With one of the highest concentrations of rock arches outside of Arches National Park in Utah, Red River Gorge is a unique phenomenon in the southeastern United States. It’s possible to explore in depth in two to four days, and has plenty of options for short to moderate hikes and viewpoints, as well as rock climbing and cave kayaking. Don’t miss these spots when planning your itinerary.
Courthouse Rock, Auxier Ridge and Double Arch
Epic, panoramic views abound along the length of the ridge here, commonly considered the top trail in Red River Gorge. At around 6 miles, it’s one of the longer hikes in the area and requires about 3-4 hours to complete, but you can cut the time down significantly if you skip the side trail to Double Arch, or do it as an out-and-back to Auxier Ridge, which still preserves the best views.
Gray’s Arch
At about 50 feet tall and 80 feet wide, Gray’s Arch is the largest rock arch at Red River Gorge. There’s a fair amount of stairs to reach the base of the arch, making it moderately strenuous despite its relatively short length of 2½ miles. Expect to spend an hour or two to make it from the trailhead and back.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
Natural Bridge is one of the largest arches in the area and has a rim trail with wide open views. The most popular trail in the park, which climbs up a staircase at the arch and winds around the rim to Battleship Rock, is only moderately difficult, and doable in an hour or two.
Chimney Top Rock
A quick jaunt will bring you to the viewing platform overlooking the gorge at Chimney Top Rock, which also shares a trailhead parking lot with Princess Arch. Both are very short and relatively flat, putting them among the most accessible trails at Red River Gorge.
Sky Bridge Arch
Like Natural Bridge, the trail at Sky Bridge takes you both underneath and above for panoramic views. With the exception of a few staircases, this hike is flat, very accessible, and doable in around half an hour, making it super family-friendly.
Summary
The theme here is arches and overlooks. Since the Gorge has closely packed points of interest, you can see essential spots like Sky Bridge Arch and Chimney Top Rock quickly with very little hiking, saving time for longer excursions such as Gray’s Arch, Natural Bridge State Park, and the Auxier Ridge Loop. The daring will appreciate the scramble at Indian Staircase, while kayakers and spelunkers alike will enjoy exploring the abandoned, flooded mine at Gorge Underground.
