Take the rock arches, cliffs, and overhangs of Utah, add the deciduous forests of Appalachia, and you’ve got the Red River Gorge.
For a long time, only rock climbers and die-hard outdoorsmen came to this protected region of the Daniel Boone National Forest. If anything, average citizens only knew about Natural Bridge State Park, where you can ride a chair lift instead of hiking to the top of the massive rock span.
Now, the secret is out. Red River Gorge, Kentucky, vacation rentals have become some of the hottest property in the state, rivaling the cabins around Mammoth Cave. Tourist amenities have also sprung up. Red River Outdoors rents canoes and guides climbing trips. If you’re not a climber but crave something adventurous, go to Torrent Falls and navigate the via ferrata, a route of cables and steel rungs bolted into some cliffs. Or, just get a map and tour the geological wonders.
Generals Cabin at Peddlers Fork