Red River Gorge

The Red River Gorge is a unique area of the Daniel Boone National Forest that is designated as a National Natural Landmark. Located in eastern-central Kentucky, within the sandstone belt of the Pottsville Escarpment, this area has been beautifully sculpted by millions of years of wind and water erosion.Today, the Red River Gorge is a popular place for hiking, exploring, camping, and climbing. Yet despite the popularity, you can easily find yourself in the solitude of nature, given 29,000 acres of spectacular cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, caves, swimming holes, and over 100 natural arches.

The Red River Gorge is part of the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) which contains an estimated 500 miles of trails through rugged terrain made of sandstone cliffs and exposed limestone rock faces. The book Hiking the Red, a complete trail guide to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, provides an excellent description of the activities one can find in the Red River Gorge. The authors suggest “popular activities include hiking, camping, horseback riding, bicycling, rock climbing, spelunking, bird watching, photography, nature study, and more”

Our Forest Service has deployed a Backcountry Ranger crew in the Gorge this year, and this 2008 crew is laying the groundwork for future implementations of the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) process. They have already begun to rehabilitate several campsites and user-developed trails, but perhaps most importantly, they are passing along knowledge to the hikers and campers that they meet on the trails.Approximately 12,000 camping permits are sold each year, and many of the campers who purchase permits know how to camp responsibly. Yet many others camp without a permit, and we all have, unfortunately, seen evidence of campers who are greener than the saplings they killed in an effort to build a fire that refuses to burn. Education seems to be the best proactive measure to protect the forest, wildlife, and the people within, and the USFS is taking that measure to remote locations.The Backcountry Rangers hit on a number of topics as they interact with visitors. While new ones come up all the time, Tim Eling of the USFS stresses the following seven topics as the key issues that the Rangers are working to get out:

1) Where to Legally CampVisitors often camp illegally in the Red River Gorge. The two rules we have are “Do not camp in rockshelters” and “Do not camp within 300′ of roads or FS trails”. Backcountry rangers try to explain the why instead of just “don’t camp here”. They explain that rockshelters have several sensitive resources such as rare plants, endangered bats, and cultural resources. High intensity recreation impacts from camping and fire building can damage or destroy those unique resources.We welcome visitors to hike up and look at rockshelters, but please don’t camp or build fires. Some especially sensitive sites are actually fenced. Look for some designated campsites in the Red River Gorge as we implement LAC in the following years. I am hopeful that this will help visitors find good legal places to camp and have an enjoyable and safe time.
2) Overnight Camping PermitsRangers remind visitors to get an overnight camping permit ($3.00 at Gladie or area businesses). The money collected from these camping fees stay here in the Red River Gorge, and helps to pay for things like signs, brochures, toilets, parking facilities, and backcountry rangers!
3) Be Smart with CampfiresMany inexperienced visitors can cause heavy impacts without meaning to do so. For example, some visitors cut green branches or live trees for firewood. Green wood does not burn. The rule is you can have a campfire, but keep it small, make sure it is out before you leave, and use only DEAD and DOWN wood.
4) Stay on Official TrailsThe Red River Gorge is riddled with user developed trails. We have over twice as many unofficial trails as official trails. Some visitors get confused and accidentally walk down these user trails and get lost. Rangers try to explain to folks what to look for in an official trail (on official maps, signed, blazes on trees).
5) PartyingWe are also trying to change the perception that the Red River Gorge is a place to party. Over the years this attitude has not only led to loud distracting parties and high impact behavior, but it has also led to serious injuries and death. Backcountry rangers tell visitors that it is illegal to drink in public in Kentucky. They also tell people that there are hundreds of miles of cliffs and there are no guard rails!
6) Clifty WildernessOur Rangers are trying to increase knowledge of federally designated wilderness. The Red River Gorge is home to Clifty Wilderness – one of only two wildernesses in all of Kentucky. US Congress has set up wilderness to be managed differently from the rest of federal lands. They are to be very primitive with no roads, building, or mechanized equipment/travel. You go in on foot. Visitors should not expect easy travel or easy rescue.7) Be Prepared before Visiting the Red River GorgeSo many visitors seem to come down here without a map, food, or water. They can get in trouble quickly when not prepared.