Editing Red River Gorge (section)

==Recreation==

===Rock climbing===
[[File:Red River Gorge - Motherlode - Convicted 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Rock climbing in '''The Motherlode''' area of Red River Gorge]] 
[[File:Downatroadrrgorge.jpg|thumb|upright|the lone road through the gorge, seen from a ridge top trail]]
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 [[Pitch (ascent/descent)|pitch]] and most cliffs are less than {{cvt|200|ft|m}} tall. There are numerous [[Traditional climbing|traditional]] and [[sport climbing]] routes in the region, although the latter are more dominant. Many cliffs lie within [[Daniel Boone National Forest]]; however several important cliffs are located on private land and in two privately owned preserves created to allow climbing access:
#'''Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve''' is a {{convert|750|acre|km2|adj=on}} preserve owned and maintained by [[Red River Gorge Climbers' Coalition]].
#[[Muir Valley]] is a {{convert|400|acre|km2|adj=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|title= Muir Valley official website|url=http://www.muirvalley.com/general.php|access-date=6 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131411/http://www.muirvalley.com/general.php|archive-date=14 July 2011}}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite book|last1= Ellington|first1=Ray|title=The Red River Gorge|date=2005|publisher=Wolverine|isbn=0-9721609-4-9}}</ref> with a second edition in 2007.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ellington|first1=Ray|title=Red River Gorge Rock Climbs|date=2007|publisher= Wolverine|isbn=978-0-9792644-1-2|edition=2nd}}</ref> The continued establishment of new routes required the latest edition to the guidebook to become two volumes, ''Red River Gorge Climbs South''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ellington|first1=Ray|title=Red River Gorge Climbs South|date=2012|isbn=978-1938393044}}</ref> and ''Red River Gorge Climbs North''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ellington|first1=Ray|title=Red River Gorge Climbs North|date=2013|isbn=978-1938393037}}</ref> Ray Ellington's newest book, ''Miller Fork Climbing'', explores hundreds of routes in the ever-growing Miller Fork Recreational Preserve.<ref name= ":0">{{Cite web| url=http://www.redriverclimbing.com/millerfork/MFRPguidebooksales.htm|title=Miller Fork Climbing| website= redriverclimbing.com|access-date=2016-05-06}}</ref>

Miguel's Pizza, a restaurant in [[Slade, Kentucky]], is widely regarded as the hub of climbing culture in the Red River Gorge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boland |first1=Whitney |title=How Miguel's Pizza Made the Red River Gorge What It Is Today |url=https://www.climbing.com/places/how-miguels-pizza-made-the-red-river-gorge-what-it-is-today/ |publisher=Climbing Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Miguel's Pizza, Red River Gorge Landmark, Turns 40 |url=https://gripped.com/profiles/miguels-pizza-red-river-gorge-landmark-turns-40/ |publisher=Gripped Magazine}}</ref> Most climbing guidebooks and websites use Miguel's as the starting point for directions to climbing areas ("from Miguel's, turn...").<ref>{{cite web |title=Red River Gorge Climbing |url=https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105841134/red-river-gorge |website=Mountain Project}}</ref>

===Hiking and camping===
The Red River Gorge is also known for its hiking trails that range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. Over {{cvt|60|mi}} 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 {{cvt|300|ft}}  of any road or designated trail. No camping in rock shelters or within {{cvt|100|ft}} 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 ({{cvt|4|mi}}), hikers can scramble up the back side of the arch, although this activity is considered extremely dangerous and can lead to injury or death.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://toredrivergorge.com/top-10-day-hikes/grays-arch-area/long-greys-arch-loop-4-miles/|title=Gray's Arch Loop-Short (4.0 miles)|date=2011-02-16|newspaper=toRedRiverGorge.com|language=en-US| access-date= 2016-10-10}}</ref>