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12 Reasons to Visit Red River Gorge
Most people think that they have to leave the country if they want to experience something truly memorable but there are plenty of appealing destinations to check out in the country. However, one of the most underrated places to visit is Red River Gorge in KY. This humble area is brimming with numerous exciting sights and sounds that are sure to appeal to just about anyone with an urge to travel and explore.
Here are twelve great reasons to visit Red River Gorge.
1. Natural Landscapes
Our nation has no shortage of unique and exciting landscapes. Whether it’s the mountainous regions of the midwest or the great plains, there are many enticing natural locations to visit in every part of the country.
Red River Gorge stands out among these for its special geological features. As its name implies, his region’s central feature is a gorge that formed as the Red River cut through a sandstone layer over thousands of years.
This continuous action has produced over a hundred natural arches that are a sight to behold. Such arches consist of soft sandstone layers overlain by hard sandstone and are believed to have been used as shelters by early inhabitants in the region.
The U.S. Forest Service has actually designated Red River Gorge as a national geological area because its geological features are so unique. This region’s natural landscapes are interesting to observe even if you aren’t a geology nerd.
2. Ziplining
One of the major perks of having diverse topography characterized by hilly areas and river-cut valleys is that it is perfect for ziplining.
This region has become a hotspot for tourists in recent years thanks to the ziplines set up here. Known simply as “Red River Gorge Ziplines”, this zipline offers a bird’s eye view of the gorge area as you travel at a swift 55 miles per hour 300 feet above the ground. This zipline is a whopping 1900 feet in length, so you will definitely get your fill of excitement traveling along the gorge.
The combination of speed and height is incredibly exhilarating, and it’s no surprise that this zipline has become one of the biggest attractions in the Red River Gorge area. Red River ziplining offers plenty of fun for you and your family.
3. Underground Kayaking
Kayaking is usually considered an activity for lakes and rivers. However, Red River Gorge offers a completely unique experience with its underground kayaking.
This activity takes place in an underground limestone mine that was in use over a century ago. The mine flooded once its operations ceased, which made it difficult to explore on foot. However, this flooding also makes it the perfect kayaking spot.
You can sign up for a kayak tour of this amazing location and paddle alongside your family and friends at your own pace. There are also special clear bottomed kayaks that offer a breathtaking view of the water below you. The tour operators have also set up LED lights in the water, which makes the mine look even more dazzling.
If paddling isn’t your thing, you can kick back and relax on a boat tour through the mine. This attraction is full of wonder and it’s no surprise that just about everyone pays a visit to this mine when they visit Red River Gorge.
4. Canoeing on the River
If you’re interested in checking out the Red River itself, there’s no better way to do this than to go canoeing on it. Red River offers an excellent paddling experience for just about everyone, and you don’t need to be especially skilled at canoeing to experience this thrill.
Red River Adventure is this region's only canoe outfitter. They can set you up with a high-quality canoe and take you to the perfect canoeing spot upriver.
The vast majority of tourists go canoeing downstream, with Copperas Creek as their starting point. This 10-mile section of the river is especially popular with beginners and features a few sandbars and small ledges to make the experience more exciting. It typically takes around 6 hours to complete this 10-mile journey, meaning you will get to spend a good chunk of your day seeing sights along the Red River.
5. Visiting the Reptile Zoo
If sightseeing isn’t your thing, you could always visit the Kentucky Reptile Zoo and marvel at the creatures there. This zoo is one of the region’s underrated attractions and features different types of shows throughout the day.
The Kentucky Reptile Zoo hosts over 75 species of reptiles. This includes many kinds of snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators. This zoo is notable because it includes a large variety of venomous snakes.
Many of these snakes provide venom for use in medical research. In fact, you can see the zoo’s director perform a live venom extraction show every afternoon.
The Kentucky Reptile Zoo might not be as big as the other zoos in the country, but it still offers plenty of excitement for the whole family. You can complete a full tour of the facility and see all the exhibits at a comfortable pace in under 45 minutes. This gives you plenty of time to explore other attractions around Red River Gorge afterwards.
So, consider making a pitstop at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo and catching a glimpse at some of the marvelous creatures that inhabit Kentucky.
6. Riding Horses
If you want to explore the Red River Gorge area’s natural beauty but don’t enjoy walking long distances, you should sign up for horseback riding.
Red River Gorge has two horseback riding services which offer tours through forest trails. You will get to ride through the region’s southern tip and discover breathtaking waterfalls and cliffs along the way.
This attraction is great for anyone who enjoys being out in nature and loves horses. It offers a memorable experience that you don’t want to miss.
7. Camping in Nature
Going camping is an excellent way to take a break from the city and reconnect with nature. The Red River Gorge region has no shortage of excellent camping spots. This includes the Land of the Arches, which is a campground with WiFi, showers, a gaming area, and general store.
Natural Bridge State Park is another popular camping site that offers breathtaking views. It derived its name from the 215-foot-high natural arch that resembles a bridge. You can set up camp near this formation and enjoy some of the best scenery in Red River Gorge.
If you’d rather camp in your RV, you can visit 4 Guys RV Park. This campground is one of the more recent additions in the area and sports a fishing ground, showers, WiFi, and even a swimming pool.
All these options mean you will definitely be able to find a camping arrangement that suits you and your family. So, consider looking up each of these camping spots when you’re planning your trip to Red River Gorge.
8. ATV Riding
Want to explore Red River Gorge’s natural beauty in a speedy manner? Then you’ll definitely be interested in renting an ATV. Hollerwood Offroad Adventure provides ATV rentals.
Mountain Park Off-Road is an ATV racing park that’s just 20 minutes away from the main Red River Gorge area. It has over 40 miles of trails, making it perfect for anyone who loves riding these speedy off-road vehicles for hours at a time.
You can also rent a dirt-bike and take them on the same trails. This means off-road vehicle enthusiasts has plenty of ways to keep themselves entertained in Red River Gorge.
If you’d rather watch some high-speed vehicles in action, you can head over to the Mountain Park Dragway. This is a drag strip that attracts elite drag racers from across the state. This facility has hosted many prominent drag races in the past, so you should definitely check it out if you’re a speed lover.
9. Hiking Trails
Plenty of tourists visit the Red River Gorge area for the numerous hiking trails in the region. Most of these trails vary from 1.8 miles to 5.6 miles in length, meaning you should be able to find one that fits into your schedule.
These trails also vary in difficulty. For example, the Laurel Ridge Trail is known for being easy because it has very few inclines and can be completed in under an hour. This makes it popular for families and people with little hiking experience.
On the opposite end of things, the Indian Staircase and Indian Arch is an unmarked trail that poses a challenge that only the most experienced hikers should take on. If you do decide to hit up this trail, you should be sure to bring a compass and a pair of shoes with great grip.
10. Fishing
If being on the move isn’t your thing, you can kick back and relax by fishing at one of Red River Gorge’s numerous fishing spots. This includes the Red River itself, which contains some exciting fish species such as sunfish, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass.
You can also visit Mill Creek Lake inside Natural Bridge State Park. This small lake is brimming with fish such as black crappie, green sunfish, bluegill, bass, rainbow trout, and catfish.
Don’t worry if you forgot your fishing gear at home. There are plenty of sporting good’s shops that are a short drive away from Red River Gorge. This means you can indulge in a lazy fishing day during your visit to the region.
11. Restaurants
All these outdoor activities are sure to make you work up an appetite. Luckily, there are plenty of great restaurants to check out in Slade. This includes fresh pizza at a family-owned restaurant called Miguel’s Pizza.
You can also satiate your hunger with some tacos, burritos, and burgers over at Red River Rockhouse. This joint is also popular with tourists because it offers many locally brewed beers on tap. If you need a morning pick-me-up, you can stop by Daniel Boone Coffee Shop for a freshly brewed cup of joe and a warm croissant.
Slade might be a relatively small town, but you’ll never run out of exciting food options here.
12. Lodging
It’s difficult to hit up every single one of the attractions described above in a single day. For this reason, you should plan a multi-day trip to Red River Gorge.
While it can be fun to camp here overnight, many people prefer to find proper lodging in the area. The good news is that there is no shortage of great places to stay here. You can look for AirBnB cabin rentals online when you’re planning your trip to Red River Gorge.
Alternatively, you can look for Red River cabin rentals with local businesses such as Red River Gorge Cabin Getaways. Red River Gorge Cabin Getaways offers a variety of cabin types to ensure you find the ideal lodging in the area.
They offer family cabin rentals as well as pet-friendly cabin rentals. You can also book a special couple’s cabin by Trailhead Cabin Rentals for a romantic getaway with your partner.
Why Choose Red River Gorge Cabin Getaways?
At Red River Gorge Cabin Getaways, we offer numerous cabin options for people visiting Red River Gorge. As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of finding comfortable lodging that serves as a base when you and your loved ones are exploring the exciting attractions in the region.
We have over 15 years of experience providing cabins for Red River Gorge tourists. We currently offer ten premium cabins for rent and take pride in delivering high quality services for our customers. In fact, we have over 75 regular customers who book our cabins each time they visit Red River Gorge.
So make the right choice and book one of our premium cabins to make your stay in Red River Gorge extra special.
Welcome to
Red River Gorge Cabin Getaways! We are a family focused and guest-oriented group of cabin rental owners that enjoy providing the best experience possible! That is because we are just one big family ourselves and we understand that the focus of a vacation should be spending time with those you care about. Our goal is to make that process as simple, easy, and affordable as possible, the way it should always be! Call Tristan today @
502-777-7780 to rent a cabin!
Red River Cabin Getaways LLC
Campton, KY 41301
Red River Gorge Cabin Getaways offer a large variety of rental accommodations from cozy two-person cabin dens to high end cabins that sleep up to 16—and everything in between, located in Red River Gorge, Kentucky.
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