The Red River Gorge Geologic Area consists of approximately 26,000 acres located within the Daniel Boone National Forest in southeastern Kentucky, about 30 minutes from Lexington and 2 1/2 hours from Cincinnati and Louisville. Over 60 miles of trails are located in the Gorge, ranging from short hikes leading to overlooks to arduous, multi-day trips in the backcountry. A sightseeing drive on the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway proudly displays the varied and verdant scenery, but to truly experience the Gorge you must venture into it and discover its treasures. Carved over the course of millions of years by wind and water, this area is truly unique and exploration will reveal over 80 natural arches, historical sites, and miles and miles of trails made for cross-country backpacking or day hikes. There are magnificent views, unusual vegetation, and the largest concentration of arches and rock shelters east of the Rocky Mountains. Some of the rock shelters were used by ancient Indians to live in and supposedly one was used by Daniel Boone! The Red River Gorge is also a very popular place for rock climbers with many unique routes for the beginner to the most experienced climber.
Originally called the Cumberland National Forest when created in 1937, the Daniel Boone National Forest received its new name in 1966 in honor of the adventurous frontiersman who explored much of this Kentucky region. It is located on the Cumberland Plateau in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky and encompasses over 707,000 acres of mostly rugged terrain. The land is characterized by steep forested ridges dissected by narrow ravines and over 3,400 miles of sandstone cliffs. The Daniel Boone National Forest is one of the most heavily used forests in the South, with over 5 million visitors annually. People come here to backpack, camp, picnic, rock climb, boat, hunt, fish, ride and relax. The forest contains three large lakes -- Cave Run Lake, Laurel River Lake and Lake Cumberland -- as well as numerous rivers and streams, two wilderness areas, and the 269-mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail that extends across the length of the forest. Abundant wildlife, lush vegetation, magnificent scenery, and numerous recreation opportunities offer visitors much to enjoy.
Tree species include the northern red oak, basswood, beech, yellow poplar, sugar maple, birch, red maple, hemlock, red oak, white oak, and hickory. In the higher, drier reaches of the ridges you find short leaf pine, chestnut oak, white oak, and Virginia pine. Rhododendron, mountain laurel, blueberry, huckleberry, dogwood, sourwood, black gum, white-haired goldenrod, ferns, and Canadian yew are also found here.
Many ecosystems coexist within the forest boundaries, including meadows, cliffs, rivers, wetlands, cane breaks, fern gardens, and other special habitat niches, but the area is called a geologic area due to the prevalent and varied natural rock features created as the indigenous sandstones erode into sheer cliffs, steep-walled gorges, rockshelters, waterfalls, natural bridges and arches, and caves.
The Daniel Boone National Forest is home for 23 species listed as threatened or endangered species. These species range from the magnificent bald eagle to the small Indiana bat. Rock outcroppings, cliffs, and caves provide habitat for some of the rarest species on the forest, including several species of bats, the spotted skunk, and the Allegheny woodrat, and fishermen will relish the bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, and muskie abundant year-around on the many lakes and rivers in the forest. The namesake Red River runs through the Gorge for 18 miles and has been designated as a wild and scenic river and offers beautiful canoe trips.
The Red River Gorge area was a mining area for iron ore, saltpeter for gunpowder (mined in the area for all of the wars through the Civil War) and then timber. Nearly all of the trees within the Gorge were harvested providing the area with great economic wealth. The introduction of the railroads in the mid to late 1800s helped push growth and also provided the area with the first permanent industry -- tourism. Excursion trains from Lexington, Cincinnati, and Louisville that brought tourists to what is now Natural Bridge State Resort Park started in 1900 and lasted until 1939.
District Ranger, Stanton
705 W. College Avenue
Stanton, KY, 40380
(606) 663-2852
Forest Supervisor, Daniel Boone National
Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, Ky. 4039
(606)745-3100
Red River Gorge Geological Area