Red River Gorge

Red River Gorge in east-central Kentucky is a canyon system within Daniel Boone National Forest, renowned for rugged sandstone cliffs, shelters, waterfalls, natural bridges, and more than 100 natural arches. Protected in large part as the Red River Gorge Geological Area, it also includes the Clifty Wilderness and holds multiple national historic and natural designations. The gorge preserves one of Kentucky’s richest archaeological records, with rock shelters containing evidence of human occupation for more than 12,000 years and important clues to early plant domestication in eastern North America. In the twentieth century, it also became a major focus of conservation efforts that stopped a proposed dam and secured lasting protection for part of the Red River.

Kentucky · United States