Red River Gorge Scenic Byway
Red River Gorge Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in Kentucky. Within Kentucky it covers roughly 45 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Red River Gorge Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This byway winds through the Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest of eastern Kentucky, a maze of sandstone cliffs and more than 100 natural arches. It passes Natural Bridge, a massive sandstone span reached by trail, and the one-lane Nada Tunnel, a former railroad bore barely wide enough for a car. The gorge is one of the premier rock-climbing destinations in the eastern United States.
- Red River Gorge arches
- Natural Bridge
- Nada Tunnel
- world-class rock climbing
- Daniel Boone National Forest
Designated for its natural qualities
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Places to stop along Red River Gorge Scenic Byway
Nada Tunnel
A one-lane, unlit tunnel blasted through rock for a logging railroad in 1910-11, the dramatic gateway into the gorge.
Gladie Visitor Center
The gorge's Forest Service visitor center, with exhibits on its arches, cliffs, and logging history, plus a restored log house.
WebsiteNatural Bridge State Resort Park
A 78-foot-long sandstone arch reached by trail or a skylift, with a lodge and lake just south of the gorge.
WebsiteRed River Gorge Via Ferrata
A guided climbing route of cables and iron rungs across a sandstone cliff line, a taste of climbing for beginners.
Where to Stay along Red River Gorge Scenic Byway
4 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Red River Gorge Scenic Byway.
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Photos of Red River Gorge Scenic Byway
What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.