Exploring Red River Gorge in Kentucky

Apr 21, 2025

Today we’re taking a road trip over to Kentucky on our next installment of our Road Trip ready destinations. We’re headed to the Red River Gorge region for a fun-filled getaway to an outdoor paradise.

Red River Gorge Geological Area is an adventurous outdoor getaway for all types of nature enthusiasts! Whether you like kayaking or canoeing, rock climbing or hiking, horseback riding or ziplining, or even exploring historic sites, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep you busy from your arrival to departure.

Visitors of all hiking skill levels will enjoy exploring the Original Trail to Natural Bridge, Whistling Arch Trail, Sky Bridge Loop, and Angel Windows Trail, just to name a few short hikes with big scenic views. You can book a climbing trip with professional Instructors and Tour Guides with KRAG. Clip into a zipline and soar 300 feet over The Gorge in one of the state’s fastest Zipline courses, including a side-by-side line to race with your friends and family!

If you love nature and animals, you’re also in for a treat! From May through June, the area is a birder’s paradise as the woodland warblers and various neotropical birds return to the area and are at their peak activity and visibility; you’ll also find year-round residents such as various Hawks, Hummingbirds, Great Blue Herons, Pileated Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Belted Kingfisher, and more. For the anglers in your group, you’ll find Mill Creek Lake to be a perfect spot for fishing with catches such as Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Sunfish, Trout, Catfish and more. Nature photographers will be excited to catch some shots of Black Bears, Foxes, the Virginia Big-Eared Bat, White-Haired Goldenrod, and more; the area is home to 67 species of reptiles and amphibians, 46 species of mammals, and 100 species of birds. Plus, there are numerous fungi, mosses, trees, and wildflowers growing in the area and changing each season!

But That’s Not All there is to do in the area….

Kentucky Reptile Zoo houses more than 100 species of reptiles including turtles, alligators, lizards, anacondas, and so much more. There are thrice daily reptile shows, and you can even learn how venomous snakes are used to collect venom for development of antivenom and more. You’ll get to talk to the experts and learn about global and local reptiles and their environments. Hop on a guided tour and get the inside scoop from a knowledgeable guide about all the exhibits up close and personal.

Cable’s Riding Stable’s is a family-owned and operated riding stable featuring trail rides through the local trails and scenery. You’ll get a guided tour on horseback ranging from 45 minutes to an hour, and both children and adults are welcomed.

Kentucky Dragway is the largest facility and biggest venue in Powell County, and one of the oldest drag strips in the nation. It first opened its doors in 1963, and has been home to drag racing tradition ever since. The Kentucky Dragway is a family friendly venue aiming to provide safe, clean fun to race fans and drivers alike. Every Friday and Saturday from March through November, weather permitting, where you can enjoy classic drag race motorsports. Specialty Events also run on select weekends from Friday through Sunday.

Natural Bridge State Park is adjacent to the Daniel Boone National Forest, and located near the Red River Gorge Geological Area. This stunning sandstone arch bridge spans 78 feet and is 65 feet high, and is an incredible destination year round for visitors. It’s a popular spot for hiking, canoeing, swimming, and even camping, making it another great stop on your trip to the Red River area! The area features high stone cliffs, stone arches, natural mountain springs, carved rock formations and tunnels, and exquisite hiking trails through magnificent evergreen forests. The Natural Bridge Cave takes you beneath the earth to explore underground formations. Lookout Point offers panoramic views of the area and surrounding forests. Mill Creek Lake makes for a wonderful swimming space and picnic area. The Sky-Lift brings you up 1 mile across the steep terrain offering scenic views and a shortcut to visiting the arch itself.

The Gorge Underground offers an incredibly unique look at the region via boat and kayak tours through historic mines. Book a tour with an expert and make your way through a 100-year+ limestone mind and learn the history of the Red River Gorge from within a custom-built cave boat. Or you can opt to paddle your own way through the mines in a one-hour kayaking tour with an experienced guide lit by headlamp and lanterns. Looking for something once-in-a-lifetime? You’ll certainly get what you’re looking for and then some with Sup Kentucky’s incredible Crystal Clear Kayak and Crystal Clear Sup Tours; explore the Underground with a crystal bottomed kayak with LEDs and get a look at the water below, or book a 90 minute Stand Up Paddleboard Tour with a crystal LED paddleboard.