A week-long road trip in the Bluegrass State offers just enough time to see the quintessential highlights of Kentucky. Sip your way through the Bourbon Trail, immerse yourself in the world of horse racing, and experience adventures above and below ground.
We recently did just that in late April and found it to be a perfect time to visit. With the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby a mere week away, the city was vibrating with excitement. And after decades of a languishing bourbon industry, business is now booming. Nearly every distillery we visited had a substantial capital expansion project underway or recently completed.
Here are the details of our experience and a day-by-day itinerary to help you plan your own journey!
Kentucky Road Trip Map
Below is a map of our road trip including points of interest, activities, and restaurants. Toggle the sidebar for details.
Day 1| Lexington - Kentucky Horse Park
If you’re flying into Lexington, KY, or driving in from the east like we were, the Kentucky Horse Park makes a nice first stop on the trip. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse with exhibits on the history of horses and their relationships with humans. For us, however, the real star of the show were the stables where you have the chance to interact with mounted police, large breed, and even former champion horses. We found the presentations given by staff members at the stables informative and interesting. We also had fun taking a horse-drawn trolley around the grounds.
Need to Know
Hours and admission prices change seasonally, so be sure to check the Kentucky Horse Park website before you go. The website also publishes a daily schedule so you can be sure not to miss the activities most important to you. For reference, when we visited in the Spring Season:
- Hours: 9am-5pm, closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission: $18/adult (including a free re-entry the next day)
Use the rest of the afternoon to get settled at your accommodation and relax.
What we did and where we stayed:
We stopped by Atrium Brewing‘s Logan Street Taproom and had some fantastic beer ranging from IPAs to fruited sours.
We based ourselves in Louisville for 5 nights at an Airbnb in NuLu, an up-and-coming neighborhood in the city known for its art, restaurants, and hip coffee shops. Easily walkable to downtown but out of the fray, this was the perfect location for our stay.
After our takeout dinner of salads (boring, I know!), we walked to Louisville Cream, one of the top-rated ice cream parlors in the city. They make premium small batch ice cream and the bourbon smoked pecan and lavender pine nut brittle flavors we had were divine.
Day 2| Louisville - A Museum, Bourbon & The Mega Cavern
We began our morning downtown with brunch at Porch Kitchen & Bar. We enjoyed the eggs benedict which, owing to the healthy portion, helped keep us full for most of the day!
We then spent some time wandering around downtown taking photos. Sunday morning left the streets deserted, making it the perfect time to take all the uninterrupted photos we wanted. We spent time admiring some of the full-size horse statues dotting the sidewalks as part of Gallopalooza, a civic pride initiative to help beautify the streets of Louisville.
Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Museum offers visitors the chance to learn more about this Louisville native and boxing legend. The museum consists of films, interactive exhibits, and displays of artifacts tracing Ali’s life from childhood through his boxing career and humanitarian work. We thought the level of detail provided by the exhibits was just right and the societal context surrounding each era of Ali’s life enhanced our understanding.
It was especially fun to try our hand at “training” with Ali on the speed bag and to watch some of his most famous fights in the ringside theater in the museum. Our visited lasted about two hours.
Need to Know
- Hours: 10am-5pm, closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission: $20/adult
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Walk across the street to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. We took the hour-long Traditional Tour & Tasting which included 4 tastings at the end. For us, this was the perfect distillery tour to start with due to the technologically savy way the distilling process was presented. We agreed it was the most Disneyfied distillery tour we went on, but mean that in the best possible way. An engaging host, historic recreations of 18th Century Louisville, and an old-timey bar where our tasting took place had us engaged and smiling the whole time.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details
- Book in advance: Given the popularity of tours and tastings at Kentucky distilleries, we highly recommend booking ahead to avoid disappointment. In our experience, tour sizes were generally small (10-12 people) and booked up fast. Months in advance! We booked our Evan Williams tour 3 months ahead of our visit.
- Don’t forget your ID: Regardless of your age, every tour participant is required to provide ID. This was our experience at every distillery when checking in.
Louisville Mega Cavern
A former limestone mine, Louisville Mega Cavern now offers “funderground” adventures. They have walking and tram tours and even a zip line which boasts the world’s only fully underground course. We were interested in the history of the area, so we took the hour-long Mega Tram Tour. We learned about the space’s geology and its fascinating array of uses from mining to recycling, even a fallout shelter and storage space! Although it wasn’t the most thrilling ride on an SUV-pulled tram, it was an inexpensive way to see the cavern and learn more about the area.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. It is recommended to book in advance online.
- Bring a sweater: Temperatures in the cavern remain right around 60 degrees all year round.
- Lights Under Louisville: Every year during the holiday season the cavern is open for visitors to drive their own vehicle through an underground holiday light spectacular. I’m mentioning it here in the event you happen to visit Louisville in November or December, because it sounds fun!
Dinner
You are spoiled with the number of choices for dinner in Louisville. Staying in NuLu, many of the places we’d recommend based on our dining experience are centered in that neighborhood. Tonight, take your pick from one of our suggestions.
- Mussel & Burger Bar: The name pretty much says it all! Steaming bowls of mussels and juicy burgers make this a great choice after a long day of sightseeing. There are also two locations – one downtown and one in the suburbs, which we went to as it was closer to the Mega Cavern.
- Mayan Cafe: An authentic Mayan restaurant that prides itself on sustainability. We celebrated my birthday here and the meal was of our favorites. We particularly enjoyed the scallop ceviche starter, chochinita pibil and duck mains, along with the reasonably priced wine list and local sweet potato pie cheesecake for dessert!
- La Bodeguita De Mima: A Cuban restaurant and rum bar that felt like the place to be. Upbeat music and an enthusiastic dinner crowd made this our must fun dining experience. The portions were huge and we enjoyed the Cuban croquette starter and traditional chicken and pork rice dishes we had as mains. We were too full for dessert and even took home leftovers!
Day 3| Louisville - Baseball Bats, Horses & Active Gaming
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Touted as one of the best sports museums in the world, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Bat Factory was pure fun and nostalgia. This was one of our favorite experiences in Louisville where we had time to explore the museum on our own and take a factory tour.
Some of our favorite moments from our visit included:
- Factory Tour: We got to walk through the actual production facility and see bats being created right before our eyes. Around 3,000 are created each day. We learned about the entire process from sourcing the wood to machining and finishing the bats. Plus at the end, everyone got a mini-bat souvenir to take home!
- Hold a Piece of History Exhibit: Here you can hold bats used by the greatest baseball players of all time. Mike held Babe Ruth’s actual bat!
- Feel the Heat Exhibit: Ever wonder what it’s like to feel a 90 mph fastball coming at you? Wonder no more! This exhibit allows you to watch the fastball whiz by. Even better? Phillies fans take note, Cole Hamels is the “pitcher” in this exhibit.
- Bat Vault: The vault is like a bat library, holding thousands of bat models, some as much as 100 years old. It was fascinating to see the different types of bats produced over the years.
Our visit to the museum lasted around two hours.
Need to Know
- Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm, Sunday, 10am-4pm
- Admission: $23/adult
- Note: Admission includes a 30-minute factory tour and when buying your ticket online you must select a timed entry window. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended as tours do sell out.
Kentucky Derby Museum
The Kentucky Derby Museum is adjacent to the famous Churchill Downs, just a 10-minute drive from downtown Louisville. We visited the week before the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby and it was buzzing with frenetic energy. Even outside of Derby season, these storied grounds are well worth a visit.
Some of our favorite moments from our visit included:
- The Greatest Race Film: The museum has a 360-degree theater showing this 18-minute film about the Derby. I wouldn’t even call myself a horse racing fan, but will admit it was easy to get swept up in the excitement and emotion contained in the film. Pro tip: Plan your viewing of this film for the time slot 20 minutes prior to your track tour. Your guide will pick you up in the theater as soon as the film ends.
- Churchill Downs Guided Track Visit: A 30-minute tour where you get to enter the grandstands and stand at the racetrack rail. You also get a prime view of the historic Twin Spires all while learning interesting facts from a knowledgeable guide.
- Interactive Exhibits: The museum was full of fun for all ages. We enjoyed standing in a replica of the rose-encrusted Winner’s Circle, stepping up to a race day betting window, participating in a simulated Derby, and dressing up as jockeys.
- Mint Juleps at the Derby Cafe & Bourbon Bar: Drinking a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby is on the bucket list hanging on our wall. Figuring this was pretty darn close, we sipped on ice cold mint juleps at the bar. We got to take home the official 150th Derby glass too which was pretty awesome.
Our visit to the museum lasted around three hours.
Need to Know
- Hours: Hours change seasonally, so check the website for the latest details.
- Admission: $20/adult
- Note: Admission includes a 30-minute guided track tour. When buying your ticket online you will be prompted to select a time for your tour and showing of The Greatest Race film. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended as tours do sell out.
- Kentucky Derby Festival: Leading up to the Kentucky Derby itself are many noteworthy events. Things kick off with Thunder Over Louisville, one of the top air shows and fireworks shows in the country. There is also a marathon, galas, and a hot air balloon festival.
Activate Louisville
It’s hard to put our Activate experience into words, but it was one of the most unique and fun things we’ve ever done on vacation. It is a gaming facility that consists of separate rooms that use real-time interactive technology to test physical and mental agility. We jumped, crawled, climbed, problem-solved, and outright sprinted during our 75-minute session.
After showing up, we were directed to put all our belongings in a locker and given wristbands which would unlock the gaming rooms and keep track of our progress. I’m so glad we heeded the advice to wear sports clothes because we were a sweaty mess by the end!
If you are ever in an area with an Activate (there are many locations) we highly recommend it!
Need to Know
- Hours: Monday-Thursday 1-9pm, Friday 10am-11pm, Saturday 9am-11pm, Sunday 9am-10pm
- Price: $24.99/pp for a 75-minute session; slots are available to book online in 10-minute increments.
- Note: Plan to leave all your belongings, including any water you bring, in a locker that is provided free of charge. Be sure to wear running shoes and clothes you can comfortably move (and sweat) in.
Day 4| Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast because it will be a long one! We opted to dine at Biscuit Belly‘s NuLu location, a short walk from our Airbnb. Our biscuit sandwiches melted in our mouths and the side of jam was a nice, unexpected touch. This location had a weekday “happy hour” from 7:30-9:30am offering half off certain items like drinks and bonuts (biscuit donut holes).
Maker's Mark Distillery
Our first stop of the day was Maker’s Mark Distillery, about an hour and fifteen minute drive from Louisville. Maker’s Mark was our favorite all-around distillery visit and tour. The grounds, on Star Hill Farm, are so picturesque and the tour showed us aspects of the process other distilleries did not. We got to see the fermentation and distillation process up close, but also learned about how they create different expressions through the use of seasoned staves, saw the bottle labels being cut on a hand-operated printing process (we got to take some home!), and watched the dipping line produce that distinctive red wax drip.
Our tour ended with a tasting of 4 different whiskies and we had time to explore the gift shop where you could even hand dip your own bottle in wax to take home. I especially admired the family aspect of the business and learning that the founder’s wife, Margie, was responsible for the shape of the bottle, the label, and the signature red wax all of which are retained to this day.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. We did the Maker’s Mark Tour which lasted one hour and fifteen minutes and was $26/pp.
- Book in advance: Tickets must be booked in advance and cannot be purchased onsite. We booked our Maker’s Mark tour 2 months ahead of our visit.
- Dress for the weather: This tour was mostly outdoors, so dress for the weather of the day.
- Don’t forget your ID: Regardless of your age, every tour participant is required to provide ID. This was our experience at every distillery when checking in.
Lux Row Distillers
Heading north, our next stop of the day was Lux Row Distillers, located in Bardstown, KY. The distillery’s namesake row of trees made for a jaw-dropping drive up the road to the modern building that blended perfectly into its surroundings. Here, we opted to skip a tour and instead do the Taste of Lux Row Experience. We ended up being the only ones as part of the tasting which was pretty special.
The 45-minute experience included a tasting of five whiskies, several of which were enhanced with a chocolate pairing. Our guide then led us to one of the rickhouses for a thieve right out of the barrel! We also got a tour of the rickhouse which was the most gorgeous of all the distilleries we visited. Truly, it was the star of the show.
Lux Row’s bourbons were our favorite of all the tastings we did on our trip and we took home a bottle from the gift shop.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. Our Taste of Lux Row experience which lasted 45 minutes was $25/pp.
- Book in advance: We booked our Lux Row tasting 3 months ahead of our visit and tours do tend to sell out.
- Don’t forget your ID: Regardless of your age, every tour participant is required to provide ID. This was our experience at every distillery when checking in.
Old Forester Distilling Co.
Heading further north still and back into Louisville proper, our last stop of the day was at Old Forester. It is amazing how much of the production process fits in their building right on Whiskey Row. This tour was exceptional at showing the entire process from start to finish. In fact, they call it from grain to glass. Not only could we see the fermentation and distillation, but also their cooperage (where the barrels are made), maturation storage area which was accessed via a three-story catwalk, and the bottling line. Especially unique was seeing how the barrels are charred, or fired, using intense flames. Our tour ended with a tasting of 4 expressions, coupled with a tasty local chocolate treat.
On your way out, don’t miss having a look at Big Penny, the 44-foot tall copper still that is the centerpiece of the distillery.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. Our Old Forester Tour which lasted 75 minutes was $32/pp.
- Book in advance: We booked our Old Forester tour 3 months ahead of our visit and tours do tend to sell out early.
- Select a time slot during the day: Seeing the production process in action is a real highlight here. Due to time constraints we booked the 4pm time slot and much of the cooperage, barrel firing, and bottling line was shut down for the day. I’d recommend trying for an earlier time slot, if possible.
- Don’t forget your ID: Regardless of your age, every tour participant is required to provide ID. This was our experience at every distillery when checking in.
Day 5| Louisville - Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the longest cave system in the world. To date, more than 426 miles of passageways have been surveyed. Established as a national park in 1941, today almost a dozen different tours of varying length are offered.
Take Note!
- Mammoth Cave is in the Central Time zone! If you are driving from Louisville, you will cross the boundary from the Eastern Time zone, so plan accordingly.
- Most GPS directions to Mammoth Cave will “end” at the park entrance. Our experience is that it was a further 10-minute drive to the Visitor Center where cave tours depart, so take that into consideration for arrival timing.
After doing some research, we elected to take part in two different tours at the cave. In the morning, we did the Domes & Dripstones Tour. We did this tour because it offered the chance to see many natural formations and a different part of the cave than other tours. In fact, we needed to take a short bus ride from the Visitor Center to the tour entrance through a door in a sinkhole. Right away we descended hundreds of stairs into the depths of the cave. Our park ranger guide provided a helpful and interesting narrative of the geology and history of the cave, with several stops along the way. The highlight of the tour was the Frozen Niagara section, one of the cave’s most famously decorated dripstone rooms. From there, we climbed our way out and back to the bus. Our tour, including the roundtrip bus rides, lasted two hours and we walked 0.75 miles.
During our hour break between tours we ate our packed lunch and took a spin through the small onsite museum exhibits and then met up with our group for the Historic Tour. This tour left directly from the Visitor Center and had many more people than on our morning tour. We counted over 60! This tour walked through many of the historic areas of the cave and through tunnels that humans have used for thousands of years. Similar to our morning tour, our ranger guide provided historical information at stops along the way. This particular tour had several very tight squeezes through passageways that required a lot of ducking, bending, and even almost crawling. It was very fun and contained a sense of adventure! Our tour lasted two hours and we walked 2 miles.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by season and day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. Our tours were $30 and $24 per adult, respectively. Although you pay for the cave tour, there is no separate entrance fee required for Mammoth Cave National Park.
- Book in advance: We booked our tours 3 months ahead of our visit. We visited mid-week in April and there were still tours available throughout the day, but this may not always be the case during the busy summer season when tours sell out in advance.
- Bring a sweater: Temperatures in the cave remain right around 54 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.
Jim Beam American Stillhouse
Although we didn’t have time or interest in taking a tour, we did want to stop at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse to check out their property and enjoy a cocktail at the onsite bourbon bar. The distillery’s Clermont location was beautiful and the old fashioned and mule cocktails were perfectly crafted. This was a nice way to stop and see a different distillery!
This was right on the route from Mammoth Cave to Louisville and note you’ll be back in the Eastern Time zone by the time you reach Jim Beam.
Day 6| Kentucky Bourbon Trail & Red River Gorge
The drive from Louisville to Red River Gorge will take you past Lexington again, making it the perfect way to visit two more distilleries and stop in the capital city of Frankfort to pick up some famous chocolate.
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve‘s historic distillery in Versailles, KY, wins for the prettiest, must bucolic drive to the entrance. We passed by expansive thoroughbred farms with the tiniest colts and fillies zooming around their moms in the pastures. Lucky us, we were there in foaling season! Once we arrived, Woodford Reserve was also beautiful with the entire distillery a National Historic Landmark dating back to 1812.
Here again, we skipped a tour and instead booked the Spectacle for the Senses tasting. Our guide led our group into the Dryer House on property and led us through a tasting of 5 whiskies which were paired with small bites like nuts and butterscotch chips. We were given a pack of cards with more information about each whiskey, along with a recommended food pairing and cocktail recipe on the back. This was an excellent experience!
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. Our Spectacle for the Senses tasting which lasted 45 minutes was $25/pp.
- Book in advance: We booked our Woodford Reserve tasting 3 months ahead of our visit and tours do tend to sell out.
- Don’t forget your ID: Regardless of your age, every tour participant is required to provide ID. This was our experience at every distillery when checking in.
Ruth Hunt Candies
As demand grew for the confections adored by Kentuckian Ruth Hunt’s friends and family grew, she first opened a store in her home in 1921. The business continued to expand along with Kentucky’s bourbon industry and the now-famous Kentucky Bourbon Balls were introduced. Many of the chocolate pairings we had at the distilleries were Ruth Hunt Candies, so we stopped by the small storefront in Frankfort to pick up some sweets to take home. We even got our first taste of the bourbon balls with a free sample!
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Although not on the official Bourbon Trail, Buffalo Trace with its complimentary tours and tastings was not a distillery we wanted to pass up. Perhaps because everything is free, this was by far the busiest distillery property we visited. Before we could even park we had to see an attendant for directions! Once there, we took part in a guided tour that took us throughout the entire property. Mike said it best when he likened Buffalo Trace to an ant colony – there were so many workers and all so very busy. That made it very fun because we got to watch barrels rolling by, their bungs being pulled, and even the bottles being hand-labeled. It was a very fun tour which ended with an unusual tasting consisting of 1 vodka, 3 whiskies, 1 bourbon cream, and 1 root beer.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: Tour offerings and prices vary by the day of the week, so check the website for the latest details. The Trace Tour which lasted 75 minutes was free.
- Book in advance: Booking advance tickets at Buffalo Trace was crazy! As soon as you know your trip dates, check their website for the date and time tickets go on sale (it will generally be 2 months in advance at 10am Eastern). My experience was that you needed to be online and ready to purchase tour tickets the moment they are released in order to secure a spot.
- Don’t forget your ID: Regardless of your age, every tour participant is required to provide ID. This was our experience at every distillery when checking in.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park | Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge boasts the largest collection of sandstone arches east of the Rockies (well over 100) but also has natural bridges and towering cliffs making it a premiere hiking and climbing destination.
A little over an hour’s drive from the hustle and bustle of Buffalo Trace brought us to Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Here the main attraction is the Natural Bridge, a natural sandstone arch bridge spanning 78 feet and 65 feet high. While you can park and hike the 2-mile trail to the top, we elected to take the scenic chairlift up and hike down. We soaked in the scenery as we slowly approached the top of the chairlift, even spotting an owl along the way, so keep your eyes peeled for wildlife.
Once at the top, we walked the short distance over to the viewpoint from Battleship Rock, then made our way to and over the Natural Bridge. Even if you don’t plan to hike all the way down, don’t miss the view from underneath the arch (there are signs pointing the way). It’s a tight squeeze between the arch and the boulder, but the views from below are so cool! There were a maze of trails at the top you could hike totalling 6+ miles overall. There is a map next to the chairlift if you want to plan your route. For us, we headed down the Rock Garden to Low Gap trails which were well-graded and put us right back at our car.
This map shows the general route, but you would need to modify it by hiking over the relatively flat trail to Battleship Rock and only completing the hike one-way, down.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: The scenic chairlift is only open seasonly between March and November and hours vary by season, so check the website for the latest details. We paid $11/pp for a one-way chairlift ticket. It is $17/pp roundtrip.
Use the rest of the afternoon to get settled at your accommodation and relax.
Where we stayed:
We based ourselves for 3 nights in an Airbnb cabin just off Nada Tunnel Road. It was private and secluded with beautiful views, but no more than a 20-minute drive from any of the activities we did in Red River Gorge.
What we ate:
As is usually the case when we stay in a fully-equipped cabin, we cooked all our meals there. However, I would be remiss if I did not mentioned these treats in the area because they are worth a stop!
- Red River Gorge General Store: Go for the ice cream!! We stopped by and got bourbon caramel milkshakes which were some of the best we’ve ever tasted and very reasonably priced.
- Daniel Boone Coffee Shop: Breakfast is the star here. On our way out of town we stopped for breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and lattes which really hit the spot.
- Ale-8: You can find Kentucky’s original soft drink, a combination of ginger and citrus, in nearly every store in the area. It’s very refreshing!
Day 7| Red River Gorge
Today is a truly adventure-filled day getting just a taste of all the Gorge has to offer. We began with one of the quintessential day hikes in the area, a loop that took us along two ridge lines and past landmarks such as the massive Courthouse Rock and Double Arch. The 6-mile loop trail had just over 1,000 feet of elevation gain making it a moderate hike. For us the highlight was standing under Double Arch and spending a few moments in solitude. The only downside of the loop hike was that the last mile or so was along a gravel road (closed to traffic) but otherwise it was a great introductory hike to the area!
Need to Know
- Fees: No fee for trail use. A backcountry permit fee is required for overnight camping and leaving your vehicle parked.
- Parking: Follow Tunnel Ridge Road for about 3 miles to its terminus at the Auxier Ridge parking area. When we arrived at 7:30am on a Friday morning there was ample parking, but the lot was full when we left several hours later.
The Gorge Underground
The Gorge Underground offers visitors the chance to paddle through the clear, calm waters of an abandoned limestone mine. Unlike anything we had ever experienced, it was really fun to put on headlamps and paddle into what felt like the abyss. We got to experience total darkness at one point, but there were also strategically placed lights throughout the water and we saw the (stocked) rainbow trout as they zoomed underneath us. The hourlong tour was just enough (it was chilly in there!) and very unique.
Need to Know
- Prices: Our Classic Kayak Tour was $65/pp but the same tour is $55/pp Monday-Thursday. The Gorge Underground also offers crystal cleak kayak and SUP tours.
- Book early: We booked our tour online 3 months in advance and some days and timeslots were already sold out!
Milkshakes & Miniature Golf
Just minutes apart, stopping at the Red River Gorge General Store for a milkshake and heading over for a round on the miniature golf course at Thrillsville Adventure Golf make the perfect afternoon date. We stopped by in between activities, with Mike handily beating me on the well-manicured course.
Need to Know
- Hours & Prices: A round of mini-golf was $13/adult. The course opens at 10am daily and closes around 8-9pm.
UTV Tour | Out the Top Adventures
Our final activity of the day was a guided UTV tour with Out the Top Adventures. With Mike as our driver, we set out with our guides to explore the Gorge like never before, just as advertised on their website. We were in a 4-seater Polaris that absolutely crawled up and over the mountainous terrain. At times, we were even driving along the riverbed which was SO cool! We had smiles plastered on our faces the entire two-hour trip, with a fair bit of mud too. It was the perfect ending to our day!
Need to Know
- Prices: Our 2-hour guided UTV tour was $325, which was for the 2-seater vehicle and included the driver and the passenger. When we showed up we were the only people on our tour (the other group had cancelled) so we ended up with a 4-seater instead.
- Dress for fun: When we went the mud level and water levels were about average. We got splattered with mud and water, but nothing too bad. Nonetheless, that might not be your experience we we recommend dressing in old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Don’t forget to bring your phone or action camera for some great shots!
Day 8| Red River Gorge
For our last hike in Red River Gorge, we completed another loop hike with stunning 360-degree views of the gorge and an arch too! To get to the trailhead, we drove through Nada Tunnel which is an adventure in and of itself. Originally built by a logging company in 1910, the 900-foot long tunnel is only 13 feet high and 12 feet wide. In other words – very narrow!
The first part of the loop trail took us to the base of Indian Staircase, which is a trail that is not maintained by the park. It required a fairly challenging scramble to get to the footholds carved in the rock taking us to the top. But once we got there it was worth it for the views! The trail then wound along a beautiful forest path and we took a detour out to Adena Arch before reaching our second challenge of the day: a scramble up Cloudsplitter, where there was a rope to aid hikers. I watched Mike go up and ultimately didn’t feel comfortable attempting the scramble, so I stayed down below to check out the area while Mike took photos and videos to share with me. We then safely descended together and made the walk back to the car, which again required some road walking. Another gorgeous hike!
Need to Know
- Fees: No fee for trail use. A backcountry permit fee is required for overnight camping and leaving your vehicle parked.
- Parking: Follow KY 77 through the Nada Tunnel, across the Red River and to KY 715. Follow 715 approximately 3.5 miles to a parking area at the Bison Way trailhead located just before the two-lane bridge that crosses Gladie Creek. The parking area is VERY small. We arrived at 7:30am on a Saturday morning and got the last space. There is parking in several small turnouts along the road and at the nearby Visitor Center if you are unable to get a spot directly at the trailhead.
Via Ferrata| Southeast Mountain Guides
Our last adventure in Red River Gorge had us at Southeast Mountain Guides for an afternoon on the via ferrata. Via ferrata means “iron way” and consists of a scrambling or climbing route assisted by fixed cables and iron rungs attached to the mountain. They originated in Europe as a safer way for soldiers to transport themselves and equipment over technical terrain. Now via ferrata routes both old and new are a challenging and fun way to explore the mountains.
After a half an hour safety course in which we learned the basics, put on our equipment, and did a mini-practice run, we were set free! At this location, the via ferrata consists of 6 separate “courses” ranging from easy to expert. The courses wind along a horseshoe-shaped curve in the rock and you can complete each course individually, coming down in between routes, or continue from one to another, never coming down.
Right off the bat this via ferrata was unlike the other two we had previously done in that there was occasionally no iron rungs under your feet and it was more rock-climbing based. We somewhat easily completed the first route and on the second we got caught behind a first-time panicky climber, so our pace slowed substantially. After completing the second route (good on her!) we moved on to the third which we found to be the least challenging to date, with the exception of the last portion which required crawling along a shelf in the cliff. Moving on to the fourth route, things got really difficult. The route was along an overhang, requiring incredible upper body strength. Shortly after we started we both decided to stop, take a break, and regroup.
After hydrating, ditching our small packs, and stretching out our hands, we were ready to try again. We climbed the ladder to the start of route 4 and got past the initial part – yay! From there we continued on and successfully finished, moving on to route 5 which although shorter, was also very difficult. My upper body and arms were toast.
After another rest, we both decided we weren’t quite up to route 6 at this point, so as our cool down we did routes 1 and 2 again before turning in our gear. We spent about three and a half hours at the via ferrata.
Need to Know
- Prices: We paid $72/pp for a day pass at the via ferrata. This included all the equipment we needed and initial instruction. Note after you go through the initial safety class, you are on your own. Weekend prices are substantially cheaper than weekdays, so check the website for more information.
- Book in advance: Reservations are required.
- Prepare for a challenge: We consider ourselves fit and have prior experience with via ferratas and indoor and outdoor rock climbing. We found this via ferrata great, but a real challenge! Come prepared with water, snacks, gloves, and a positive altitude!
We hope you enjoyed reading about our experiences in Kentucky and that they gave you inspiration to craft your own journey to the land of bourbon, horses, and adventure!
