Grays Arch Trail! This is a Gorge classic – it is definitely a trail you want to check out if you haven’t yet. It would be on my list of recommended trails for first time Gorge adventurers! This sandstone arch is a BEHEMOTH. It weighs in at 50ft tall and 80ft wide. It is massive and soooo impressive to see in person! There are also lots of boulders underneath that provide a pretty awesome spot for trail lunch or snacks 😉
You can find the trailhead for this trail along Tunnel Ridge Road. This trail is an official/marked trail, but it’s a little weird because the official “Grays Arch” trail only takes you to the intersection with Rough Trail, where you will then veer right/straight and descend on Rough Trail about 270ft until you hit the bottom where there is a “side trail” (that is more like straight ahead from the last staircase) to Grays Arch. Then you will climb about 60-70ft up that trail to get to the base of Grays Arch! This is an out-and-back trail that totals about 2.25 miles round trip. Just remember that you will have to go back up the staircases you went down on the way to the arch to get back! Don’t let that deter you though – just pack enough water and snacks and no shame in taking breaks on the climb back up! Hike your own hike, ya know?
For a visual reference, you can view the Grays Arch #TrailTalk video below!
Hydrated Girl Summer
If you couldn’t tell, this is a classic Darren & Rachel MESS-AROUND episode (btw, Rachel loves everyone who gets that reference).
Anyway, here is the TRAIL covered in this episode!
* Hanson’s Point Trail
Also, for those of you who are interested, here is the link for the face bug net I bought…I am NOT sponsored by Quest Outdoors, so I do not have a cool discount code to give you, and I also do not profit from it if you decide to buy one for yourself! (Even though it would be pretty cool to actually be sponsored by Quest….)
IMPORTANT: Due to recent rainfall events, Eastern KY is flooded. The region REALLY needs your help if you are able – some really awesome resources to stay up to date on what is happening and find the best ways to volunteer/donate, are:
@appalachians4appalachia (Instagram) – they have a super comprehensive spreadsheet with links to places to donate, etc.
@appalshop (Instagram)
Thank you so much for listening and being awesome humans!
Happy Lemon Artistry – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature
Lora is a multi-disciplinary artist from Red Fox, KY. She works full-time in healthcare, but has always loved the process of creating art and finds that art provides a stress-relieving outlet for the difficult times. The inspiration for much of her work centers in celebrating Kentucky culture, specifically the strong-minded resilience and self-reliance of Appalachian people. Lora’s daughter, Kelsie Jacobs, who is also an artist and a Registered Emergency Room Nurse, created Happy Lemon Artistry with her mom. They sell locally and also have an Etsy Shop.
Lora’s most recent artistic venture was designing and building a rental cabin at Red River Gorge named “Walden’s Wonder“. The cabin is an ode to Henry David Thoreau and his book, “Walden”, with the theme of nature as a source of wisdom and spiritual nourishment and the joys of living simply. Lora has created many artistic works that are displayed in this cabin!
You can connect with Lora on Facebook at facebook.com/lora.huff or visit the Etsy Shop at etsy.com/shop/happylemonartistry .
Thank you so much for listening, and we hope to see you at the RRG Farmers Market (every Saturday from 10AM-2PM)!
Classic Craig
We’re back with another Rachel & Darren-Gorge Time-Adventure Time-Fun Time episode of Tread the Red! This is actually a PART 2 of the “Spice & Tidbits” episode. If you’re new here, you don’t necessarily have to listen to that one first, but if you want a full well-rounded account of the trail tale and hike, we would recommend it!
This episode covers an unmarked trail (featuring *CLASSIC CRAIG*), an unfortunate dog & human encounter (don’t worry, everyone is okay – just a learning experience!), aaaaaand spppoookkkyy times on Daniel Boone Hut Trail! Obviously, this episode has a little bit of everything. 😉
Trails featured on this episode:
*Grays Arch Trail
*Rough Trail
*Classic Crag Overlook Trail
*Daniel Boone Hut Trail
*This episode wraps up the balloon loop hike featuring Rough Trail > Grays Arch > Daniel Boone Hut Trail
Thanks for listening! If you are here for this, please rate and review us on whatever app you listen on! Or, share the podcast to your social media – we would like that too 😀
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @tread_the_red and on Twitter @TreadTheRed. You can also check out our website, TreadTheRed.com for trail information and more!
Thanks for listening and happy hiking!
Peak Freak Designs – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature
Cindy is the human behind Peak Freak Designs – she is the owner, creator, and adventurer! Peak Freak Designs are home and beauty inspired by the trail, located in Louisville, KY. When Cindy is not crafting, you can find her out on the trail either hiking, running, backpacking, or rock climbing. She has a deep passion for nature which goes into every item she makes. Cindy pulls inspiration from her time and stories on the trail to create unique, one of a kind soaps, lotions, and knits. She loves creating natural art that you can use in everyday life.
Peak Freak Designs mission is to bring you the best in high quality, hand crafted goods for everyday life inspired by the trail.
How you can find Peak Freak Designs:
Website: www.peakfreakdesigns.com
Instagram: @peak_freak_designs
TikTok: @peakfreakdesigns
Facebook: @peakfreakdesign
ALSO: Peak Freak Designs is offering 25% off for all podcast listeners! You can use the code TREADTHERED25 in the online shop through 8/15/2022.
Happy listening and happy hiking! You can check out Peak Freak Designs at the RRG Farmers Market every Saturday from 10AM-2PM at the Slade Welcome Center. 😀
Dan & Judy Dourson – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature
These two have worked closely within the RRG Region and have so much to share. Everyone who has experienced the Gorge – whether that be as a hiker/climber/or what-have-you…you will connect with this episode that shares some of the wonders of our favorite place – The RRG. We encourage everyone to listen to this episode and to also check out Dan and Judy’s booth at the RRG Farmers Market for some fun educational activities and to look into their published books and everything else they have going on!
You can find their website here: TheRogueBiologist
The RRG Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 10AM-2PM at the Slade Welcome Center. You can check out more information about the market from their website, RRG Farmers Market, or on their instagram @rrgfarmersmarket. Thank you for listening, and we hope you keep an eye out for my RRG Farmers Market Guest Features! 🙂
Huecos
Gorge Geology!! The Gorge is an amazing place and there are so many cool things around every corner! We happened upon these HUGE “huecos” while out hiking along the Rough Trail one day. The path to these is unofficial/unmarked, branching off of the Rough Trail right before some scrambling up some boulders to connect up to Grays Arch Trail. If you want to know more information about the hike/location, listen to the podcast episode “Spice and Tidbits” where we cover this!
The Red River Gorge is predominantly made up of sandstone rocks. Within this sandstone was siderite concretions. The siderite chemically reacted with the components of water and was dissolved over time, leaving behind spherical bodies. These bodies were then rapidly weathered, leaving behind holes! The huge holes you see here are called “huecos”. Pretty neat!
As always, please Leave No Trace when visiting these areas! Do not burn a campfire inside this “hueco”. Do not spray paint inside or around this area! Also, be careful whenever you are using something to climb that was not put there by you. You never know how it was constructed or how long it has been out there exposed to the elements. Thankfully, the ladder we found was in tact and held our weight, but the first step was obviously showing wear. Be safe!
Tarr Ridge “Extravaganza” Trail
Tarr Ridge “Extravaganza” Trail – This has become one of my favorite trails in the Gorge! Especially when hiking during the Fall. First things first – this is an Unofficial/Unmarked trail, so there will not be tree blazes to mark your way. The trail itself is pretty obvious from use, but can get overgrown in the warmer months. If you are not familiar with the Gorge area, or are new to hiking, I would not recommend an unmarked trail!
Okay, now to get into it. This trail features 3 prominent (and AMAZING) overlooks. If you hike this trail in combination with Tarr Ridge East Trail, you can make that 4 amazing overlooks. 😉
Overall, this trail is about 4 miles TOTAL out-and-back. If you add in Tarr Ridge East, it is a little over 4 miles. The majority of this trail is “easy” because it is relatively flat, BUT the last 2 overlooks require rock scrambles, with the last one being the biggest challenge. There are sometimes ropes at these scrambles, but don’t count on it. There was only rope the first time I ever hiked this trail a few years ago, and there hasn’t been any since. There are ways to get up to the 2nd to last overlook without rope if you are careful, but the very last overlook requires a taller and steeper scramble with a drop-off on the side, so there is no room for error (I would not attempt this one without rope).
As always, know your limits while out there exploring, and be safe! Know that whatever you climb up, you will have to climb back down (and down is usually harder). Also, please Leave No Trace while you’re out there exploring the beauty of the Gorge! We have unfortunately found abandoned campfires that are still burning, and a few campsite areas littered with beer cans and trash along this trail. Don’t be those people!! If you find a burning campfire that has been abandoned, please put it out.
You can view the video below for general trail guidance and to give you an idea of “what to expect” while you’re out there. The clips in the video are from all different seasons!
Spice and Tidbits
Anyway, we cover the BEGINNING of a balloon loop trail featuring Rough Trail/Grays Arch Trail/Classic Crag Overlook Trail/Daniel Boone Hut Trail. The noteworthy feature along the part of the hike described in this episode is a huge “hueco” we found of the official trail!
Huecos are “hollows” in the sandstone cliff face that are made when siderite concretions within the sandstone get dissolved with water and leave behind spaces that are eventually weathered out into holes! The bigger holes are called “huecos”! Pretty NEAT.
Trails covered in this episode:
*The portion of Rough Trail from Martins Fork parking area up to where it connects with Grays Arch Trail
Features of Interest:
*Huge Hueco
Stone Gully – RRG Farmers Market Guest Feature
Stone Gully is a 180-acre natural habitat that allows Kate to craft and farm a small corner. Kate Stone is a nature artist, butterfly enthusiast, shepherdess, dog wrangler, berry fanatic, and flower child. You can find her every Saturday at the Red River Gorge Farmers Market in Slade, Kentucky or at stonegully.com.
We are so excited that we were able to chat with Kate about what she offers at the RRG Farmers Market (what you all can see if you come visit!) and also about her vibrant life!
Thank you for listening to the first episode of the RRG Farmers Market Vendor Series of Tread the Red & we hope you come visit the market!
Happy hiking!
Tread the Red 