Sidequests! – Lisbon Pt. 1


Okay, so like…we ARE a Red River Gorge Podcast…BUTTTT, sometimes we cheat on the Gorge (shhh!!) and we thought at least some of you may be interested in hearing about it. We’ve dubbed the name “SIDEQUESTS” because in this episode we will be talking about a place very very far away from the Gorge – Lisbon, Portugal! I know, I know…we ARE still Tread the Red, but we travel some other cool places too and we want to share it with you all! If you’re not a fan, just skip the ones that begin with “Sidequests” and it’ll be all good (and Gorgey). 


Anyway, this is the first episode in our first Tread the Red mini-series: Sidequests, featuring our honeymoon trip to Portugal. First up is Lisbon! We stayed here for a few days after flying in to Portugal, and it was so cool! There was intricate tile work EVERYWHERE..the roads, the sidewalks, the buildings!! So amazing. Some of the things we cover in this first episode: 

*Livraria Bertrand – the world’s oldest operating bookstore! This thing was founded in 1732 and holds a Guinness Book of World Records. 
*We talk about the famous Pastel de Nata – a famous Portuguese egg custard tart pastry…the monks were crafty with their leftover egg yolks back in the day and made something super yummy! 
*Time Out Market – a food hall that reminded us of Logan St Market in Louisville (but bigger and more crowded)…there was a super neat tree right outside that was the star of the show (in our opinion). 

We know this is kinda a big departure from our usual content, but we promise we get into some super cool hikes once we cover the Madeira section of this first Sidequests mini series! 

Thanks for listening (if you choose to) and you can follow us on Instagram at: @tread_the_red OR at our new page @ttr_sidequests ! This new page will document our experiences outside of the RRG. Don’t worry, Tread the Red is not going anywhere and we will be back with another Gorge-centric episode soon! 

P.S. The Winter Market for the RRG Farmers Market is happening THIS SATURDAY, November 16th at the Woodland Center in Natural Bridge State Park from 10AM-2PM! Be sure to swing by and check it out if you’re in the area. 🙂 

The Terminus Hole


It’s another Darren & Rachel fun-time-adventure-time-Gorge-time episode! Thanks for listening to Tread the Red – a podcast all about the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

On this episode we discuss our recent loop hike – Auxier Ridge > Auxier Branch > Double Arch AND a new-to-the-podcast arch: Big Hole Arch.

The Auxier Ridge to Double Arch loop takes you along Auxier Ridge complete with panoramic views, dips you down into the valley, and then brings you all the way back up to the opposite ridge for Double Arch! You can even opt to scramble up to the top of Double Arch, which is known as “The Observatory” and offers more panoramic views of the surroundings (and Auxier Ridge across the way)! This loop is about 7 miles (maybe a bit more) and is pretty strenuous because of the elevation gain – so be prepared with lots of water + snacks!

Big Hole Arch is a super cool arch located near Military Wall. While Military Wall is a climbing destination – we totally recommend checking it out if you are in the area (Martins Fork Rough Trail) because there are lots of cool rock formations to check out (including this amazing arch). There’s also a super cool rock that is totally now one of Rachel’s top RRG rocks!! IYKYK. The trail to Big Hole Arch is a little over 0.25 miles out (at most 0.5 miles) – sorry guys – we did not track the mileage when we hiked this one (oops). So, let’s just say it tops out somewhere between 0.5-1 mile round trip! Not bad. Easy to add on to a longer hike in the area! 😉

RRG NEWS: Tread the Red will be set up at the RRG Farmer’s Market Labor Day Weekend (Saturday August 31st) from 10AM-2PM. It’s located at the sky lift parking lot area of Natural Bridge State Park! We’ll also be in the area from Friday-Sunday, so if you wanna hang out/maybe do a hike together, let us know! 


Thanks for listening and you can follow us on Instagram at: tread_the_red 

Special Guest: Featuring April with Hop’s!


Welcome to Tread the Red Podcast – a podcast all about the Red River Gorge here in Kentucky! Rachel and Darren got to sit down with a very special guest – April Reefer – to talk about her business, Hop’s Beer Garden and Restaurant! 


If you’ve listened to any other episodes of the podcast, it’s likely you’ve heard us talk about Hop’s! It is one of our favorite places to grab a drink and some food after a full day of hiking (Pippin also loves Hop’s) 😀 


Hop’s is a farm to table restaurant – supporting local farmers in the area and providing a rotating menu based on what food is in season! They also offer a variety of beers and cocktails (and mocktails!) to choose from. They are located here (a convenient location for all the Gorge activities) and are across the street from the Graining Fork Nature Preserve (+ Roadside for you climbers that listen). April also offers two shipping container rentals located right above Hop’s! These are called the “Graining Fork Container Rentals” and are also one of our favorite places to stay when we visit the Gorge – they are dog friendly, always clean, and have the perfect amenities to make our stay comfortable! Oh, and you can’t beat being able to just walk downstairs for drinks and food after a long day of hiking (and there is a creek out back that Pippin is obsessed with, so you know…) 

We recorded this episode the day after Hop’s celebrated its 4 year anniversary! Woohoo!! 
Here’s where you can find Hop’s and the Graining Fork Container Rentals online:
*Website
*Graining Fork Container Rental 1
*Graining Fork Container Rental 2
*Instagram: @hops_at_rrg & @grainingfork_container_rentals
*Facebook

You can check their website for updates on hours, but as of today:
Taco Tuesday 1-9PM
Hibachi Wednesday 2-9PM
Friday 2-9PM w/ Happy Hour 5@5
Saturday: Breakfast 9:30-11:30AM, Lunch and Dinner 11:30AM-9PM

As always, thank you for listening – we hope this episode inspires you to check out Hop’s on your next visit to the RRG! 


If you love the pod, please rate and review wherever you listen – feel free to email us with your Gorge questions or if you have a Gorge story to share: treadtheredpodcast@gmail.com 

Gorge Magic Inquiry or Enquiry?

Calling all Gorge enthusiasts! We would LOVE to hear about your personal “Gorge Magic” experiences (IYKYK): You can submit audio files or typed stories to TreadTheRedPodcast@gmail.com or reach out to us through email or Instagram (@tread_the_red) about getting together and recording! We also want to hear from more local businesses at the Gorge – if that’s you, let us know and we will schedule a time to record an episode together 🙂

Now, on to the episode STUFF. We have a backlog of trails and Gorge things to discuss since we have been super sporadic about recording. This week’s episode features more “new-to-us” (and to the Pod) trails:

*We went to the top of Grays Arch! While we have visited Grays Arch (in the normal way underneath) plenty of times, this was our first time being on TOP of the arch! No, we did not climb up the side of the arch, but the way we took did require a small rock scramble “slide” section. This is *about* a 2-mile round trip from the Grays Arch parking area and is partially “unmarked trail”.


*Middle and Upper Chimney Top Falls (and Lower Chimney Top Falls from above) – This is an unmarked trail that begins along Hidden Arch Trail. It was definitely a rhododendron adventure, but was so much fun (and Upper Chimney Top Falls is magical)! Pippin also enjoyed the included creek walk. 😉 This one is about a 3-mile round trip.

If you’re a visual person and want to see these trails/spots, check out our Instagram page! We post all of our adventures there and we usually do a “recap” post when we publish the podcast episode!

Gorge Update stuff:
*The RRG Farmers Market is in full swing! Check it out on Saturdays from 10-2 at the Natural Bridge Skylift lawn!
*You can find Tread the Red specific merch at: The Earth Shop – prints and paintings, Red River Rockhouse – lots of stickers, dog bandanas, and postcards, and the Daniel Boone Coffee Shop – dog bandanas!

We also just created a new dog bandana design (green background) and new “Gorge Magic” t-shirts (a muted darker green and a golden color) and holographic stickers!
If buying straight from me, the dog bandanas are $12 for small, $16 for large, the t-shirts are $25 each, and the stickers are $3 each! If interested, you can message me on instagram or email me at TreadTheRedPodcast@gmail.com

Thanks for listening and hopefully everyone is staying well hydrated in the heat we’ve been having! Happy hiking!

Zoom Out To Your Alien Body

Zoom out with your alien body to envision the majesty of the Gorge and orient yourself to where we will be taking you all to “hike” during this podcast episode! And then zoom back into your human body to “hike” the trails with us. You all know what I mean, right?
Oh well.
This week we have lots of NEW-to-us trails we are covering! Our best hiking frands Joey & Brittney were back in town and we had a weekend full of explorations in the Gorge area! So this episode is *spicy* with new content 😉
The trails/points of interest you can expect during this episode:
*Friendship Arch Trail
*Whites Branch Arch
*Ramp Arch
*The legendary Gorge “Hoodoo”

Oh, and just wanted to highlight some of the Gorge businesses, etc. we mentioned during this episode:
*Turtle Farm Pottery
*RRG Farmers Market (Opening Day is May 4th!! 10AM-2PM at the Natural Bridge Skylight Area)

Thank you to everyone who listens and shout out to those of you who have said hey to us when you see us out and about in the RRG! We love it 😀

Please rate and review the podcast (5 stars hehe) if you listen! Thank you!! ❤

Jewel Pentacle & Not Enough Uranus Talk

We are back with a nice & fresh new episode of Tread the Red! This one features our friends, LeighAnne and David! We’ve done a lot of fun hikes with them and they both share our love (*obsession*) for the RRG, so it was perfect that we were able to record an episode with them! If you want to hear the last episode Rachel recorded with LeighAnne, scroll back until you see “The Number 2” – and yes, it is named that way because of what you think (but also something else cool too – haha).
We’ve got some fun hikes to discuss in this episode!:
*Tarr Ridge West Trail
*Cherokee Arch Trail (This one is a new one that has never been discussed on the podcast before!!)

Anyway, buckle up for some fun discussions including Uranus talks and the “Jewel PENTACLE”.
Thanks for listening! If you listen on a platform that allows you to rate and review, please do so! And if you have social media you can follow us:
@Tread_the_Red (on Instagram and TikTok)
and LeighAnne is at @wandernotlost on Instagram!

Not a Mushroom Scientist

This episode of Tread the Red is another Darren-Rachel-Gorge-Time-Adventure-Time-Fun-Time episode! We start off this episode actually covering some *drama* that Rachel and her mom experienced on their most recent trip to the Gorge…maybe drama isn’t the right word, but we had a TIME. We then briefly cover Rachel’s mom’s first trip to Muir Valley to see an arch, some waterfalls (specifically Horseshoe Falls & Nellie Falls…we still need to return for Joe Ponder Double Falls!), and the old growth hemlock, Methuselah. Then Darren and Rachel get into some hikes they did the past few times they’ve been to the RRG including a loop hike at Natural Bridge State Park, visiting Cloud Splitter again, and hiking Douglas Trail to Eagles Point Buttress!

A summary of places from this podcast episode!:
*Muir Valley
*Liz’s Arch
*Horseshoe Falls
*Nellie’s Falls
*Methuselah
*Natural Bridge State Park Hemlock Lodge
*Natural Bridge State Park Original Trail/Battleship Rock Trail/Rock Garden Trail Loop
*Cloud Splitter Trail
*Douglas Trail to Eagles Point Buttress

Thank you to everyone who listens to the podcast! If you listen on a streaming service with an option to Rate/Review us, please do! Also, if you have your own RRG story you would like to share, please send it to treadtheredpodcast@gmail.com, or reach out to us if you want to come on and chat with us on an episode! Happy hiking!

First Time Visiting the Gorge?


Are you trying to plan a trip to the Red River Gorge, but don’t know where to start? That’s totally reasonable, because the Gorge has SO much to offer – from panoramic ridge top views, luscious creek side hikes, beautiful waterfalls, and over 150 natural sandstone arches (and some limestone ones as well, for good measure). There is always more to explore at the Gorge, and I’m going to outline three hikes that you should definitely check out – especially if this is your first time visiting the area.

Auxier Ridge Trail
First up, let’s take a look at Auxier Ridge Trail. This one is a DOOZY (in all the good ways)! If you are looking for some of the best ridge top views in the Gorge, look no further. This trail has you covered! First things first, you can find the trailhead for Auxier Ridge at the very end of the motor vehicle section of Tunnel Ridge Road where there is a large parking lot. This trail is an out-and-back, topping out at about 4.2 miles total. One of the many good things about this trail is that if you are feeling more adventurous or looking for a longer hike, you can either make a balloon loop using Courthouse Rock Trail or utilize Auxier Branch Trail to connect from Auxier Ridge Trail to Double Arch Trail. The possibilities are endless! There are no crazy climbs along the out-and-back trail, but it does have elevation fluctuation, so I would rate this trail as moderate. You will be hiking along a ridge for the entirety of this hike, and the views REALLY bloom as you near the last section. Hike out along “Wizard’s Backbone”, where the ridge thins and the Gorge slopes out on either side of you. There are so many views to soak in, including Haystack Rock, Courthouse Rock, Ravens Rock, and even Double Arch nestled into the opposite ridge line! The trail terminates at Courthouse Rock, a prominent landmark seen from multiple different trails within the Gorge region. This trail is beautiful in all seasons (and I recommend returning time and time again to see it in all of its GORGEous splendor). When hiking Auxier Ridge in the summer, keep an eye out for wild blackberries and blueberries lining the trail – some yummy snacks! You may also see the beautiful rhododendron and mountain laurel blooms. All in all, this is THE trail I will continue to recommend that everyone hike at least once.

Rock Bridge Trail
Okay, now what if you are more of a creek side, waterfallin’ kinda person? Then you definitely need to check out Rock Bridge Trail. This trail is an awesome taste of what the Gorge has to offer, featuring Creation Falls and Rock Bridge. Creation Falls is one of the waterfall gems of the Gorge, and the sandy “beach” area that surrounds the falls is a favorite for both kids and dogs! Rock Bridge is located right around the corner from Creation Falls and is the only “bridge” in the Red River Gorge above water! Pretty neat. This trail is great if you are looking for something shorter that will also deliver on the views. It is a loop hike and tops out at about 1.5 miles total. The trailhead is located next to the parking lot at the end of Rock Bridge Road. There are also several picnic tables in this area as well! You can choose to hike this loop either way, but I usually hike it counterclockwise. The trail dips down from the ridge to the creek and then climbs back up, and it is my personal opinion that the climb up is easier going counterclockwise, but you can hike it and see what you think! Because of this climb back up to the parking lot to complete the loop, I would also rate this trail as moderate, but I’ve seen people of all ages out enjoying this hike! This is definitely a Gorge classic, so make time during your trip to check it out.

Grays Arch
Now, if you are really trying to do some “arch hunting” while at the Gorge, I would recommend that you check out Grays Arch! Grays Arch is a behemoth – weighing in at 50 feet tall and 80 feet wide. It is also a very classic Gorge landmark, and everyone needs to check it out at some point during their Gorge adventures. The trailhead is located in the Grays Arch parking area along Tunnel Ridge Road. You will hike Grays Arch Trail until you reach the intersection with Rough Trail and bear right. Then, you will hike Rough Trail down into the Gorge (expect several staircases), to the side trail on the right/straight ahead to Grays Arch at the bottom. You will be able to see Grays Arch through the trees as you descend, and when you get to the bottom, you have a short scramble up to the underside of this massive sandstone arch. This is the perfect spot for lunch, as there are multiple large boulders resting underneath the arch providing nice seating areas. This trail is an out-and-back at a little over 2.25 miles total, but like a lot of other trails within the Gorge, there are several ways to make this into a longer loop trail by utilizing the Rough Trail. Just remember that if you are hiking the out-and-back, you do have to hike back the way you came, meaning that you will have to ascend the 270 feet that you walked down at the beginning. Definitely pack enough water and take as many breaks as you need on the climb back up. I would also rate this trail as moderate because of this! But once again, I’ve seen people of all ages out there enjoying this beautiful hike in all seasons, so don’t let the little bit of leg and butt workout scare you. All in all, definitely a must do if you are hiking the Gorge!

Tread the Red featuring Dappled Light

Howdy and welcome to another episode of Tread the Red featuring a very special guest – Izaac from Dappled Light! Dappled Light is a 50-acre property located right next to Red River Gorge and functions as a destination for luxury retreats and glamping experiences. We (Darren and Rachel) have had the honor of staying on the property (once in The Cabin and once in the Goldfinch Tent) and have absolutely loved our stay both times. It is even better that we got to spend some time chatting with Izaac, one of the property owners, and form an even deeper connection with the property by learning its rich history and all of their plans for what will happen next. The property has some neat trails you can explore – we have personally hiked to “The Overhang” – a really cool rock shelter area, and “The Waterfall”, and plan on doing more exploring on the property with Izaac in the future!

Anyway, we hope everyone enjoys the episode – getting to learn a little bit more about the amazing RRG community and what makes Dappled Light such a special place!
Check out Dappled Light:
Website: dappledlightadventures.com
Instagram: @dappledlightadventures
Facebook: Dappled Light

OHHHH and before we forget (hehe) – you can use the code “TREADTHERED” for 20% off your whole stay in the future!!

Mysterious Things are Afoot in the RRG

Mysterious things…are really happenin’ in the RRG. Stay tuned to this episode to learn just WHAT kinds of mysterious things…

Anyway, welcome to Tread the Red Podcast – a podcast all about the Red River Gorge region that we love! During this episode Rachel and Darren (accompanied by a snoozing Pippin), talk about their most recent trip to the RRG where they stayed in a fantastic cabin, Tunnel Vision, and did some exploring around the area.

Tunnel Vision cabin is located just right down the road from the Nada Tunnel (The Gateway to the Gorge) and we were able to bring Pippin with us (always a plus) 😀
We did some exploring along Tunnel Ridge Rd, including hiking out to the overlook on Star Gap Trail that watches over the cabin we stayed at! It was super cool to get a different perspective and to also be able to place our whereabouts better while we were up there on the ridge line. We also checked out the offshoot trail behind the Pioneer parking area…which is where we found some mysterious items (????)

Also, just to clarify – we thought we were going to film a video of us doing the podcast and upload it to Youtube, but it is honestly taking up way too much space on Rachel’s computer to do that, so we scratched that idea – LOL. We might still upload with the audio only.

Anyway, if you have a Gorge story you want to share, send it to TreadTheRedPodcast@gmail.com and we’ll share it on an episode!
Thank you for listening and we hope everyone is having a good start to the year.