Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge Geological Area | |
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Location | Slade, Kentucky, United States |
Coordinates | 37°50′2″N 83°36′28″W / 37.83389°N 83.60778°W |
Area | 29,000 acres (120 km2)[1] |
Established | February 1937[2] |
Governing body | United States Forest Service |
www | |
Designated | 1975 |
The Red River Gorge is a
The gorge lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest and was subsequently designated the Red River Gorge Geological Area, an area of around 29,000 acres (12,000 ha; 120 km2; 45 sq mi).[1] It was designated a National Natural Landmark and National Archaeological District, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3] The 13,379-acre (5,414 ha; 54.14 km2; 20.905 sq mi)[4] Clifty Wilderness Area lies entirely within the geological area in the Red River Gorge.
This intricate canyon system features an abundance of high sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, and natural bridges. There are more than 100 natural sandstone arches in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. The multitude of sandstone and cliff-lines helped this area become one of the world's top rock climbing destinations and is home to the Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition. The area is nicknamed the Red by climbers.[5]
Kentucky's
The section of the Red River in the upper gorge is also a legally designated Kentucky Wild River by the Kentucky General Assembly through the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves' Wild Rivers Program.
Because of its unusual and rugged nature, the Red River Gorge features a remarkable variety of ecological zones.
History
Nada Tunnel
Nada Tunnel is a 900-foot-long (270 m), 12-foot-wide (3.7 m), and 13-foot-high (4.0 m) logging tunnel built between 1910 and 1912. Rock and dirt were removed by dynamite, steam drills, and hand tools. One man was killed during tunnel construction when he attempted to thaw frozen dynamite which exploded when he set it near a fire.[6]
The tunnel has often been described as the "Gateway to Red River Gorge" for the shortcut it provides motorists.[7][8]
History of the proposed Red River Gorge Dam
The Red River's tendency to flood offered downstream residents much misery. In 1962 the "Great Flood of
In 1971, the University of Kentucky commissioned Wendell Berry, a Kentucky native farmer and author to write a book called The Unforeseen Wilderness advocating the preservation of the gorge in its natural state.
The struggle of wills lasted several decades, involved two proposed dam sites and finally concluded with Red River's entry into the
Motion pictures
The Red River Gorge's Sky Bridge appears in the 1955 film The Kentuckian, starring and directed by Burt Lancaster.[11] It was also the first major motion picture filmed in Kentucky.[citation needed]
Biology and ecology
The Red River Gorge Geological Area, including Clifty Wilderness, has a very diverse biology. The Gorge is home to a great variety of wildlife including hawks, owls, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, deer, fox, black bears, and two venomous snakes: the
Archaeology
Rock shelters and other sites in the Red River Gorge Geological Area contain artifacts of prehistoric occupancy by indigenous people, beginning with the
The Red River Gorge, Clifty Wilderness, and the Indian Creek area were designated as a National Archaeological District and placed on the
Clifty Wilderness
Clifty Wilderness is a 13,379-acre (54.14 km2; 20.905 sq mi)[4] wilderness area contained entirely within the Red River Gorge Geological Area.
Recreation
Rock climbing
The Red River Gorge is a popular destination for rock climbers. The area has numerous cliffs in the gorge and in the surrounding areas. The vast number of bolted routes in overhanging, pocketed sandstone draws climbers from all over the world to "the Red" as it is known. Climbing in the region is often done at many separate small cliffs. Most climbs are a single
- Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve is a 750-acre (3.0 km2) preserve owned and maintained by Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition.
- Muir Valley is a 400-acre (1.6 km2) nature preserve and rock climbing area owned and maintained by Friends of Muir Valley thanks to a generous donation of land, labor, and resources from Rick and Liz Weber.[14]
A number of climbing guidebooks have been published for the Red River Gorge. First was Red River Gorge Climber's Guide by Frank T Becker in 1975. The explosion of climbing activity since that seminal work led to a succession of other guidebooks, including Rawk! A Climber's Guide to the Red River Gorge by Ed Benjamin and Ed Pearsall, published in 1978, Red River Gorge Climbs by John H. Bronaugh, published in 1993, and Selected Climbs at Red River Gorge Kentucky by Porter Jarrard and Chris Snyder, published in 1997. More recent published guidebooks include Ray Ellington's Red River Gorge Rock Climbs, published in 2005[15] with a second edition in 2007.[16] The continued establishment of new routes required the latest edition to the guidebook to become two volumes, Red River Gorge Climbs South[17] and Red River Gorge Climbs North.[18] Ray Ellington's newest book, Miller Fork Climbing, explores hundreds of routes in the ever-growing Miller Fork Recreational Preserve.[19]
Hiking and camping
The Red River Gorge is also known for its hiking trails that range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Over 60 miles of trails, open only to hiking, are maintained by the Forest Service and are located throughout the park (some trails are designated for horses).
There are many campgrounds in the area. Primitive camping, also known as backpack camping, is permitted in the gorge if the camper(s) obtains an overnight permit. Camping is not permitted within 300 feet of any road or designated trail. No camping in rock shelters or within 100 feet of the base of any cliff.
One of the most popular destinations is Gray's Arch, one of the many natural arches in the park. Gray's Arch is accessible via the Gray's Arch Loop hiking trail (4.0 miles), hikers can scramble up the back side of the arch, although this activity is considered extremely dangerous and can lead to injury or death.[20]
Gladie Visitor Center
The Daniel Boone National Forest Gladie Visitor Center is located in the Red River Gorge in Slade, Kentucky.[21][22] The center features interpretive exhibits about the area's geology, natural history and cultural history. Visitors can get maps, information about trails, camping and other activities.
Gallery
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Creation Falls
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Rock Bridge
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Sky Bridge
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Courthouse Rock
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By the east entrance of the Nada Tunnel
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Underside of the Rock Bridge Natural Arch.
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Panoramic view of the top of the Natural Bridge arch.
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Underside of the Sky Bridge natural arch.
References
- ^ a b "Red River Gorge Hiking and Camping News and Views". Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ "Daniel Boone National Forest - About the Forest". Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Red River Gorge Geological Area". U.S. Forest Service.
- ^ a b "Wilderness Acreage Breakdown for the Clifty Wilderness".
- ^ Pegg, Dave. Red River Gorge, Kentucky, USA, UK Climbing, March 2009.
- ^ "Nada Tunnel on Cumberland Ranger District".
- ^ Graybeal, Billie Sue (2008). "Nada Tunnel: The "Gateway To The Red River Gorge"". Kentucky Explorer magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
- ^ "History and heritage celebrated in Nada this weekend". The Clay City Times. June 11, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
- ^ "H.R.914 - 103rd Congress (1993-1994): Red River Designation Act of 1993." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 2 December 1993, https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/914.
- ^ RRS: History of the Red River Valley Dam
- ^ The Kentuckian, IMDB
- ISBN 978-0520930551, p. 115-116.
- ^ a b c "Memorandum of Agreement among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, the Kentucky Heritage Council, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Concerning the Management of Heritage Resources and the Limits of Acceptable Change Study of the Red River Gorge National Register District on the Daniel Boone National Forest" (PDF). October 2005.
- ^ "Muir Valley official website". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ISBN 0-9721609-4-9.
- ISBN 978-0-9792644-1-2.
- ISBN 978-1938393044.
- ISBN 978-1938393037.
- ^ "Miller Fork Climbing". www.redriverclimbing.com. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ "Gray's Arch Loop-Short (4.0 miles)". to Red River Gorge.com. February 16, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
- ^ "Gladie Visitor Center". USDA Forest Service: Daniel Boone National Forest. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ "Gladie Creek Historic Site, Red River Gorge". Wildlife Viewing Areas. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
External links
- KY Wilderness
- Powell County Tourism
- Search & Rescue
- The Red River Gorge Today
- Red River Gorge at American Byways
- Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition
- Red River Gorge Geologic Area
- Red River Gorge at USDA Forest Service: Daniel Boone National Forest
- Red Wild and Scenic River at National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
- Volunteers Red River Gorge Trail Crew