10 Best Hiking And Trekking Spots In Red River Gorge, Kentucky

hiking in red river gorge
Julie
Julie 
Updated
| 4 min read

Kentucky holds the secret to an amazing family vacation! Red River Gorge in Kentucky offers breathtaking natural beauty and fantastic trekking and hiking trails if you are a nature lover. You can also indulge in diverse and fun activities for families, such as mountain biking, guided exercises, zip-lines, underground kayak tours, bird watching, climbing and many more! Several of them are a unification of two or more smaller hikes brought together for your convenience. Hikers can find some unmarked, “unofficial” trails with different levels of difficulty to follow. Dogs are also allowed on the trails, but you must be able to keep them in leash all of the time. So, get ready to explore the area as you learn more about the best hiking and trekking spots in Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

1. Double Arch Trail

From Double Arch trail - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Peter K. used under CC BY-SA 3.0

This unique Double Arch Trail, situated near Stanton, Kentucky, offers an unmarked trail and moderate hike of around 6.9 kilometers (4.3 miles). It features a river and a crowded out and back trail with an elevation gain of 195 meters (639.8 feet). The amount of time needed to complete this hike is about three to five hours or lesser if you are able to walk faster. Accessible year-round, this trail is mainly used for hiking. Hikers can get up on Double Arch’s top by utilizing the stairs on the right side of the arch. It carves into the rock.

Double Arch Trail

Address:10137 Campton Rd, Stanton, KY 40380

Website: Double Arch Trail

Season: All-year-round

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2. Swift Camp Creek Trail


Swift Camp Creek Trail is a moderately trafficked out and back trail around 16.4 kilometers (10 miles) long with 580 meters (1903 feet) elevation gain. Being rated strenuous, it takes half-day or about three to six hours to enjoy this hike. Situated near Pine Ridge, Kentucky, this trail is mainly used for hiking, camping, and fishing. It features a waterfall and is accessible year-round. Magnificent scenery and true remoteness make for an unforgettable experience. Overall, hikers will have a great day in the forest.

Swift Camp Creek Trail

Address: Sky Bridge Rd, Pine Ridge, KY 41360

Website: Swift Camp Creek Trail

Season: All-year-round

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3. Indian Staircase Trail


Located near Pine Ridge, Kentucky, Indian Staircase Trail is a heavily trafficked loop trail around 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles) featuring beautiful wildflowers. It is rated moderate with an elevation gain of 193 meters (633 feet). Accessible all-year-round, this trail offers several options. The Staircase trail provides a beautiful scenic area yet challenging for many hikers.

Indian Staircase Trail

Address: 3451 Sky Bridge Road, KY-715, Stanton, KY 40380

Website: Indian Staircase Trail

Season: All-year-round

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4. Auxier Ridge Trailhead

Auxier Ridge Trail
Source: Photo by user The Cut used under CC BY 2.0

Open all-year-round, Auxier Ridge Trail follows a high, narrow ridge 3.1 kilometer (1.9 miles) to its end. It offers countless views of Double Arch, Haystack Rock, Courthouse Rock, Raven Rock, and other panoramas of the Red River Gorge. This moderately rated trailhead has an elevation gain of 127 meters (416 feet), and it takes about 1 hour to hike. Hikers will be able to embrace the beautiful views and well-maintained trail. This is a short trail and great for newbies.

Auxier Ridge Trailhead

Address: Tunnel Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380.

Website: Auxier Ridge Trailhead

Season: All-year-round

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5. Buck Trail


Located near Pine Ridge, Kentucky, Buck Trail via Koomer Ridge Trail is an 8.9 kilometers (5.5 miles) out and back moderate trail that features an impressive forest setting. The path is mainly used for hiking, walking, and trail running. It also correlates to Koomer Ridge Trail with the Pinch-em-Tight section of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. As an out and back trail with the elevation gain of 295 meters (968 feet), Buck trail leads from one ridge to the other, across the right fork of Chimney Top Creek. Hikers will have a great day hiking with beautiful views and well-marked trails as well.

Buck Trail

Address: Near Pine Ridge, Kentucky, Koomer Ridge Trail end

Website: Buck Trail

Season: All-year-round

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6. Whittleton Branch Trail


Situated near Pine Ridge, Kentucky, Whittleton Branch Trail is a 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) moderately trafficked out and back trail. This trail, which is greatly used from March to October, is suitable for all skill levels. Featuring a waterfall and beautiful views, it is excellent for a family hike. This easy trail with the elevation gain of 101 meters (331 feet) is mainly used for hiking, nature trips, walking, and birding as well.

Whittleton Branch Trail

Address: Whittleton Branch Rd Kentucky 40376

Website: Whittleton Branch Trail

Season: All-year-round

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7. Rough Trail

hiking in red river gorge | rough trail
Source: instagram

As the longest trail through the heart of the Red River Gorge, Kentucky, this trail offers a 12.8 kilometers (8 miles) moderately trafficked loop trail. Situated near Pine Ridge, there are several side trail options allowing hikers to create additional loops and increase mileage. Meanwhile, this trail is rated as moderate with an elevation gain of 445 meters (1460 feet). The path is mainly used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. It features beautiful wildflowers and is greatly used from March to November. For the best Red River Gorge experience, hikers can connect this trail with Swift Camp Creek Trail as well.

Rough Trail

Address: Fd-1006, Pine Ridge, KY 41360

Website: Rough Trail

Season: All-year-round

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8. Wildcat Trail

Wildcat Trail, Monument Valley
Source: Photo by user Rick McCharles used under CC BY 2.0

Located near Pine Ridge, Kentucky, Wildcat Trail Loop is a 9.3 kilometers (5.7 miles) moderately trafficked loop trail. Accessible year-round, the trail, with the elevation gain of 279 meters (915 feet), is mainly used for hiking, walking, birding, and nature trips. Wildcat Trail starts at the eastern end of Rough Trail. After about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) hiking up Sift Camp, hikers can enjoy Wildcat Wall. It is a magnificent grove of hemlocks along an astounding cliff from Don Juans Garden.

Wildcat Trail

Address: Fd-1008 Kentucky 41360

Website: Wildcat Trail

Season: All-year-round

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9. Rock Garden Trail

hiking in red river gorge | rock garden trail
Source: instagram

Located near Slade, Kentucky Rock Garden, Rock Garden Trail to Hood’s Branch Trail is a 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) lightly trafficked loop trail. This moderate trail with the elevation gain of 251 meters (823 feet) is mainly used for hiking and can be finished in a few hours. It features an impressive stone staircase carved into the rock front side, views of the Natural Bridge, the surrounding area, rock shelters, and creeks. Moreover, it offers the opportunity to see wildlife.

Rock Garden Trail

Address: 2135 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade, KY 40376-9026

Website: Rock Garden Trail

Season: All-year-round

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10. Gray's Arch Trail


Gray’s Arch Trail Loop is a 5.5 kilometer (3.4 miles) heavily trafficked loop trail. Located near Slade, Kentucky, this moderate rated trail with the elevation gain of 177 meters (580.7 feet) features a river and offers some activity options. It is a beautiful, short, and easy trail with wooden steps and impressive views from the cliffs. This trail is greatly used from March to October.

Gray's Arch Trail

Address: Stanton, KY 40380

Website: Gray’s Arch Trail

Season: All-year-round

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Experience the best hiking spots

Did you like the hiking and trekking spots in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, listing here? Save the trails you want to explore with families and the ones that you think are gorgeous, impressive, or inspiring. These best hiking and trekking spots in Red River Gorge, without any doubt, can make your vacation an enjoyable experience.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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One thing that excites me when I lived or traveled outside Indonesia (Europe, Asia, and the US) is the chance to learn new experiences: "I travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape me."

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