Nestled in the heart of Appalachia you’ll find Red River Gorge (RRG), Eastern Kentucky’s natural wonder that keeps on giving. The land of arches. This place is not only a local favorite, but an amazing destination for visitors, especially day or weekend trips. In addition to the amazing hiking here, including both waterfalls and TONs of sandstone arches, RRG is one of the top climbing and rappelling destination in the world! If canoeing or kayaking is more your speed, you can do that here too. RRG is a place we visit several times a year and we are never dissatisfied with our hikes. We will say, our favorite time of year is Fall or Winter when visiting.
RRG can make a fantastic day or weekend trip from several states surround Kentucky including Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Ohio.
Day trips from:
Lexington, KY- 57 mins
Louisville, KY 1 hr 53 mins
Knoxville, TN 2 hr 38 mins
Nashville, TN 3 hr 59 mins
Cincinnati Oh- 1 hr 55mins
Charleston, WV-2 hr 46 mins
Asheville, NC- 4 hr 56 mins
You’ll find a plethora of hiking in RRG, but you cannot make the trip to RRG without visiting Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Here’s what you need to know before you go!
Location and Parking
The address to Natural Bridge is 2135 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade KY 40376. The Parking lot has never been full when we arrive; however, we typically go out of season and earlier in the morning. To be safe, arrive early as RRG has become more and more popular!
The Trail
From the parking lot, you’ll find a wooden stair case leading down which is where your hike will begin. The trail leads you along a small creek of water and over a swinging bridge. Once you pass the public restrooms, you’ll find several different trails. It’s important to note that there are several different routes to Natural Bridge. These include:
Laurel Ridge Trail
Original Natural Bridge Trail- 2.5 miles out and back and considered moderately challenging
Natural Bridge Via Rock Garden Trail and Devil’s Gulch
Natural Ridge and Battleship Rock Trail
And the Skylift!
We typically take the Original Trail which is the shorter of the options. The natural sandstone arch bridge is the highlight of the trail of course. It spans 78 feet and is 65 feet high! Hiking through the trail, you will notice some of the most famous features of Ketnucky. These include gorges, canyons, and caves. One of the most unique aspects of this hike is “fat mans squeeze.” A long slender trek between rocks at the very end of the hike before you get on top of Natural Bridge.
Where to Stay
RRG is home to some pretty cool Airbnb’s ranging from cabins to treehouses! There are a couple of hotels including the Black Bear Motel and Hemlock Lodge. You can also camp in the area! This includes RV and tent camping. Be sure to check to see if you need a permit to camp as permits are required in certain areas!
Where to Eat
There are so many great places to eat in RRG! So, we will list a few of our favorites. A trip to RRG isn’t complete without a trip to Miguel’s Pizza! Get a pizza and an Ale 8 after a long day hiking. Be sure to check out the Daniel Boone Coffee Shop and Deli or The Brick (coffee and ice cream) to get your caffeine fix. We are also a huge fan of Sky Bridge Station which serves up some great nachos and burgers.
We hope this helps you when planning your next hike in RRG to Natural Bridge. As always, safe travels y’all! ~ Justin & Caitlin