Deep in the Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern Kentucky lies a unique natural wonderland: the Red River Gorge. Each year, hundreds of hikers and rock climbers head to Red River to take advantage of the abundance of unusual rock formations. With over 100 natural arches within its boundaries, the Red River Gorge Geological Area Has more arches than any other spot east of the Rocky Mountains.
With multiple trails meandering through miles of pristine wilderness, this has long been considered a hiker’s paradise, but it was almost lost in the early 1960s. At that time, the Army Corps of Engineers proposed building a dam on the Red River, in order to stop periodic flooding of towns downstream. This would have turned the entire gorge into a lake, burying the many hiking trails forever in a watery grave. Public outcry ensued, and there was even a Dam Protest Hike held in 1967, which was attended by Supreme Court Justice William Douglas, who helped bring the battle to save the gorge into the national spotlight. The fight went on for decades and was only finally settled in 1993, when the Red River was designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, putting an end to plans for a dam once and for all.
Today, hiking the Red River Gorge affords visitors the chance to see spectacular sandstone cliffs, as well as a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Wildflowers blossom among the poplars, maples, and oaks. Hawks, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and more flit through the skies, while on the ground you may catch sight of deer, foxes, coyotes, or wild turkeys.
There are 25 unique trails in Red River Gorge which range from short hikes like the 0.1 mile Silvermine Spur, all the way up to the 6.7 mile Swift Camp Creek trek. With these and many distances in between to choose from, there’s something for everyone when hiking the Red River Gorge.
Featured image from Matt Koffel/Unsplash
