge and towards Battleship Rock which can be seen in the picture above. You will also pass the chairlift which is another option to reach the top of the bridge. After reaching Battleship Rock, take a short detour to view the “Lover’s Leap” rock.
You will then descend down to Devil’s Gulch by taking a steep and narrow set of stairs. These stairs were very steep and could potentially be difficult depending on your ability level. The narrow set of steps is called the “Needle’s Eye.” Doing the trail clockwise allowed us to go down the steps rather than up.
Be cautious of wildlife as well. Another trail goer said they had heard there was a copperhead snake along the set of stairs. We did not see a copperhead, but it is important to be vigilant.
After hiking down the steps, you will continue through wooded areas until you complete the trail. This trail did not disappoint with beautiful views and scenery!
Gray’s Arch
- 2.3 miles
- 298 feet of elevation gain
- Out & back trail
- Rated moderate
- Takes approximately 1 hour to complete
The first mile of Gray’s Arch trail is relatively flat and easy, but it does pick up as you near the arch. You will climb sets of stairs downhill until you reach the arch. Climbing the stairs back up will definitely get your heart going!
We completed this trail in March and had great views of the arch since the trees were bare. You will pass a unique Grotto along the hike to the arch as well.
Creation Falls via Rockbridge Trail
- 1.4 miles
- 259 feet of elevation gain
- Out & back trail
- Rated moderate
- Takes approximately 40 minutes to complete
Creation Falls via Rockbridge trail is a forested trail. You will first reach Creation Falls which is a small waterfall. You are able to walk directly up to the waterfall.
From there, you will then reach the Rockbridge. The bridge goes over the water. There are no trails that lead to the bridge, but when we were there, many people did find a way onto the bridge.
Silvermine Arch Trail
- 2.8 miles
- 383 feet of elevation gain
- Out & back trail
- Rated moderate
- Takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete
Silvermine Arch trail is flat and relatively easy for about the first mile. You will then reach a staircase which has approximately 80 steps to descend downhill. After hiking about a half mile downhill, you will reach Silvermine Arch.
The biggest challenge of this hike was hiking up the stair case! This trail is also pet friendly.
Hidden Arch Trail
- 2.0 mile
- 236 feet of elevation gain
- Loop trail
- Rated moderate
- Takes approximately 50 minutes
Hidden Arch trail is rated moderate, but majority of the trail was very flat and easy. There were some inclines and descents as you near the arch. This would be a kid & family friendly hike.
Other Hikes to Consider
Below are some other trails that we did not have time to complete, but we will be interested in completing next time we go hiking in Red River Gorge.
- Double arch, Courthouse Rock, and Auxier Ridge Loop: 6.0 miles
- Sky Bridge Trail: 0.6 mile
- Chimney Top Trail: 0.7 mile
- Princess Arch Trail: 0.6 miles
- Copperas Falls Trail: 3.1 miles (unofficial trail but popular)
Things to do other than Hiking in Red River Gorge
If you are looking for more ideas other than just hiking in Red River Gorge, there are plenty of options including kayaking, ziplining and more!
The Gorge Underground
The Gorge Underground offers tours through an underground limestone mine. They offer tours via boat, kayak, or stand up paddleboard. You can also choose to upgrade to the clear bottom kayak or stand up paddleboard tour.
We did the standard kayak tour which was such a unique experience to kayak underground! There is no current so the kayaking is very easy. The mine is very dark, but you are provided a helmet with a headlamp.
The mine stays around 55 degrees year round. I recommend bringing a light jacket and gloves. I did not bring gloves and I really wish I had as my hands got cold very quick!
Red River Gorge Ziplines
Red River Gorge Ziplines offers scenic ziplining through the Daniel Boone National Forest. You will fly through 5 different lines which are 300 feet above the gorge. I have not personally ziplined at this location but it is always a fun experience!
Nada Tunnel
The Nada Tunnel is a 900 foot historic tunnel. The tunnel is only 12 feet wide and 13 feet tall, so there is only room for one way traffic at a time. Before driving through the tunnel, you will need to check to make sure there are currently no cars in the tunnel!
There are myths that the tunnel is haunted by the ghost of a former construction worker who died during a dynamite explosion in the tunnel.
Driving through the tunnel is definitely creepy as it feels very claustrophobic, but it was a unique experience to do once! If tight spaces and ghost legends make you nervous, this may be something you would want to skip on your trip hiking in Red River Gorge.
Natural Bridge Skylift
The Natural Bridge Skylift provides another way to reach the Natural Bridge without hiking. The chair lift will take you a short walking distance from Natural Bridge and other lookout points.
Currently, a roundtrip adult ticket is $17 and a one-way adult ticket is $11. Make sure to check their website for current hours of operations. We did not ride the lift, but we hiked right past it. The views would be absolutely gorgeous!
Where to Eat in Red River Gorge
Miguel’s Pizza
Miguel’s Pizza is a very popular casual restaurant for a meal after hiking in Red River Gorge. They are known for their pizza, but they also serve sandwiches, salads, and even a pizza sandwich! I have been twice and they have been very crowded both times.
They have large indoor and outdoor seating areas. I recommend utilizing their online ordering system to avoid the register line.
La Cabana Mexican Restaurant
La Cabana Mexican Restaurant serves traditional Mexican fare from burritos, tacos, nachos, enchiladas and more.
Thatcher Barbeque Company
Thatcher Barbeque Company serves a variety of smoked meats including pulled pork, baby back ribs, beef brisket and more. They also have live music nights.
Hop’s
Hop’s is an outdoor bar and restaurant. Their food menu is farm-to-table and rotates seasonally. They offer a large selection of local beers and they also have frequent events including live music and brewery/distillery takeovers.
We stopped for a drink here after a day of hiking in Red River Gorge and loved the atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely adore hiking in Red River Gorge KY and I hope you will too! The scenery is absolutely gorgeous year round and there are a large variety of trails to explore.
This is an underrated travel destination as there is something for everyone to enjoy, from kayaking in a mine, ziplining, or hiking in Red River Gorge. Many of the trails and activities are also family friendly.
I hope to be back hiking in Red River Gorge soon!
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