Red River Gorge

[blu guzz]

Friends:

I just returned from a quick over-nighter and wanted to recommend this area to any that can make the trip. 

Red River Gorge is an area in South Eastern Kentucky centered around a small town called "Slade".  There is a natural place that is actually a gorge and if you are a hiker or rock climber, you probably already know about this area. 

For riders, the roads that run all around the area are truly excellent and there is something for all riders from street cruisers to dual sport to hard core trials type roads. 

After a day of riding you can stay at the "Lil Abner" motel, an old school motorcourt with a pool.  It is well kept, reasonably priced (Guzzi Content) and very clean.  But weekends in season between Memorial and Labor days, you better have a reservation.  Another alternative that costs a little more is the Natural Bridge State Resort Park which is 1/2 mile up the road from the Abner.  There is a pretty good restaraunt there and recently, a bar that anyone can go to whether you are a guest or not. 

Natural Bridge State Resort Park is also an attraction as noted above.  Great hiking trails and a ski lift converted to a sky lift will take you to the top where the actual natural bridge is.  You can opt for a 2 way trip or walk back down.  Only 1 and 1/4 miles but pretty strenuous. 

The semi famous "Nada" tunnel is also near at hand.  Do a search for it if you don't know about it.

Finally, the best part is the Herpetology Center, yes. snakes and lots of em.  A one of a kind adventure.  But, it costs money so I don't know how many of you, my brothers will be opting for it.

Fuel and food are easily procured all around the area.

From my home in Northern Kentucky, I am about 2 hours away if I were to go main roads, but on Tuesday, I spent about 6 hours on the trip.  The area is in easy couple of hour reach of Western North Carolina, much of Tennessee and anywhere up to Columbus, Ohio.    You will feel like you are in a different world up there.

No pictures.  Sorry, but my phone was attempting to die earlier this week.  It has since been replaced.  However, an internet search will show plenty of pictures of the area.  If you have been and want to post some pictures, please have at it.
Give it a try.

[Tkelly]

On my list!

[Clifton]

Thanks for posting, blu. I need to ride over there, it's been years.

[JL Rich]

I found the Wild Turkey Distillery tour very educational.   

[Trialsman]

I highly agree with the author's opinion of the Red River Gorge. I am from Pittsburgh and we road down last year.  All I can say is that it is one of the best kept secrets in the East.  We stumbled onto the Nada tunnel after finding ourselves directly over top of it .  We had to search it out and it was worth it.  Back roads are perfect ( not even any dirt on the asphalt) and no traffic what so ever.  You go a long way between seeing any other cars.  We plan on riding down again this year.

[blu guzz]

Depending on your time allotment, there are other interesting points within striking distance.  The "bourbon trail" is about 90 min to the west of the Gorge and is quickly accessed by highway or slowly accessed by byway.  The Kentucky Horse Park is about an hour away. Nearly everywhere you can go on an interstate or interstate quality road you can access by good back roads.  Many of the pre-interstate roads run parallel and are 55 mph roads with good road surface and more interesting scenery.  Eg.  Route 68 cuts through much of the state and parallels the faster modern roads.

[vintagehoarder]

As a proud Kentucky hillbilly, that has had the luck of traveling all around the world.  I biasedly say, the Red River gorge is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  So I highly recommend you put this on your bucket list, and hey y'all welcome to Kentuckly, you'll have a darn good time if you do, I reckon!

[aproud1]

Been going to the gorge since I was a pre teen. Usually a couple of times a year. Rode down with my buddy a couple of years back and it was a chilly bit great ride from Cincy. BTW, the V85 killed it on the old gravel logging roads. Def one of my favorite places and yes, riding through the Nada Tunnel is very different than driving!

[SIR REAL ED]

Very cool!

Also a hot spot for Bigfoot sightings!!