Red River Gorge

**Billcole** · 10-10-2018, 06:31

The wife and I are thinking about doing three nights in the Red River Gorge starting the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Just getting started with the planning, any suggestion on routes to take? We would like all the camping to be backcountry camping if possible. What type of weather should we expect that time of year?

Thanks

**Smckinney0031** · 10-10-2018, 06:42

There is actually a hang happening at the end of october at Hanson Point!

**jeff-oh** · 10-10-2018, 06:51

You are planning a great time to go to one of the most beautiful places in the Eastern US. Are you planning a moving trip or a basecamp with day trips out. Are you ok with multiple loops? i.e. Use vehicle to transfer to another side of the park to do a second loop.

Anyhow, I would recommend spending at least one night at Hanson's point (Off the Rough Trail). If possible also do Cloud Splitter and Indian Staircase. both off (Bison Way trail). I've also heard the Auxier Ridge trail is a good overnight loop.

Here is an AllTrails map to Hanson's Point that includes waypoints of several good back country campsites. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/re...iver-gorge--31
(Note these are up on the ridge so there is no water there, you'll have to haul it up there. Plenty of water in the area, just not up on the ridges.

My Favorite Photo from Hanson's point: Me and My little one.
Hansons Point.jpg

**KYHiker** · 10-10-2018, 10:11

November can be as warm as 70F during the day and as cold as upper 30s. Typically your looking at 40-60F daytime temps and 30-50s at night. It can snow that early but its rare until mid December, rain on the other hand is probable. I am assuming you have one vehicle, the loop trails are; 1 Auxier Ridge-Double Arch-Star Gap Arch loop (8 miles) legal camping is available in the valley along Auxier Branch and in the general area of Star Gap Arch along that ridge, 2 Rough Trail Loop (7-8 miles) Hanson's Pt is a 'view' destination and camping area along this loop other legal camping is 'off trail' just follow any ridge or drain perpendicular to the trail, 3 Osbourne Bend (8 miles) This one requires some pavement hiking on Hwy 715 to get back to your car...not much to see on this one...at least from the official trail...unofficial/user trails and old logging roads can take you to some arches, waterfalls and overlooks you won't find on most maps. Almost any other official trail you can do an out and back hike on. There are no big miles to do here, the RRG is for site seeing and exploring, I suggest spending one day just hitting the various picture/view points of Chimney Rock, Princess Arch, Half moon Rock/Arch, Rock Bridge, Sky Bridge and a hike along the Red River on Douglas Trail from the parking lot beside the concrete bridge near one end of the Osbourne Bend Trail head. Also hit Natural Bridge S.P. for a day hike as well. The Sheltowee Trace passes through the State Park and RRG propper and there are destinations to back country camping off of it like Indian Staircase and Cloud Splitter. If it is damp or has rained I don't recommend climbing either one and honestly they are very popular now and over used like Hanson's Pt. Doubtful you would be alone camping near any of those. Check some earlier threads on the gorge I left some links you may find useful.

**jeff-oh** · 10-10-2018, 12:48

I see you are from Michigan. For the local flavor make sure you stop by Miguel's Pizza for a custom pie and a couple of KY's local beverage pronounced either "A-Late-One" or "Ale-8"
IMG_0553.jpg
It is about 2 miles south of the Mountain Parkway on Ky 11.

**Smckinney0031** · 10-10-2018, 13:21

Originally Posted by jeff-oh

I see you are from Michigan. For the local flavor make sure you stop by Miguel's Pizza for a custom pie and a couple of KY's local beverage pronounced either "A-Late-One" or "Ale-8"
IMG_0553.jpg
It is about 2 miles south of the Mountain Parkway on Ky 11.

Lol I have to suggest the cherry Ale8 1

**jeff-oh** · 10-10-2018, 15:08

Originally Posted by Smckinney0031

Lol I have to suggest the cherry Ale8 1

YUM,

**Aardvark** · 10-12-2018, 10:51

+1 on Auxier Ridge, so many different Vistas to see in the dawn/daybreak its unreal. Love the view from Haystack. Planning on going up there next Thursday and ending up at Hansons Point Friday night.

**Billcole** · 10-16-2018, 06:14

Originally Posted by jeff-oh

You are planning a great time to go to one of the most beautiful places in the Eastern US. Are you planning a moving trip or a basecamp with day trips out. Are you ok with multiple loops? i.e. Use vehicle to transfer to another side of the park to do a second loop.

Anyhow, I would recommend spending at least one night at Hanson's point (Off the Rough Trail). If possible also do Cloud Splitter and Indian Staircase. both off (Bison Way trail). I've also heard the Auxier Ridge trail is a good overnight loop.

Here is an AllTrails map to Hanson's Point that includes waypoints of several good back country campsites. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/re...iver-gorge--31
(Note these are up on the ridge so there is no water there, you'll have to haul it up there. Plenty of water in the area, just not up on the ridges.

My Favorite Photo from Hanson's point: Me and My little one.
Hansons Point.jpg

We are OK with multiple loops and prefer to keep moving and not make a basecamp. We wouldn't mind splitting it up into a couple mini loops and going from car to one side to the other.

**Billcole** · 10-16-2018, 06:15

Originally Posted by KYHiker

November can be as warm as 70F during the day and as cold as upper 30s. Typically your looking at 40-60F daytime temps and 30-50s at night. It can snow that early but its rare until mid December, rain on the other hand is probable. I am assuming you have one vehicle, the loop trails are; 1 Auxier Ridge-Double Arch-Star Gap Arch loop (8 miles) legal camping is available in the valley along Auxier Branch and in the general area of Star Gap Arch along that ridge, 2 Rough Trail Loop (7-8 miles) Hanson's Pt is a 'view' destination and camping area along this loop other legal camping is 'off trail' just follow any ridge or drain perpendicular to the trail, 3 Osbourne Bend (8 miles) This one requires some pavement hiking on Hwy 715 to get back to your car...not much to see on this one...at least from the official trail...unofficial/user trails and old logging roads can take you to some arches, waterfalls and overlooks you won't find on most maps. Almost any other official trail you can do an out and back hike on. There are no big miles to do here, the RRG is for site seeing and exploring, I suggest spending one day just hitting the various picture/view points of Chimney Rock, Princess Arch, Half moon Rock/Arch, Rock Bridge, Sky Bridge and a hike along the Red River on Douglas Trail from the parking lot beside the concrete bridge near one end of the Osbourne Bend Trail head. Also hit Natural Bridge S.P. for a day hike as well. The Sheltowee Trace passes through the State Park and RRG propper and there are destinations to back country camping off of it like Indian Staircase and Cloud Splitter. If it is damp or has rained I don't recommend climbing either one and honestly they are very popular now and over used like Hanson's Pt. Doubtful you would be alone camping near any of those. Check some earlier threads on the gorge I left some links you may find useful.

Thank you