Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail (Section: Red River Gorge)

The Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail is a 338-mile long-distance route traversing the Daniel Boone National Forest and surrounding public lands across Kentucky and into Tennessee. The Red River Gorge section, stretching approximately 12 miles one-way between the Nada Tunnel area and the southern boundary of the geological area, is among the most scenic and accessible segments of the full trail. Multiple trailhead access points are located along Nada Tunnel Road and KY-715, approximately 50 miles east of Lexington. Access is by car only; parking areas are unpaved and can become muddy in wet weather. No permit is required for day hiking, though backcountry camping within the Red River Gorge Geological Area requires a free permit obtainable through the Daniel Boone National Forest district office or an online reservation portal. Day hikers most commonly sample 3-to-5-mile out-and-back segments from a chosen trailhead rather than attempting the full one-way traverse. The full section can be completed as a two-day backpacking trip. The trail surface varies substantially along the route: hardwood forest floor with exposed roots, sandstone slabs, rock ledge traverses, and creek crossings—some without bridges in the more remote southern segments. Cumulative elevation gain averages around 600 feet per section, with the terrain rising and falling along the canyon topography rather than climbing a single sustained ridge. Several notable natural arches, including access points toward Koomer Ridge Arch and sections of the Clifty Wilderness, are reachable from the Sheltowee Trace via intersecting spur trails. Water is available from streams along the route but must be filtered or chemically treated before consumption; a water filter is essential equipment for any traverse longer than a half day. Navigation requires attention: the turtle blaze markers identifying the Sheltowee Trace can be intermittent, and numerous side trails intersect throughout the Red River Gorge network. An offline map downloaded in advance is strongly advisable. Cell signal is absent throughout most of the corridor. Wildlife including black bear, white-tailed deer, and numerous raptor species inhabits the gorge backcountry.