Slade Travel Guide

Luggage and bags: Bring your Backpacking gear if you plan to camp or a day pack if you are planning a day excursion.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: The Red River Gorge is a very rugged area in Eastern KY. Any time of the year you visit, you should bring your hiking boots and sandals as well as your rock climbing gear (trad and sport).
If you are visiting in the spring/summer, bring along shorts, t-shirts and regular camping attire as well as a light jacket/sweater, and some long pants (it can get cool at night).
In fall/winter, you should pack for winter conditions (winter coat, long underwear, gloves, scarves, sweaters, hats, etc...). It can snow any time from late October to mid-April. But it can also be rather warm during the fall/winter months, so bring along some warmer weather attire as well.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring a first aid kit and tiolet paper. There are some public latrines, but if you are in a more isolated area, they may not be convenient to get to.
In spring through fall, you should bring bug spray and sunscreen, as well as citronela candles or mosquito coils.

Photo Equipment: Bring your camera and a tripod and plenty of film. There are gas stations/convenience stores along the main highway, but they tend to be more expensive than places in the city (Lexington).
You can also bring your video camera, but mak sure you have everything you need, since there aren't really too many places to recharge batteries.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Bring all your standard camping equipment. There are mostly primitive camping areas, but there are some with restroom facilities and running water. Plan on not having access to electricity unless oyu are staying in a hotel/motel or inn of some kind.

From the Chimney Rock Overlook , look sharply left and you will see a high cliff with a crescent top - hence its name, Half Moon Rock. Half Moon Rock tapers off to the right into the valley and can be reached from there by a hiking trail. Hikers can ascend the rock for splendid 360 degree views of the Gorge.

The high cliffs which which rise behind Half Moon Rock are known as Pinch-Em-Tight-Ridge. The right end of this ridge that overlooks the Gorge is Revenuer's Rock. In the moonshining days before roads were plentiful in the area, federal agents used to scramble up this high point looking for tell-tale traces of smoke rising from the fires of illegal stills hidden in the trees and hollows below.

Sixty miles of hiking trails criss-cross the Red River Gorge, including a section of the 278-mile-long Sheltowee Trace, a National Recreation Trail which traverses the entire length of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Trails within the Gorge lead to many of the geological formations, and also provide the hiker with a chance to see wildlife such as whitetail dear, wild turkey and black bear.

Trails within the Red River Gorge have been designated National Recreation Trails and are open for hiking only. Mountain bikes and all motorized vehicles are prohibited; horses are permitted on designated trails.

Equipment: A comfortable and sturdy pair of walking shoes or hiking boots.