The Red River Gorge isn't a standalone park — it's a geological area inside the Daniel Boone National Forest, which stretches more than 700,000 acres across eastern Kentucky. The Gorge is the most famous slice of it, but the forest around it is full of trails, cliffs, rivers, and quiet.
Do you have to pay to get in? No. Entry to the national forest and the Red River Gorge is free. The one thing to know: if you park overnight on forest land, you need a recreation/overnight parking pass (around $5 for a short stay, $7 for a longer one), available at the Gladie Visitor Center or local gas stations near Slade. Day visitors parking at trailheads don't need it.
What's here. Sandstone arches and natural bridges, world-class rock climbing, dozens of hiking trails, swimming holes and waterfalls in summer, the Red River itself for paddling, and some of the darkest night skies in the state. The Gladie Visitor Center (on KY-715) is a good first stop for maps and current conditions.
Good to know before you go. Cell service is spotty — download maps ahead. Trails range from easy arch walks to serious scrambles, so match the hike to your group. Leashed dogs are welcome in the national forest but not in Natural Bridge State Resort Park, which sits right alongside it. And always check current trail and road conditions; closures happen.
Where to stay
The forest is big and the drive in from a city is long — staying inside the area means more time on the trails and less in the car. Our cabins put you minutes from the Gorge's trailheads, with a hot tub for the end of the day — Simply Irresistible, Great Expectations, and Manor House among them. Browse all our cabins →