John B. Stephenson Memorial Trail

This is a trip with multiple sites to visit over the course of a day. Visiting all five would equal around 5 miles, or you can choose to only go to one, as there are some slightly strenuous hills. The most visited is the Main Lookout, and the West Pinnacle offers a little rock climbing. Between each lookout is around a mile, some shorter, some longer. Dogs are allowed but camping is not. There...

Resurgence Cave in McKee, Kentucky offers a unique hiking trail that is both challenging and rewarding. The trail is of moderate difficulty, requiring sturdy footwear and a good level of fitness. It winds through dense forest, past towering rock formations and along the edge of a clear, fast-flowing river. The trail's main attraction is the cave itself, a large and impressive geological featu...

The hike begins at the parking area, just before the restrooms. Following a short, paved path will bring you to a small overlook of Flat Lick Falls. While this overlook is nice, the real treat comes when you venture to the base of the falls. Look for a small dirt path to the right of the overlook. I've been to this spot several times and the path has never been marked, but it is maintained and ...

The Tom Dorman State Nature Preserve is maintained by the Nature Conservancy and one of a few preserves in the Kentucky River Palisades ecosystem. The Kentucky River Palisades loop trail leaves from the 8-car parking lot from both directions and follows an old stage coach trail. There are a few steep climbs, not nothing too difficult. The main hazard here will be losing your footing, as the tr...

The Asbury University trail system is located just south of Wilmore, KY along the lush emerald banks of the Kentucky River. Leisurely looping through the luscious limestone landmasses of the Kentucky bluegrass region, the trails at Asbury offer visitors an opportunity to obtain up-close understanding of the beautiful bluffs and captivating cliffs that combine to create Kentucky's picturesque Pa...

These directions are similar to those marked in the Red River Gorge Climbing Guide. Be sure to pick one up at Miguel's Pizza or elsewhere to get a good idea of where all of the crags and climbing routes are. This adventure is to the Volunteer Wall and The Gallery crags.  The parking lot is marked on Google Maps as "Motherlode Parking Lot" which is at the base of a very unmaintained gravel rode....