The Red River Gorge
Written: Feb 04 '00 (Updated Jan 24 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: beautiful natural area
Cons: none noted
The Bottom Line: The Red River Gorge is Kentucky's Grand Canyon, absolutely gorgeous, not to be missed.
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| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Daniel Boone National Forest |
The Red River Gorge is one of Kentucky's natural treasures, a 29,000 acre wilderness that is part of the Daniel Boone National Forest. The area is best known for the many natural stone bridges, more than 80 of them (a number exceeded only in Arches NP in Utah), and the deep gorge of the North Fork of the Red River, formed by almost 80 million years of erosion. Forested ridges, woodland scenery, and sheer cliffs are the main attractions here. Activities include hiking, camping and photography. The visitor's center is a turn of the century two story log cabin, the former home of a local timber baron.
The Red River Gorge was home to Native Americans for many thousands of years before the first Europeans, the "Long Hunters", visited the area. The cliffs and eroded limestone formations are riddled with "rock houses" (small shallow caves and steep overhangs) which provided shelter and dwelling places for the Amerind hunter/gatherers.
The best time to visit is in the spring, when the hillsides are ablaze with the colors of blooming dogwood and redbud. The bottoms along the river are covered with wild irises, trillium, dutchman's breeches, and hundreds of other wildflowers. Deer, coyotes, wild turkey, and dozens of other animals are common sights. Autumn in the gorge brings "leaf peepers" from all over the midwest and south. Hillsides along the river shine with hundreds of shades of red, yellow, and orange. Maples, oaks, hickory, big leaf magnolia, and hundreds of other hardwood forest trees thrive in the limestone soil.
The gorge was almost lost to development in the late 60's, a dam was planned that would have flooded the area, but a concerted effort by a new generation of environmental warriors succeeded in saving this ecological jewel from destruction. A lovely book by Wendell Barry and photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard, "The Unforseen Wilerness" (University of Kentucky Press, 1971...re-issued by the Northpoint Press, 1991) focused national attention on the area. Eliot Porter took photographs here in the early 70's that helped promote and popularize the gorge (some of these photographs can be seen in his book "Appalachian Wilderness") If you go don't miss "Sky Bridge" or "Gray's Arch".
The Red River Gorge is at the western boundary of the Cumberland Plateau, the edge of the plateau rises and slopes, in a series of escarpments, that fall off steeply, providing stunning natural vistas. Legend has it that the lost silver lode discovered by early explorer Jonathan Swift lies somewhere in the Red River Gorge Geological area, Swift's Camp Creek, a local stream, is purported to have been the site of Swift's campsite during his explorations.
The Red River Gorge is located about 60 miles east of Lexington (near Slade, KY) and about two hours from Louisville. There are more than sixty miles of marked hiking trails in the area, most are strenuous, with steep inclines and rapid rises in elevation. Do be careful and watch your footing if you visit, several people have been killed in falls. Nearby are the Natural Bridge State Park, and the Nada Tunnel (KY Hwy 77) a 900 foot long one lane tunnel dug through a steep ridge by hand. The tunnel provided access (for a narrow gauge steam railway) to the virgin timber in the gorge.
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Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Howard_Creech
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Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 334
Trusted by: 1275 members
About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
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