Passes, rules and planning answers for the Gorge, each linked to the official source. Rules change, so check the source before you go.
Fall color usually peaks around the second half of October, and Kentucky Tourism posts weekly foliage reports. April brings spring wildflowers on the Natural Bridge trails. At the nearest weather station in Jackson, KY, July averages a high of 84°F and January a high of 43°F, with about 7 inches of snow in January.
Not for day use. Sites like Sky Bridge and Gray's Arch have no fee and are open 6 AM to 10 PM. If you camp overnight in the backcountry, you need a Daniel Boone National Forest recreation pass displayed in your car from 10 PM to 6 AM. It costs $5 for one day, $7 for three days or $50 for a year, from Forest Service offices and local vendors. On Tunnel Ridge Road, park only in the designated lots.
No. Kentucky State Parks charge no admission. The Sky Lift is a paid ride that runs from the first weekend of April through the last weekend of October. Call the park at (606) 663-2922 for ticket prices.
The Forest Service's Gladie Visitor Center at 3451 Sky Bridge Road, Stanton, is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM and closed on federal holidays, (606) 768-3341. Powell County Tourism runs the Red River Gorge Visitor Center in Slade, across from the Mountain Parkway Exit 33 rest area.
Yes. It is a narrow one-lane tunnel on the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, so wait your turn. The Forest Service advises vehicles over 12 feet wide or tall to enter the Gorge from the KY 715 end of the byway or from the north on KY 77.
Koomer Ridge Campground off KY 15 is open year-round with 54 sites, drinking water and seasonal showers, and no hookups. Reserve on Recreation.gov. Sites without a reservation are first come, first served.
The RRGCC's Pendergrass-Murray, Miller Fork and Bald Rock preserves require every visitor to sign the RRGCC waiver, and you may not leave a car in their lots overnight. Muir Valley charges $15 per vehicle per day, requires its own waiver and does not allow dogs. The new Cave Fork preserve is opening in phases, so stay off any area the RRGCC has not opened.
Climbing and rappelling are allowed except where posted closed. You may not climb or rappel within 300 feet of the Sky Bridge, Gray's Arch, Nada Tunnel or Chimney Top Rock overlooks. New routes need Forest Service authorization, and groups in the Clifty Wilderness are limited to ten people.
Outside designated sites, you may not camp within 300 feet of a developed road or trail, or within 600 feet of Gray's Arch. Anywhere in the forest, stay at least 100 feet from the base of a cliff or the back of a rock shelter, and stay no more than 14 days at one site. Overnight campers need the recreation pass.
Yes, with care. Swimming is allowed in most forest waters, but currents can be strong even when the water looks calm. The upper Red above the KY 715 bridge is remote whitewater up to Class III+, and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says helmets and life jackets must be worn there. The middle Red below KY 715 is easier water.
No. The footbridge over the Red River near KY 715 has been closed since a falling tree damaged it in March 2023, and the closure was still posted in October 2026.
Not in the Clifty Wilderness, which bans bicycles, carts and wagons. Ask at a visitor center for trails where bikes are allowed.
Dogs are allowed on Forest Service land, and you must restrain your dog if an officer asks. At Natural Bridge State Resort Park, pets must be leashed and are allowed only on trails outside the state nature preserve. Muir Valley does not allow dogs, and RRGCC preserves require a leash.
Not in the Clifty Wilderness or on any RRGCC property. Kentucky State Parks, including Natural Bridge, require a permit, proof of insurance and a license. Elsewhere on national forest land, follow FAA rules.
No fires or stoves within 100 feet of a cliff base or the back of a rock shelter, except at designated sites. Check the forest's news releases for seasonal fire restrictions before you go. The Forest Service prohibits alcohol and open containers in public places on national forest land.
Yes, black bears live in the area, though sightings are rare. Store food, trash and pet food in a bear-resistant container or a hard-sided vehicle, or hang it, and never burn or bury trash.
Call 911. Before you head out, tell someone your route and when you expect to be back, and carry a paper map.
Red River Basecamp cabins sit above the Gorge near Zoe. Stone and Sky sleeps 8, with a hot tub on a screened porch, Starlink Wi-Fi and a 3 minute walk to the Maverick and Nilbog walls. Rates, house rules and the cancellation policy are on the booking site.