![]() We had 50-amp service and good water pressure but no sewer. Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Red River Gorgeįrom Lexington, Kentucky to Natural Bridge it was about a 2-hour drive. Whistling ArchĪ short hike to a small arch on a ridge. There was either a heart… or butt cheeks in the rock, depending on how you choose to see it. The day we went there were a lot of other hikers, but it was still worth it. We were hoping not many people would make the drive. The arch trail is at the end of a long gravel road. There are over 100 arches in Red River Gorge. Sky BridgeĪ short walk with stunning views of the gorge leads to the bridge.Ī short walk further to get below the bridge to see its full span. The Natural Bridge Trail was wide and well marked. Other than Natural Bridge, there are numerous hiking trails and other sandstone formations. Eventually it became a Kentucky State Park in 1926. The park was founded in the late 1800s by the Louisville and Nashville railroad. This butterfly was on the blue painted strip of an asphalt parking lot but makes for an unusual photo. Hardly survival conditions for a butterfly, but life is truly amazing. There were very few flowers let alone their favorite, pawpaw in bloom. Temperatures were down to freezing at night and rarely up to 50 during the day. Thatcher’s and Miguel’s were very good, we never made it to La Cabana.Ī zebra swallowtail butterfly in very early spring. The main ones were Thatcher BBQ, Miguel’s Pizza, or La Cabana Mexican Restaurant. Slade is the closest town with amenities, like this outhouse. There were picturesque small churches and old homes along the way. We loved seeing all the different types of fungus on the trees, moss, and ferns. The entrance to the gorge is the Nada Tunnel, a single lane road that’s 900 feet long. It is a small limestone arch in a cave with a seasonal waterfall next to it. ![]() ![]() The gorge has the second most number of natural bridges and arches in the United States because of the sandstone geology.Īt the nearby Whittleton Campground, we took the short trail to Henson’s arch. Hikers, rock climbers, kayakers and mountain bikers are attracted to the area throughout the year. The gorge is a canyon that has numerous natural bridges and arches. The tunnel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Red River Gorge is in eastern Kentucky in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It was built so that the logging company could haul logs out of the gorge by railroad. The tunnel was built by the Dana Lumber Company and named for a long-gone logging town (Nada, KY). The tunnel is just 12′ by 13′ in size and open to one-lane traffic only. Nada Tunnel – KY 77 offers the 900-foot Nada Tunnel which provides a unique way to enter the Red River Gorge. Gladie Cabin – The Gladie Historic Site offers a restored log cabin that dates back to the late 19th century when it was used as a post office. The center is open from spring through the fall. Maps, passes, souvenirs and books are available for purchase at the center. Visitors are able to visit the center to take a rest, ask questions, and learn about the Red River Gorge. The cultural heritage of the river – along with its many resources – is highlighted at the learning center. Gladie Cultural-Environmental Learning Center – The learning center offers many exhibits that are both informative and interesting to visitors. The Red River’s upper stretches flow over boulders through a narrow gorge lined by cliffs and overhanging rock ledges, mature trees, and thickets of flowers. In 1985, Congress named this same portion a National Wild River. ![]() This portion of the river is upstream from Copperas Creek. The Red River – A section of the Red River was designated in 1973 as a Kentucky Wild River.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |