Red River Gorge Swift Camp Creek Trail

The Rough Trail is longest trail through the heart of the Red River Gorge. Many side trail options allow hikers to increase mileage and create additional loops. For the ultimate Gorge experience, connect this trail with the Swift Camp Creek Trail. Let me just say that the miles we hiked in the Clifty Wilderness in Red River Gorge were some of the slowest miles we’ve hiked in a long time. It was only 6.9 miles from one end of the Swift Camp Creek Trail to the other, plus a little 1.5 mile loop on the end, and we anticipated doing all of it, then setting up camp for the night. This is one of the easier trails on this list but has no shortage of natural beauty.

Mandi is our lead Destination Specialist of the Explorer Chick Mini Adventures. Her days are filled keeping her busy family thriving in this beautiful crazy world. How to Identify Poison Ivy April 4, 2022 If there’s one thing to avoid while walking through the woods, it’s gotta be poison ivy. This hike boasts some of the best views in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. It begins on the marked Double Arch Trail (#201) at the end of Tunnel Ridge Road in the Auxier Ridge Parking Area. The state of Kentucky prohibits possession or consumption of alcohol in public areas, and this extends to the National Forest.

Know This Trail?

Though this route is harder to follow than some, the views at the end are worth the difficulty. You’ll know you’re getting close to the payoff when it gets steeper. Red River Gorge is a National Natural Landmark and National Archaeological District unlike any other. Explore the best of this stunning scenic natural area with our list of the top 9 Red River Gorge hiking trails. The Sheltowee Trace is a 282-mile multi-use trail that passes through Red River Gorge while traversing the length of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Sheltowee was the name given to Boone when he was adopted into the Shawnee Indian tribe as the son of the great war chief, Blackfish.

Enjoy the rhododendron shaded forest as it descends to Sons Branch Creek. Watch for the points where the trail becomes very thin with the steep ridge drop-offs. From Pine Ridge, take exit 40 off the Mountain Parkway and head west on KY 15.

You can also access the Swift Camp Creek Trail near the Angel Windows parking area, which is approximately 5 miles further on KY 715. Leave the trail and head down to Swift Camp Creek passing through the campsite. Back on Wildcat Trail, you will pass some rock shelters and engulfed by a rhododendron tunnel. Once you get to the Swift Camp Creek sign, Wildcat Trail has technically ended, but you can turn either direction at this intersection for some extra hiking.

Rock Bridge Loop

With over 600 miles of trails to enjoy, getting the full Red River Gorge experience can’t be found in a traditional campground. Sure, established toilets are great, but setting up your own site and having it all to yourself is even better. The permit covers the car, so no need for individual permits if your group came in the same car.

Visitors will also be pleased to know that this loop hike is both kid AND dog friendly, allowing fun for the whole family! Ideal times for visitation fall between early March and late October. You’ll see historic rock shelters where ancient indigenous people lived. But, you’ll get magnificent views of the surrounding countryside from the tops of those climbs. Aside from hiking, backpacking, and established camping (oh my!), Red River Gorge is also a top destination for rock climbing.

Whenever our descriptions of hikes or walks uses one of these trails we always use the official trail name and trail number. In the Red River Gorge most of the signage will only use the name. Most official trails are also marked with white diamonds along the route.Click here, for the Forest Service map of Red River Gorge. A little less than a half mile in, you will find Creation Falls, a stunning waterfall that is as picturesque as anything in the Gorge. Around the 0.75-mile mark, you will be underneath Rock Bridge, which is exactly what it sounds like— a bridge, made of rock, with a creek flowing through it.

Natural Bridge And Laurel Ridge Trail

If you are brave, there’s a fairly easy rock scramble to the left of it that takes you the top. A small stream pools before spilling over the edge of the cliff. On any given day he’s either backpacking, bikepacking, trail running, or thinking about the next time he’ll get out there. It’s time to lace up those hiking boots and head out to the Red River Gorge. This route can be very dangerous, so don’t attempt it alone or if you have no prior experience of scrambling.

You can extend your day by looping back to where you started from here. April is an adventure lover and freelance writer based in New England, with a passion for public lands, wild places, and all things outdoors. She loves camping in any form and spends as many weekends as she can hiking New Hampshire’s highest peaks, or road-tripping with her sweet dog Marley. If not in the mountains, you can find her planning her next expedition or caring for one of her far-too-many-houseplants.

What You Need To Know About Red River Gorge Backpacking

Hike Rock Bridge Trail to its junction with the Swift Camp Creek Trail. Snow Arch/Deer Creek Arch Area– Less than 1 mile to campsite – You have several good options along the unofficial trail along Copperas Creek. The last spot before turning off along a smaller creak up to the arches is very large and would be perfect for a group or an individual.

To stay on the official trail, go left, but definitely consider going right if you’re looking for an eerie detour. After heading a few hundred yards uphill, you will stumble upon a small cemetery. There is only a handful of graves here, but it’s a cool place to explore or have a lunch break. Rounding out our list of the top 6 best Red River Gorge waterfall trails, the Red Byrd Arch near Campton, Kentucky just barely squeezes its way in.

Actually, what most refer to as the Red River Gorge is in reality Daniel Boone National Forest. The Red River Gorge Geographical Area itself consumes around 29,000 acres, and is considered a natural landmark as well as an archaeological district. On the other hand, Daniel Boone National Forest spans a whopping 706,000 acres, which spreads to 21 different counties across eastern Kentucky. This discrepancy can cause a bit of confusion when on the lookout for Red River Gorge waterfall trails. Located in Eastern Kentucky, the famous Red River Gorge Geological Area spans 29,000 acres in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The Swift Camp Creek Trail offers several potential detours, including the Rock Bridge Trail to its stunning namesake.

It can also be combined with Rough Trail for an east-west traverse of the Red River Gorge. It is a 20 minute drive to lower swift camp creek from the campground. We are a small map studio that lovingly crafts all of the maps sold on this site. We dedicate our mapping and photography to parks we feel are treasures of public wilderness. A Red River Gorge digital map is available from the Avenza Maps online map store. For the best user experience, use our maps within a GPS-enabled mobile app such as Avenza Maps.

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Unmarked trails can be easy to follow, while some require navigating skills. In Red River Gorge, the path traverses 11 miles from the northern boundary to Natural Bridge State Park in the south. At roughly the half-way point, hikers must use a swinging bridge to cross the Red River. From the Rough Trail/ Swift Camp Creek Trailhead, cross KY 715 and enter the forest.

You must turn onto the Rough Trail for another 0.6 miles in order to reach Gray’s Arch. Many of the trails listed below can be combined to create a variety of loop hikes. From there, head north on KY-715 until you see the Angel Windows parking lot (be sure to walk facing traffic and yield to vehicles – especially near sharp turns). Head west to the trailhead and continue for a short hike of about 1/3rd of a mile.

Again, Rough Trail begins climbing steeply as soon as it hits bottom. The third section ends with the third climb along the trail as Rough Trail intersects the Sheltowee Trace on Pinch-Em-Tight Ridge. At the bottom of the stairs go a few yards to the right for a view of Grays Arch before turning around and continuing east on Rough Trail. The trail continues down into the deep valley and immediately begins climbing up to Rush Ridge. The second section ends when the trail levels out on top.