This blog post was written by our friend Rachel Stottman of Tread the Red

First Time Visiting the Gorge?

Are you trying to plan a trip to the Red River Gorge, but don’t know where to start? That’s totally reasonable, because the Gorge has SO much to offer – from panoramic ridge top views, luscious creek side hikes, beautiful waterfalls, and over 150 natural sandstone arches (and some limestone ones as well, for good measure). There is always more to explore at the Gorge, and I’m going to outline three hikes that you should definitely check out – especially if this is your first time visiting the area.

Auxier Ridge Trail

First up, let’s take a look at Auxier Ridge Trail. This one is a DOOZY (in all the good ways)! If you are looking for some of the best ridge top views in the Gorge, look no further. This trail has you covered! First things first, you can find the trailhead for Auxier Ridge at the very end of the motor vehicle section of Tunnel Ridge Road where there is a large parking lot. This trail is an out-and-back, topping out at about 4.2 miles total. One of the many good things about this trail is that if you are feeling more adventurous or looking for a longer hike, you can either make a balloon loop using Courthouse Rock Trail or utilize Auxier Branch Trail to connect from Auxier Ridge Trail to Double Arch Trail. The possibilities are endless! There are no crazy climbs along the out-and-back trail, but it does have elevation fluctuation, so I would rate this trail as moderate.

You will be hiking along a ridge for the entirety of this hike, and the views REALLY bloom as you near the last section. Hike out along “Wizard’s Backbone”, where the ridge thins and the Gorge slopes out on either side of you. There are so many views to soak in, including Haystack Rock, Courthouse Rock, Ravens Rock, and even Double Arch nestled into the opposite ridge line! The trail terminates at Courthouse Rock, a prominent landmark seen from multiple different trails within the Gorge region. This trail is beautiful in all seasons (and I recommend returning time and time again to see it in all of its GORGEous splendor). When hiking Auxier Ridge in the summer, keep an eye out for wild blackberries and blueberries lining the trail – some yummy snacks! You may also see the beautiful rhododendron and mountain laurel blooms. All in all, this is THE trail I will continue to recommend that everyone hike at least once.

Rock Bridge Trail

Okay, now what if you are more of a creek side, waterfallin’ kinda person? Then you definitely need to check out Rock Bridge Trail. This trail is an awesome taste of what the Gorge has to offer, featuring Creation Falls and Rock Bridge. Creation Falls is one of the waterfall gems of the Gorge, and the sandy “beach” area that surrounds the falls is a favorite for both kids and dogs!

Rock Bridge is located right around the corner from Creation Falls and is the only “bridge” in the Red River Gorge above water! Pretty neat. This trail is great if you are looking for something shorter that will also deliver on the views. It is a loop hike and tops out at about 1.5 miles total. The trailhead is located next to the parking lot at the end of Rock Bridge Road. There are also several picnic tables in this area as well!

You can choose to hike this loop either way, but I usually hike it counterclockwise. The trail dips down from the ridge to the creek and then climbs back up, and it is my personal opinion that the climb up is easier going counterclockwise, but you can hike it and see what you think! Because of this climb back up to the parking lot to complete the loop, I would also rate this trail as moderate, but I’ve seen people of all ages out enjoying this hike! This is definitely a Gorge classic, so make time during your trip to check it out.

Grays Arch

Now, if you are really trying to do some “arch hunting” while at the Gorge, I would recommend that you check out Grays Arch! Grays Arch is a behemoth – weighing in at 50 feet tall and 80 feet wide. It is also a very classic Gorge landmark, and everyone needs to check it out at some point during their Gorge adventures. The trailhead is located in the Grays Arch parking area along Tunnel Ridge Road. You will hike Grays Arch Trail until you reach the intersection with Rough Trail and bear right. Then, you will hike Rough Trail down into the Gorge (expect several staircases), to the side trail on the right/straight ahead to Grays Arch at the bottom. You will be able to see Grays Arch through the trees as you descend, and when you get to the bottom, you have a short scramble up to the underside of this massive sandstone arch. This is the perfect spot for lunch, as there are multiple large boulders resting underneath the arch providing nice seating areas. This trail is an out-and-back at a little over 2.25 miles total, but like a lot of other trails within the Gorge, there are several ways to make this into a longer loop trail by utilizing the Rough Trail. Just remember that if you are hiking the out-and-back, you do have to hike back the way you came, meaning that you will have to ascend the 270 feet that you walked down at the beginning. Definitely pack enough water and take as many breaks as you need on the climb back up. I would also rate this trail as moderate because of this! But once again, I’ve seen people of all ages out there enjoying this beautiful hike in all seasons, so don’t let the little bit of leg and butt workout scare you. All in all, definitely a must do if you are hiking the Gorge!

For Tread the Red #TrailTalk videos (where you can get some visual references of these trails), head over to https://treadthered.com/trails-of-the-red/

First time visiting Red River Gorge, ky?

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