Red River Gorge Geological Area, KY

hkpierce

'02 140 Hi BlueBlk Pass
I never heard of a national “Geological Area” designation before. But the US Forest Service has the Red River Gorge Geological Area in Kentucky. On our way to Mammoth Caves National Park, we spent 2 days there walking its short trails.



Red River Gorge allegedly has about 100 sandstone arches. Entering the area on KY-77 puts you on KY-715 and the blue-green (but not) Red River:


The 319 mile Sheltowee Trace Trail crosses the Red River with a fun suspension bridge.
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Because of all the trees, viewing the rock formations is best without the leaves. The Glades Visitor Center was closed, but the grounds where open to walk around:


The sandstone is red:

But saltpeter, algae and other forms of weathering change most of the sandstone to bluish-grey:


Before we found out about the arches, several trials lead to fun rock formations – here Tower Rock


But Skybridge Arch was the real start of the enjoyment of the geological features:
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There are countless “windows”


The Area's trails are well used and well maintained. Many of the trails have stair cases with 70-100 steps. Bear-resistant garbage cans are everywhere.


An alien fossil?


There are countless grottoes on the way to various arches.




The sink-hole at Silvermine Arch

Silvermine Arch


Grey's Arch is towering – and best caught in the morning sun:



Associated with Grey's Arch is a fabulous grotto:
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This is Double Arch, which is very difficult to see when you are right on top of it. The two arches can be seen from the Auxier Ridge Trail, but it would take a powerful telephoto lens to capture it. We found one group using a drone camera - excellent idea!


They are not joking that the Auxier Ridge Trail is a ridge trail:


One of the many similar views of the gorge:


Mine wasn't the only Sprinter in the Area

The colors where best when the sun was out and the sky clear. Most of the arches and many of the grottoes would not be visible or as stunning if the leaves were out. Though fall may be great and spring even prettier with the mountain laurel blooming. When the clouds came in, everything turned grey from the grey sandstone, grey tree bark, and the grey sky, making the views disappear and flatten out. It was time to leave.
 
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