Red River Gorge KY Roadtrip: Hikes, Waterfalls & Appalachian Adventure

Explore Red River Gorge, KY — A Natural Wonderland

Iconic Natural Bridges & Rock Formations

The East (Appalachia) meets the West (Arches).

Find out what is South of Almost Heaven.

Red River Gorge-ous!

enture

I’m a life-long West Virginian. I’ve been to Kentucky. Like, maybe five times. My sister messaged me a Tiktok video (or maybe it was a Facebook reel). In the video it showed:

A tree house cabin
Huge sandstone Arches
People kayaking in Caves

Wow.. This place looks amazing!

We must go!

From my “current location” in Morgantown, WV to Slade, KY

It’s only five hours away!

For most other West Virginians; it’s closer. Y’all on the Eastern panhandle or at the Top; it’s further.

We had plans to go to the Beach. But, wanted to keep a close eye on the weather before making plans. A few days beforehand, the forecast for Virginia Beach was a balmy 60°.

Let’s go Somewhere Different

Red River Gorge

I quickly began looking at lodging options in the Red River Gorge area. Must be dog friendly and budget-friendly.

In the hunt for a place; camping was not an option for us. As we had plans to do excursions that do not allow dogs.

Where to Stay?

AirBNB had a few options; most with additional fees for dogs. I stumbled upon this beautiful cabin. It looked like it was straight outta HGTV! With amenities out the wazoo:

Hot Tub
Blackstone Grill
Swinging bed, swinging hammocks, porch swing..

The Hideaway Cabin was Perfect!

Explore and Discover

At 5:00am, we left Morgantown, WV. Heading down to the Bluegrass State; the landscape changes. Once we got to Charleston, we were halfway there!

Check in for the Hideaway Cabin was at 4pm. We had time to do things. First stop?

The Nada Tunnel

The 900ft Natural Stone tunnel was a thrill to drive through!

A Wonderland for Thrillseekers

With families in mind, Red River Gorge must be carefully navigated. The area is home to 112 Hiking/Climbing trails. Many trails with climbing gear advised. Not kid-friendly, or dog friendly.

For a great comprehensive idea of the trails visit;

How to Plan a Weekend in Red River Gorge

Family-Friendly Trails

Trails for Kids and Dogs in the Red River Gorge area:

Rock Bridge Arch

The Rock Bridge Loop is an excellent family hike! It is a moderate 1.5 loop that takes you to Creation Falls. It provides many off-shoots to breathtaking views of Caves and Cliffs.

Creation Falls

As we winded down the hill and approached Creation Falls; we saw several groups of families. They were sticking together and enjoying the day.

Perfect for wading! **Creation Falls** is *only abo*ut 2ft at its deepest.

We approached The Waterfall at Creation Falls. All the dogs were swimming, the kids were splashing around. Families everywhere. This is Creation. This is what LIFE is all about!

Rock Bridge

The Rock Bridge Arch is one of many arches in the Red River Gorge area.

Chimney Top Trail

The **easiest** **hike** we did in **Red River Gorge.**

The view was absolutely breathtaking!

“Excursions”

These excursions are not dog friendly. Leave the doggies to relax in the cabin!

Natural Bridge State Park

A 20 minute lift to the Bridge!
Round-Trip tickets are $17

Ride the Lifts!

Walk the Top!

See the Bottom!

Kid Friendly trails all around Natural Bridge!
Dogs are not permitted at the State Park.

Gorge Underground

I missed the Boat! Literally. Long story.

But.. My partner, Cara got the full-experience! Read below;

“It’s a boat ride like no other. You get to wear a hard hat and reach up and touch the limestone overhead! There’s a Goonie-ish Vibe. So quiet, dark and damp feeling. Rest assured you don’t get wet though! The pet fish swim right by the boats. Some are 25 to 30lbs! Don’t forget to bring a jacket. It is chilly down under”

Explore All Around!

The Red River Gorge area is very secluded. It’s pretty barren.

There’s not a lot of businesses or establishments.

There’s not a lot of dining options. Out of the few, we picked…

Miguel’s Pizza

Miguel’s is not just a restaurant. It’s a Campground, with a Rock Climbing Shop. A huge hang-out, an oasis for thrillist-fun/dining. With plenty of outdoor seating all around.

We ordered the BBQ pizza with pork, bacon and beef. Also, a TWO-FACED cheese pizza.

How many days to stay?

We spent 3 days/2 Nights in the area. I’d recommend more time. This is not a typical tourist-trap destination. There’s nothing here. There’s not a Titanic Museum, a fun mirror-maze zone, or a rollercoaster in sight. Slade is REMOTE!

The Adventure Capital of Kentucky

I could spend days here, it’s a natural playground!

Red River Gorge offers lots of excursions: