Red River Gorge/outdoors thread

[Blue Heaven]

Nice pics Matt. I love the Rock Bridge/Sky Bridge area. Creation Falls is pretty awesome as well. Going there with the fam on Fall Break. We'll probably stay at Koomer but I wouldn't mind Whittleton either. I can't go on the big hikes with my family because they couldn't/wouldn't do it, but we will do the short ones. Can't beat the Sky Bridge area for short hikes as well as Chimney Top. We got a new camera and I can't wait to see the pics it can take of that place.

[Uncle Dave]

Headed to the State Resort at Lake Cumberland Oct 10 for a week. Cooking, football, hiking, napping, drinking Sam Adams, etc. Been so long since I've been out of this big a$$ ugly city......can hardly wait. Going back down right after Christmas for another week.

[fastkat]

I went camping at the Gorge yesterday. Here's a shot of the Red River from above the concrete bridge

[DA#23]

Did you go up around Osborne bend? If so , how was it? I'd like to walk it and maybe stash my bicycle at the other end for my return to the pickup.

[fastkat]

I've added photos to my gallery from my trip this week to the Gorge and Natural Bridge

[Blue Heaven]

Nice pics there fastkat! I love the creation falls/rock bridge area. The first weekend in December can't get here soon enough.

[Blue Heaven]

Went to the Gorge Friday and got back today. Base camp was a sweet spot by the river. We hiked the Copperas Creek Falls trail. This is an unofficial trail. We parked at the Osborn Bend trailhead then walked down the road from where we came from. 100 yards or so, you see a valley on your right. There is a creek bed right through the middle of this. It was running low in spots and was bone dry in others. Sometimes the trail disappeared into the creek. Numerous stream crossings but fortunately for us it was never a nuisance. Two miles later, after seeing several awesome campsites and rock shelters/houses, you come to the falls which was just trickling down to a little pool beneath it. Surrounding this was a nice rock shelter. To the left was pretty cool, but continue around to the right side of this shelter and you come upon a fantastic campsite. Rocks stacked to make five seats surround a nice firepit comlplete with rocks stacked to make little shelves to hold cans of soup or what not. This was right up there as far as my best Gorge hikes. It's not as good as Indian Staircase or Courthouse Rock/Auxier Ridge, but this is definitely a MUST DO hike. We saw eight hikers on this trail. You will not be disappointed. I want to hike this in the Spring when the Rhododendrons and the flowers are in bloom. I will post pics this afternoon.

[Blue Heaven]

Yum! Deer brats.

[Blue Heaven]

Trying to post pics. Only this one came up. Shouldn't be this complicated.

[fastkat]

Went to the Gorge Friday and got back today. Base camp was a sweet spot by the river. We hiked the Copperas Creek Falls trail. This is an unofficial trail. We parked at the Osborn Bend trailhead then walked down the road from where we came from. 100 yards or so, you see a valley on your right. There is a creek bed right through the middle of this. It was running low in spots and was bone dry in others. Sometimes the trail disappeared into the creek. Numerous stream crossings but fortunately for us it was never a nuisance. Two miles later, after seeing several awesome campsites and rock shelters/houses, you come to the falls which was just trickling down to a little pool beneath it. Surrounding this was a nice rock shelter. To the left was pretty cool, but continue around to the right side of this shelter and you come upon a fantastic campsite. Rocks stacked to make five seats surround a nice firepit comlplete with rocks stacked to make little shelves to hold cans of soup or what not. This was right up there as far as my best Gorge hikes. It's not as good as Indian Staircase or Courthouse Rock/Auxier Ridge, but this is definitely a MUST DO hike. We saw eight hikers on this trail. You will not be disappointed. I want to hike this in the Spring when the Rhododendrons and the flowers are in bloom. I will post pics this afternoon.

I've wanted to hike there for a while but never have. We tried last Summer but with all the rain the creek crossings were too deep

[Blue Heaven]

I've wanted to hike there for a while but never have. We tried last Summer but with all the rain the creek crossings were too deep

Get there now. Creek is practically dry. Our feet never got wet. Give yourself time to explore the numerous shelters and caves. We didn't. You are richly rewarded at the end. In hindsight I realized we could've hiked topside of the shelter where the falls form. I loved this hike but can see it being a pain in the rear in yhe rainy season. I would like to know what the trail looks like in the Spring as there were a ton of downed leaves that made the trail hard to see at times.

[Dwight Schrute]

Went to the Gorge Friday and got back today. Base camp was a sweet spot by the river. We hiked the Copperas Creek Falls trail. This is an unofficial trail. We parked at the Osborn Bend trailhead then walked down the road from where we came from. 100 yards or so, you see a valley on your right. There is a creek bed right through the middle of this. It was running low in spots and was bone dry in others. Sometimes the trail disappeared into the creek. Numerous stream crossings but fortunately for us it was never a nuisance. Two miles later, after seeing several awesome campsites and rock shelters/houses, you come to the falls which was just trickling down to a little pool beneath it. Surrounding this was a nice rock shelter. To the left was pretty cool, but continue around to the right side of this shelter and you come upon a fantastic campsite. Rocks stacked to make five seats surround a nice firepit comlplete with rocks stacked to make little shelves to hold cans of soup or what not. This was right up there as far as my best Gorge hikes. It's not as good as Indian Staircase or Courthouse Rock/Auxier Ridge, but this is definitely a MUST DO hike. We saw eight hikers on this trail. You will not be disappointed. I want to hike this in the Spring when the Rhododendrons and the flowers are in bloom. I will post pics this afternoon.

Is this the trail that passes a cave about halfway back to the rock shelter? If so, I know what you're talking about. I think it's called Eagle's Nest.

I love this trail, and that not a lot of people know about it. And the condition of the trail makes it intimidating for a lot of people.

[Dwight Schrute]

I haven't done a lot of hiking since it turned cold - but about a month ago, I hiked Big Butt Mountain in Burnsville, NC (about 30 miles north of Asheville), and then did a few days in the Smokies (before it caught fire). In the smokies, I did Andrew's Bald (hardest 4 mile trail I've done) and about 9 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap to Charlie's Bunion (beautiful).

[Blue Heaven]

Is this the trail that passes a cave about halfway back to the rock shelter? If so, I know what you're talking about. I think it's called Eagle's Nest.

I love this trail, and that not a lot of people know about it. And the condition of the trail makes it intimidating for a lot of people.

There were a couple caves on this trail. There was a "main" trail that we tried to stick to. I imagine there a quite a few trails you could take to get to the falls. Just follow the creek and you will hit it. After you leave the falls in the same direction you came, watch for a side trail about a hundred yards or so on the left. It's a steep little scramble where some well placed trees provide hand holds but you are rewarded with a neat little side by side arch.

[Blue Heaven]

Found these guys perusing Youtube. Their name is Adventure Archives. They go around the country to hiking destinations submitted by subscribers and film their adventure. A really informative web series as they give you tips not only for hiking and camping, but point out edible plants as well. This series is shot and scripted extremely well. I binge watched last night and it was worth every minute. They have a few episodes from Kentucky. One was a canoe trip through Green River in Mammoth Cave. The other was a 3 day Red River Gorge hike, which I have provided for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.