Hike and Backpack in Nature’s Stunning Beauty The rugged wilderness of Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is like no other. Dense forests, wondrous rock formations, and awe-inspiring views make it a paradise that’s waiting to be explored. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, you’ll find carefully maintained trails that are perfect for your needs. Hiking Kentucky's Red River Gorge is the definitive guide to the Red River Gorge Geologic Area, Natural Bridge State Park, and Clifty Wilderness. This updated, full-color edition by Kentucky author Sean Patrick Hill showcases 25 of the best hikes in the Gorge, as well as a selection of recommended nearby trails. The book’s easy-to-use layout treats each hike as its own adventure, presenting trail details, maps, full-color photographs, and tips for enjoying the flora, fauna, and history along the way. Ratings for key elements that make each trail appealing help you to quickly make an informed decision about which hike to choose for yourself or the whole family. Thrill-seekers will also discover how to combine routes into a longer adventure for a full day of hiking or even a backpacking trip. It’s everything you need to know to experience the famed Red River Gorge on foot.

The Red River Gorge's intricate canyon system features an abundance of high sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, and natural bridges, making it one of the world's top rock-climbing destinations. The Gorge, known for its unspoiled scenic beauty and numerous hiking trails, is one of Kentucky's most popular natural destinations, attracting over 500,000 visitors a year. While books about hiking, climbing, and other recreational activities in the area are readily available, Wildflowers and Ferns of Red River Gorge is the first book specifically devoted to the biodiversity of the Gorge and its watershed. Authors Dan and Judy Dourson introduce the geology and cultural history of the gorge but focus on the incredible diversity of both common and rare flora of this unique ecosystem. With over 1,000 color images and numerous illustrations covering over 1,500 species currently known to exist in the watershed, Wildflowers and Ferns of Red River Gorge is designed to be accessible to the casual hiker and of use to the seasoned naturalist. Rare and endangered species are highlighted as well as a few other important, but often ignored, non-flowering plant groups, including green algae, fungi, slime molds, lichens, and mosses. In addition, a small section on flowering woody vines, shrubs, and trees is included, making the book the most comprehensive natural guide to one of Kentucky's most well-known natural recreational areas.

A rock climbers guidebook to the Red River Gorge Kentucky US

"Documents fifty years of oral history from the rock-climbing community in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Includes policy recommendations for building partnerships among climbers, local communities, and public land managers to encourage community development, ecotourism, and preservation"--