Red River Gorge

Fall Break took us to Red River Gorge in Kentucky. We had our cabin booked and travel plans made a year in advance. Thankfully, we did not have to alter this trip due to COVID!

We originally planned to pull the kids out of school a day early for a long weekend trip, but with virtual learning, we were able to load everyone in the car, connect to hot spots and virtually learn on the road. I’m working on finding the positives in the midst of the situation we are in, and completing school while traveling is definitely a positive.

This trip we went for a cabin with a view, and our rental did not disappoint.

We overlooked the changing leave colors in the hills of Kentucky. Be sure to check out the little trail that led to a swing on my Instagram highlight to see if you would like the cabin’s view.

Our Cabin also offered an indoor wood burning fireplace and a hot tub that allowed more opportunities to capture the views. The fall weather brought cooler nights and a rainy day, so we took advantage of warming up in the hot tub while overlooking the valley. The only downside of the cabin was the check in and check out process that involved a stop at the Daniel Boone Coffee Shop. We prefer contact free options, as they are more convenient and allow more time to explore the area.

Red River Gorge is part of Daniel Boone National Forest. This specific area offers opportunities to hike, rock climb, zipline and visit the Gorge underground in a cave boat tour. I chose this area due to the unique arches. Red River cut through rocks, and over millions of years, formed over 150 arch rock formations. There is only one place in the USA with more formations of this type is Arches National Park in Utah.

Our first hike had to be the Sky Bridge Trailhead to view the Natural Bridge. This bridge is 65 feet high and over 78 feet in length. You can walk right over it too. Caution! There is no guide rail, so this mama encourages you to keep kiddos and pups in the center of the rock formation. I really enjoyed this hike because after you walk over it, you can then loop around and walk under it to see the other perspective. It is a short 0.8 mile hike that all 3Ts recommend.

Sky Bridge shows the power of consistency. If consistency of waterflow can create this formation, I wonder what outcomes consistency in my life can produce!

We typically start at the most popular hike first thing in the morning, and doing the Sky Bridge first was no exception. Next up was Whistling Arch, which is a short drive from Sky Bridge. This 0.5 mile out and back hike does have narrow, one-person paths with huge drop offs. I did not go to the end of the hike due to the steep terrain. However, you can safely get to the “whistling arch” of the trail’s namesake without going to the risky areas.

Angel Windows is another easy, short hike in the area, so you should plan to go ahead and hike it on the same day as Sky Bridge and Whistling Arch. My kids really enjoyed exploring this area. After you get to the windows, continue on! There is so much to explore and see past the arches of the windows.

Chimney Rock offers an outstanding overlook with picture perfect views of the area. You can look down on Red River, over to Princess Arch and Half Moon Arch. There is one step onto the outlook that shows just how far up you are…or how far down you can fall, which made my stomach a little unsettled. But still, take in the views Chimney Rock offers. It was well worth the few seconds of vertigo!

It was a rainy day when we hiked Rock Bridge Arch, which made a portion of the hike very slippery. Much like the rest of the area, rocks often form the trail walkway or, in this case, the stairway. We did not let the rain stop us, but we were soaked at the end of our 1.4 mile hike. The kids played in the water at the falls, so I guess it really didn’t matter if it was raining or not. This hike was a reminder to get out and explore, when when the weather isn’t ideal.

We really tried to enjoy the local eateries, but could not get any of the places we tried to answer the phones! We heard good things about Miguel’s Pizza, but (pro-tip) they don’t answer, so plan to walk up to the window if you want to place an order. We were there over Fall Break, so it was peak time and I am sure they were enjoying the extra business, which caused them to not be able to answer the phones.

“The Gateway to Red River Gorge” is a 900-foot tunnel that we passed through on our way home. Nada Tunnel has no interior lighting and is very narrow one-way tunnel, so be sure to turn on your headlights and make sure no one else is coming before you venture through.

It isn’t easy to find Nada Tunnel. Take exit 33 off Bert T. Comb Mountain Parkway then take KY-11 N for just over a mile. Next, turn right on KY077 N for about two miles. Once you pass through there are trailheads waiting for you to explore!

If you’re not up for driving through it yourself, I posted the experience on my Red River Gorge Highlight.

Whenever you travel remember two things, love your Mother Earth and leave only footprints. Dave, a wise friend, once told me this and I pledge to do my part to uphold it. Drop a “I pledge” in the comments if you too will try to remember these two travel tips.