TTA Red River Gorge

We joined the TTA for a trip up to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky for a few days. We camped in the Middle Prong Campsite. On day one we hiked to the Natural Bridge and looped around and down Devil's Gulch.

Day two we hiked the Double Arch trail and Auxier Ridge trail loop. Afterwards we had a campfire in the campground. 

Day three we hiked the Pinch-Em Tight trail to Hanson's Point and back. Afterwards we hiked to Gray's Arch and back. Dinner at the Mexican resturant.

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Red River Gorge

Lora and I headed up to the Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, Kentucky. We stayed in site #31 in the Middle Creek campground. We had been here before, but wanted to see some more of the area. After we set up camp with the camper, we headed out for a hike. We took the Original trail to the Natural Bridge. We went on top and then took the Laurel Ridge trail past the Skylift to lookout point. Then we hiked to Lover's Leap, not to jump, just to look. From there we went down through Needles Eye to Devils Gulch trail and back to the Original trail. We had dinner in the camper due to winds and temp.

Tuesday we took the Original trail to the Rock Garden trail. We hiked down to the Skylift parking area and took the Hood Branch trail, including the Loop trail, back to the Natural Bridge. From there we took the Rock Garden trail back to the Original trail back to the campground. After dinner we had a campfire and looked at the stars.

Wednesday we drove over to the Red River Gorge and drove out the Double Arch road. We hiked to the Double Arch and then took the Auxier Branch trail over to Courthouse Rock. We came back by the Auxier Ridge trail. On the road out we stopped and hiked to Grays Arch. Both beautiful hikes. Back at camp we had another campfire. Dropped below freezing that night.

Thursday we drove over to the Red River Gorge to Koomer Ridge Campground and hiked the Hidden Arch Loop and Silvermine Arch. Then we drove out Chimney Rock road. We hiked to Chimney Rock where we got to watch a helicopter drop a couple of loads of water on a wildfire. Then we hiked to Princess Arch. After that we went into the Clifty Wilderness and hiked the Rock Bridge Loop which was beautiful. Ran out of firewood, so no fire tonight. Dropped below freezing again.

Friday we packed up and headed home.

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Red River Gorge Labor Day

Double Arch

On Auxier Ridge

Jean and Jan on Auxier Ridge

Holiday Weekend, left early from work Friday and met Jean and Jan in Monterey and headed for the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. We arrived at Callie's Lake and Campground, set up camp in the tent area close to the lake and beside a small stream. Hoping for no mosquitos since it didn't look like the water was moving. We had the evening to explore a little bit so we drove to the Natural Bridge State Park and hiked to the top of the Natural Bridge, got on top in time for the sunset. Met a hiker on the way down that warned us about seeing two copperheads on the trail...then every stick, rolled up rhododendron leaf, became a snake, with the dark coming on quickly. Headlamps on, scan, scan, Lucky ladies, found no snakes. But we did find Miguels Pizza for dinner! Long line, long wait, but it was great pizza. Lots of folks around, tents everywhere, plus a cool outdoor picnic area.

Saturday we hiked to Gray's Arch and then drove the Scenic Byway and hiked to see Angel Windows, Whistling Arch, Sky Bridge, and visited the Gladie Visitor Center which is really nice. It has several interpretive exhibits and an environmental learning center. The farm is beautiful. We wanted to see the Suspension Bridge, parked in the Sheltowee Connector parking lot which was very crowded. Swimming crowd in the only pool we had seen on the Red River. Folks were jumping off a large boulder, there were kayakers, not sure how far they were paddling in the shallow river. When we got to the bridge we saw that we could have used the parking just up from the bridge....oh well. Wanted to see the lodge, which has a cool pool shaped like the river beside it. Looks like a nice place to stay. Then on to the Whittleton Arch, Chimney Top Road to Princess Arch and Chimney Top. The Chimney has wooden fence to keep you from hopping down the rocks to the top.

Saturday night entertainment at the campground, BBQ and singer/musician Tyler Halsey. They played about 3 hours which was a little late for quiet time at the campground. Then all the folks that drove there for the music were leaving. Noisy. Yawn...

Sunday was another beautiful day. We went hunting for Tower Rock. The trail map shows it is off the Osborne Bend Trail so we started there but couldn't find the junction to it.  Another hiker came by and had a GPS that showed Tower Rock one ridge over. So we hiked out and drove on, found the trail sign that said Trail #129. Our map shows it was Trail # 229. But we hiked it anyway and found Tower Rock, climbers destination. Then on down the road to find a lunch spot. The Gladie Interpretive Center Farm made a good lunch spot and we explored the barn and cabin. There is a water pump there too.
Next was the Bison Way Trail to see Indian Staircase. Jan had printed trail descriptions that said to watch for a path to the right to get to the bottom of the Staircase. We met a group on the trail that confirmed it was just a little further and they brushed off my concerns of it being dangerous. They had kids with them and were casual about taking them. I wondered how much they liked their kids....

 We found a path to the right and started climbing, we could hear the group below us so we thought they were following. We got to some rock scrambling and started up. We could tell by then the other folks were not behind us, as we got a little higher I could see the staircase; we were a good way from it. But we had awesome views from where we were at the end of the ridge. I climbed higher to see if there was a trail along the ridge to get to the Staircase. There was, so we kept hiking on, thru the huckleberry bushes and overgrown path. We made it to the staircase in time to see the other folks coming over the top of it. Kids and all. Frog rock at the top of the staircase then the largest rock shelter in the gorge, then Indian Arch.
Dinner was at the Red River Rockhouse, grass fed beef burgers, local source cheeses, veggies, wonderful food.
Campfire tonight, just as we started to bed BOOM, BOOM, fireworks!!! at 11 PM! Craziness from the neighbors next to the campground. We will go by in the morning and wake them up to go hiking.

Monday we packed up camp, drove to the prettiest trail in the park. Auxier Ridge. So many awesome views on this trail. All the way to Courthouse Rock we were in awe of the beauty. We picked the outside loop to see Double Arch, but when we got to the junction it was going to add 1.5 to our hike and we didn't have time to get that one. We saw the Double Arch from the Auxier Ridge trail anyway but if I ever go back to the Red River Gorge I want to hike this one again.





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Red River Gorge

We got to meet Dan, Deanna, and McKinley for Easter. Dad and Mom met us too as we all gathered at the Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky. They met up on Thursday, Lora and I got there Friday evening. The group had hiked muddy trails all over the park Friday so we started out with Henson's arch in the Red River Gorge which is right across the road from the Natural Bridge Park. From there we hiked to the the Natural Bridge and balanced rock. Back to the campground for some Hamburgers.

The next day we got up and met our friend Tim at the Bison Way trailhead in the Red River Gorge. We had met Tim on the AT years back and said that we would get with him when we got up to the Red River Gorge. This was our first chance.

We drove through the 900 ft long NADA tunnel which is a really cool one lane old train tunnel. Tim took us and showed us the Indian arch, Adena arch, Council Chamber rock shelter with a waterfall, and the Indian Staircase. We also got to see salamanders with their eggs in a shallow pond. He was a wonderful guide.

After our hike we went and picked up Mom. We took her to see Angle Windows, Whistling arch, and Sky Bridge. We also stopped at an unnamed water fall. Back to the campground for BBQ. We celebrated McKinley's graduation with a tasty cake.

The next day, after sending the Brewers off, Lora and I headed to Whittleton Arch. From there we took Dad and Mom to see Mill Creek Lake. It was misting out so we didn't do the hike around the lake. From there we headed back to the campground to pack up and head home.

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