Headed to red river gorge

[PBThompson]

Hey all I'm head for my first trip in the gorge. It will be 4 days 3 nights. Looking for suggestions for loops or out and backs. Ready
Go

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[Watertooner]

Hope you have a great time. I don't have anything specific to advise other than to search the videos and trip reports for ideas for your hike. Then combine that info with current conditions in the gorge to make your final plan.

[jeff-oh]

Hey all I'm head for my first trip in the gorge. It will be 4 days 3 nights. Looking for suggestions for loops or out and backs. Ready

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Make sure to hit Hanson's point. It is an unofficial trail the leaves the rough trail off the north edge of the little bump in the trail just west of pinch-em tight. Plenty of trail tracks on AllTrails. The trail is at 37.8117 -83.6366. Hansons point is at 37.8164 -83.6270

While there enjoy some Miguel's Pizza and A-late-1 or Ale-8

Have fun

[KYHiker]

Hey all I'm head for my first trip in the gorge. It will be 4 days 3 nights. Looking for suggestions for loops or out and backs. Ready
Go

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Plenty of ideas and suggestions within this section, just page back through and read the RRG threads. Enjoy and don't forget the camera. Short list of 'sights'. Auxier Ridge loop, Hanson's Pt off the Rough trail loop, Indian Staircase and Cloud Splitter off of Sheltowee trace and a great valley hike Swift Camp Creek. Look them up on youtube.

Links to some recent threads on RRG below, and Ohhh please don't go there alone for your first trip...people die down there every year mainly from not being familiar with the terrain.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ed-River-Gorge

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ping-questions

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...orge-4-13-4-15

[Rocket]

I’m headed back to RRG soon but I just visited the DBNF and saw that the Clift trails are closed due to wildfire damage! Can anyone local weigh in?

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/dbnf/...ces/?aid=51493

Also seconding being careful on a solo trip. Three hikers are currently stranded at the bottom of the gorge and rescue crews are trying to get them out...

[KYHiker]

Looks like from your link the area between Hwy 715 and Swift Camp Creek is currently burning. Sad to hear this because the way the land lays all they can do is contain the burn between the road and creek. Hopefully the wind stays low and it burns itself out. This area is part of the Clifty Wilderness section of RRG. To those familiar with coming in to the gorge from Pine Ridge I would assume the Rock Bridge Road area could be effected as well if it continues to burn. If your driving in from Pine Ridge everything on the right side of the road all the way down to the concrete bridge across the Red River could be closed and/or burning as well. Lets hope its contained and not that wide spread.

Link to Lexington, KY story on fire.
https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Wi...507600501.html

https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Wi...507639311.html

[jasondodd]

We were just down there for the first time last weekend. It’s beautiful. intended to hang with my brother and my son but didn’t end up getting to do so as we had other commitments. The hike in to Gray’s arch was beautiful!




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[KYHiker]

I just heard from a local who works down there, the total size of the burn was 50-100 acres and the two trails are still closed because of concerns with partially fallen trees still snagged in other trees. Until those are cleared Swift Camp Creek and Wildcat trails near hwy 715 are closed. I would then assume Rock Bridge road and trail is fine...as well as Swift Camp Creek from that end (Southern connection to Rock Bridge trail). Getting into the peak Spring fire season now with the wind.

[Rocket]

Thanks for the update— what a crying shame. I was in Gatlinburg not too long ago and it looks like it’ll take decades for that area to recover.

[KYHiker]

Thanks for the update— what a crying shame. I was in Gatlinburg not too long ago and it looks like it’ll take decades for that area to recover.

Since 1990 I have seen 8 large fires in the Red River gorge. The hardwoods will take time to re populate but it is amazing just how quickly the blueberry and pines will green up a burnt area in just a couple of years. The unofficial last 1/2 mile out to Hanson's Point is a great example of this, it burned in the early 2000s. The trail and ridge is a dense thicket of 5-8 ft pines now where it had burned.