What’s the one place that started it all for you? Got you hooked on the great outdoors. Sleeping under the stars. Hiking the trail. You name it. Maybe you have a place like that, or maybe you don’t. Maybe you are looking for a place like that simply don’t know where to find it. For me, I found it in eastern Kentucky at a place known as the Red River Gorge. I know, not what most people would think of when they think of the great outdoors. But there, off a quite, scenic mountain highway, are a few towns with the requisite gas station and small town essentials. These were the kind of places that only have one stop light for the entire town, and some towns might not have any.
My then girlfriend (and now wife), Melissa, first took me to the Red River Gorge when we met about 10 years ago. I had always heard of the place, but just hadn’t been yet, and really wasn’t all that much into the outdoors. I didn’t really camp much growing up, left the Boy Scouts after First Class, and generally liked spending time outside, but that was about it. Like a lot of people, I simply didn’t know how to get started when it came to outdoor activities. I didn’t have the knowledge, and sure didn’t have any of the gear required to spend even a couple nights outside.
That weekend we hiked along the trails as the placid Red River rolled slowly past. I was soon hooked on hiking. The Red River Gorge though, is mostly known for its sandstone cliffs, some of which exceed 200 feet in height. My wife wanted to show me a good time by hiking one of the best unofficial trails in the gorge. The Red River Gorge is one of those places where there are a several official trails and many more unofficial trails. It is part of the larger Daniel Boone National Forest, so it receives quite a bit of investment from the National Forest Service. It is also beloved by rock climbers and others who blaze their own trails to get to the most remote and exquisite overlooks.
The only problem was that heights have never been my best friend. I grew up in northwest Ohio in an area that was fairly flat by anyone’s standards. I had never really stood on the edge of a cliff or dealt with any kind of vertical relief outside of being in a tall office building. Suffice to say that I had a lot to learn. This particular route my girlfriend had chosen required scrambling up a large “staircase” hewn out by innumerable hikers over the years on the side of a large rock face. From there, it was a traverse around a horseshoe shaped canyon before ending at a spectacular natural arch. At multiple points along the trail I had to get within a few feet of the edge to squeeze past trees or other obstacles. I did survive to tell the tale of that day, and made it through with no worse injuries than a bruised ego and unimpressed girlfriend. She has no natural fear of heights at all, so to her I was being a big wimp!
Throughout the years when I lived in Cincinnati, I would periodically make the 2 hour drive down to the gorge. Over the years I explored many of the main areas in a variety of different seasons and settings. I paddled the river, camped on top of the overlooks, and trod many of the trails. I waited out violent thunderstorms in the summer and enjoyed the serenity of camping down low by the river during winter. Some of my most beautiful memories from came in the winter months when the snow left the landscape hushed and few visitors were on hand.
I also loved the cultural aspects of this area, one that largely seemed stationary in time in a changing world. I enjoyed the local restaurants (shout out to Miguel’s Pizza) and enjoyed drinking the locally brewed Ale 8, which is a refreshing take on a classic ginger ale. I stayed at most of the local campsites, and loved talking to fellow campers and the campground hosts. To be out there was a great chance to disconnect from a busy world, and achieve a solitude that I grew to cherish about the outdoors.
The thing was, this was an area within a couple hours drive for me that I could visit on the weekends, not a National Park on the other side of the country. While the iconic National Parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone are truly incredible places, I learned that we shouldn’t overlook the unique charm of exploring outdoor treasures right in our own regional backyard. No matter where you live, there are hidden gems that can bring you an incredible outdoor experience, be it as simple as a community park, nature preserve or local trail. These local places are readily on hand for all of us to explore, making a planned weekend adventure or even spontaneous visit a reality.
I would eventually move away from Cincinnati, but even today I still think of the Red River Gorge as a second kind of home for me. It’s where I faced my fear of heights, where I learned to love the outdoors, and a place where I truly felt at peace. While the allure of famous national parks on the other side of the country is undeniable, there’s a special kind of magic in discovering the outdoor wonders that exist right next door. The next time you contemplate an outdoor adventure, consider exploring these nearby gems. You might just find that the best outdoor experiences are the ones waiting to be embraced in your own backyard.