Red River

Kentucky

Daniel Boone National Forest
Cumberland Ranger District
2375 KY 801 South
Morehead, Kentucky 40351

Designated Reach: December 2, 1993. From the Highway 746 Bridge to the confluence with the School House Branch.

Classification/Mileage: Wild — 9.1 miles; Recreational — 10.3 miles; Total — 19.4 miles.

The Red River tumbles among huge boulders in a narrow, twisting gorge, lined by towering cliffs with overhanging rock ledges, stately hemlocks, and thickets of rhododendron. Most of the designated portion flows through the Clifty Wilderness and the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The Red River Gorge is known for its abundant natural arches, unusual rock formations, and massive sandstone cliffs that provide challenging opportunities for rock climbing and rappelling, as well as for its rich diversity of plants and wildlife habitats and its significant archaeological sites.