The Ultimate Guide on the Best Things to Do in Red River Gorge

Are you looking for an exciting Midwest summer road trip? Look no further than Red River Gorge in Kentucky!

With its stunning nature and wide range of adventurous activities, Red River Gorge is a must-visit location for camping, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, via ferrata, and much more.

Whether you’re planning a summer road trip with kids or a fun getaway with friends or your significant other, Red River Gorge has something to offer for everyone.

Let’s dive into the best places to stay, top places to eat, and things to do in Red River Gorge to make your trip memorable!

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Best Things to Do in Red River Gorge

Kayak Underground

At The Gorge Underground, you can either kayak or join a boat tour and explore the mine while being led by a guide.

This is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Red River Gorge and is a super cool experience!

It is also a great way to get out of the hot sun during summer.

Red River Gorge Ziplines

You can’t ever go wrong with ziplining, especially when it allows you to view the beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest in Red River Gorge from above.

I recommend booking with Red River Gorge Ziplines. It is highly recommended to reserve a spot on their website as tours can fill up quickly.

There are even two ziplines where you can race side by side with someone!

Explore Red River Gorge on a UTV

With Out the Top Adventures, you have the opportunity to explore caves, forests, and see scenic views with a guide!

This is a great way to explore Red River Gorge in a different way than you could while you hiking.

Although it’s a pricier option, it is a memorable and fun activity, especially with a group of people!

Mini Golf

If you’re looking for a laidback and fun family-friendly activity, consider spending a few hours at Thrillsville Adventure Golf, an 18-hole mini golf course.

It is a great way to spend an evening after dinner!

Ride The Skylift at Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Riding The Skylift at Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a fun way to see the landscapes of Daniel Boone National Forest from above!

Then, once you reach the top, it is a short walk to the Natural Bridge lookout point for even more beautiful views.

Try Out Via Ferrata

If you’re interested in trying out via ferrata in Red River Gorge, guided rock climbing, or guided rappelling, Southeast Mountain Guides offers experiences suitable for beginners and those who are more advanced.

You can make reservations on their website.

Hiking Trails in Red River Gorge

If you are wanting to do some hiking in Red River Gorge (which I highly recommend!), you should consider downloading the All Trails App.

It provides you with directions so you know where the trailhead starts and helps you stay on the trail while hiking so you do not get lost or turned around.

We did two hikes on our trip and really enjoyed both of them!

If you’re looking for new hiking gear, check out my favorite hiking essentials!

Double Arch Trail – 4.6 Miles – Approx. 2 Hours

The Double Arch Trail starts on the Tunnel Ridge Road Trailhead in the Red River Gorge Geological Area.

I used offline Google Maps to get us to the trailhead.

I highly recommend downloading offline Google Maps of the area you are in so if you lose service you are still able to get directions to your destination. 

To get to the trailhead parking lot, you have to drive on a gravel road for approximately 3.5 miles that does not seem to be routinely maintained.

There are numerous pot holes along the way and some are very large so definitely keep your eye out to avoid them and drive slow.

It is a decent-sized parking lot that had several open spots when we arrived. We got there on a Friday in the summer at 1:00 p.m.

The parking lot also has a bathroom and bear-proof trash cans to dispose of any trash.

At the start of the Double Arch trail, you have to walk approximately a ¾ mile on a gravel road before you reach the actual trail in the park.

Overall, this hike was very enjoyable! It is an out and back trail and has several scenic views of big rock formations (that some people actually climb!).

At the halfway turnaround point, you reach the Double Arch which is a very popular lookout spot…for a good reason!

We really enjoyed the view overlooking the park and trees. It would be absolutely stunning in the fall with the fall foliage.

One thing to be aware of is that this trail had SO many bugs flying around, it felt like we were constantly swatting away flies 😂.

Once we got on the actual trail and off the gravel road, there were less bugs. We were also there on a hot summer day in June so bugs are to be expected!

Natural Bridge and Laurel Ridge Trail Loop – 2 Miles – Approx. 1 Hour

My husband and I both agreed that this trail was our favorite hiking trail in Red River Gorge.

The Natural Bridge and Laurel Ridge Trail Loop is located in Natural Bridge State Resort Park which is a very popular spot for hiking in Red River Gorge.

We parked at the Natural Bridge Trail parking which had plenty of parking spaces on a Saturday morning around 9:30 am.

We took the Lakeside Trail and started clockwise to Natural Bridge which offers an amazing lookout over Daniel Boone National Forest in Red River Gorge.

You have to walk through a small slot passageway to get to the other side to stand on top of the Natural Bridge.

Then, we took the Laurel Ridge Trail back to the trailhead.

This was a really fun hike with cool views and stops along the way such as the Devil’s Gulch & Needle Eye Stairs.

When following the trail clockwise to the Natural Bridge, there is a series of pretty steep inclines – I definitely got my heart rate up 😅!

Per reading the All Trail reviews, the hike might be easier starting counter clockwise if you are interested in doing that. 

Interested in finding more hikes to do? Check out my blog post where we discuss 10 hikes in Red River Gorge that you can’t miss!

Places to Eat in Red River Gorge

Daniel Boone Coffee Shop

Daniel Boone Coffee Shop is a great local coffee shop in Red River Gorge that MUST be added to your itinerary!

It is exactly what you would imagine a coffee shop to be like in a small town – friendly employees and beautiful rustic wood interior.

Not to mention that their food & coffee is excellent! I recommend the iced caramel macchiato – one of my favorite coffee drinks I have ever had!

My husband liked the cold brew. It had a slight smoky flavor.

They have a variety of breakfast and lunch items, and I truly do not think you can go wrong with what you choose.

We got the turkey pesto panini, breakfast burrito with bacon and sausage, and the chocolate chip banana bread. So yummy!

Red River Rockhouse

Unfortunately we did not have the time in our schedule to eat at Red River Rockhouse, but it comes highly recommended by locals and visitors.

Known for its great burgers, this is an excellent place to eat in Red River Gorge for lunch or dinner after your long-day of adventures.

Miguel’s Pizza

No trip to Red River Gorge is complete without a visit to Miguel’s Pizza.

A nice option they have is you can order by the slice – 2 slices (¼ pizza), 4 slices (½ pizza), or 8 slices (full pizza).

The slices are bigger than your average slice so keep that in mind when ordering – but who doesn’t want leftovers anyway 🤷‍♀️?!

They offer endless options of meats & toppings so you can order your pizza to your liking.

I got pulled pork and pineapple on my pizza, and my husband got barbecue sauce, mushrooms, bacon, and banana peppers.

We both really enjoyed our pizza!

They also offer a freezer full of ice cream treats which would come in handy for a late night sweet tooth if you are camping at Miguel’s Pizza!

The Brick

If you are craving a sweet treat after dinner, visit The Brick which is a great ice cream shop in Red River Gorge!

They offer a good variety of ice cream flavors. Butter Pecan is my personal favorite!

Places to Stay in Red River Gorge

Airbnb

We opted to stay in an Airbnb in Red River Gorge as this was the cheapest option we could find.

We also were staying for only one night, and I noticed a majority of the cabin rentals in Red River Gorge required a minimum two-night stay.

The Airbnb in Red River Gorge we chose to stay at was great! We had a private room with a shared bathroom with one other room.

It was cost-effective, clean, and the host was a local who gave us great recommendations on what to do at Red River Gorge! 

If you are interested, here is the Airbnb we stayed in below.

Red River Gorge Cabin Rentals

For those wanting to stay in a cabin in Red River Gorge, I recommend Red River Gorge Cabin Rentals, especially for larger groups.

Be sure to check out their yurts, which provide a unique glamping experience!

Cliff View Red River Gorge

Cliff View Red River Gorge offers free continental breakfast and great views from the scenic wrap-around porch.

Red River Gorge Inn

Known for its affordability, Red River Gorge Inn also offers a complimentary continental breakfast.

Utilize this interactive map below to find more places to stay in Red River Gorge!

Red River Gorge Campgrounds

Natural Bridge Campground

Natural Bridge Campground provides the perfect place to camp for your Red River Gorge trip. It is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from all the things to do in Red River Gorge.

RVs are allowed at this campground and each of the RV sites is equipped with water and electrical hookups.

Miguel Pizza’s Campground

Miguel’s Pizza in Red River Gorge offers cheap parking for the night, and it is conveniently located on the area of land next to the restaurant.

While RVs are not allowed, their campground is perfect for tent camping in Red River Gorge.

Miguel’s Pizza is one of the most popular places to eat in Red River Gorge.

They are the most popular for their pizza, but they also serve breakfast.

It’s a great place to camp to be close to good food after a long day of hiking! 

When I visited for dinner, the campgrounds were really busy, full of families visiting Red River Gorge.

The outside area has many picnic tables set up as well as a basketball court.

This would be a great spot for camping especially with kids.

Animals in Red River Gorge

While wildlife encounters are rare, it’s important to be prepared and educated about the wildlife in Red River Gorge.

I recommend reading up on wildlife safety tips since there are black bears and snakes in Red River Gorge.

Even though it is important to be prepared, I also do not want this to scare you since human encounters with black bears and/or venomous snakes are rare in Red River Gorge.

While on our weekend trip, we did not encounter any sort of wildlife.

Our Airbnb host who has lived in the Red River Gorge area for her whole life has only seen one bear in Red River Gorge the entire time she has lived there.

So definitely do not let it scare you, it’s just important to be educated and aware! 

What to Bring to Red River Gorge

• Bug Spray – especially if visiting during the summer
• Bear Spray – to be safe in case of a rare encounter
• Hiking Boots – these are my favorite hiking boots since they are comfortable and keep me blister free
• Collapsible Laundry Bag – comes in handy to keep your dirty clothes separate in your luggage
• Collapsible Hiking Backpack – great to use while on hikes to hold your snacks, sunscreen, water, etc.
• Electrolytes – highly recommend adding electrolytes to your water while hiking, especially during the summer. LMNT watermelon is my favorite!

Conclusion

As you can see, Red River Gorge is a great destination for a Midwest summer road trip, offering beautiful nature, fun adventures, and great dining and accommodation options.

Whether you’re seeking outdoor activities like hiking or ziplining, or simply want to relax and enjoy nature, there is no shortage of things to do in Red River Gorge!