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This definitive, full-color guide showcases 28 of the best hikes in the Red River Gorge, with ratings for key elements like scenery and difficulty.
List of contents
DEDICATION
OVERVIEW MAP
MAP LEGEND
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PREFACE
RECOMMENDED HIKES
INTRODUCTION
Red River Gorge Geological Area
- Angel Windows
- Chimney Top Rock, Princess Arch, and Half Moon Arch
- Courthouse Rock and Auxier Ridge
- D. Boon Hut
- Double Arch
- Grays Arch
- Koomer Ridge and Hidden Arch
- Pinch-Em-Tight Ridge
- Rock Bridge Arch
- Rough Trail
- Sheltowee Trace
- Silvermine Arch and Cliff Trail
- Sky Bridge
- Whistling Arch
- Whittleton Arch
Clifty Wilderness
- Sheltowee Trace–Bison Way Loop
- Sheltowee Trace–Osborne Bend Loop
- Swift Camp Creek Trail
- Swift Camp Creek–Wildcat Loop
- Tower Rock
- Turtle Back Arch
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
- Balanced Rock and Rock Garden Trail
- Henson’s Cave Arch
- Hood’s Branch–Sand Gap Loop
- The Original Trail
More Trails in the Red River Gorge Area
- Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve
- Powdermill Branch Trail
- White’s Branch Arch
Appendixes and Index
- Appendix A: Outdoor Retailers
- Appendix B: Hiking Clubs
- Appendix C: State and Federal Agencies
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
About the author
Sean Patrick Hill lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where he spends time with his daughter, practices photography, and writes. As a hiker and backpacker, he has walked trails across the country, from the Pacific Crest Trail to the Appalachian Trail, including rambles in the Grand Canyon, the Delaware Water Gap, Yosemite National Park, the Rocky Mountains, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Oregon Cascades. In Kentucky, he tends to stick to the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest (where he volunteers as a trail ranger) and the Jefferson Memorial Forest, though he will on occasion ramble as far as Pine Mountain, the Cumberland Gap, and, of course, the Red River Gorge.
Summary
Hike and Backpack in Nature’s Stunning Beauty
With the most rock arches east of the Mississippi, the Red River Gorge stands alone for scenery. Get the definitive guide to this famous region—including the Red River Gorge Geological Area, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and Clifty Wilderness. This updated, full-color edition showcases 28 of the best hikes in the area, from the kid-friendly Original Trail to the challenging Rough Trail. With the expert guidance of Sean Patrick Hill, you’ll discover the Gorge’s hidden treasures: lush forests, secluded waterfalls, brilliant wildflowers, natural arches, and more.
The book includes
- 28 routes that lead readers along carefully maintained trails
- GPS-based trail maps and elevation profiles
- Detailed directions to trailheads
- Ratings for key elements to help readers decide which hikes to choose
- Route details and full-color photography
- Recommendations for combining routes into longer adventures
Whether you’re hitting the Gorge for a short hike or a full weekend,
Hiking Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is your guide to experiencing the famed natural wonder on foot.
