Red River gorge info

I be heading to Kentucky for work. I don't want to miss a chance to climb the gorge. What is the climbing scene of the area like? Is there that one campground for climbers? Is it easy to just show up and find partners for the weekend?

Thanks Max

The Red River gorge has one of the most unique climbing scenes I've ever seen.

Kentucky as a whole, doesn't really care about climbing at all ... but the 10 mile radius around the RRG lives breathes and eats climbing. Even the beer store has a sign that says "welcome climbers!"

The only camp site worth anything is Miguel's Pizza. It's $2 a night, great access to everywhere. The guidebooks even give you directions from there exclusively. Best part is the community there though. The basement is full of climbers looking for people to climb with ... or more likely play some N64 and eat some pizza with.

Overall, it's an awesome place. I've never had a bad trip to the Red ever. I'm envious you get to go and get paid too.

Hey Max!
Show up for a weekend, and you will have no problem finding a partner as long as you're not shy to ask. I climbed with someone from Montreal all week and he came alone. Miguels Pizza is the place to stay because it's a "climbers only" camp ground so everyone there is living and breathing climbing. It's an awesome place and the red has amazing climbing. CHEERS!

Alex Jordan wrote:The Red River gorge has one of the most unique climbing scenes I've ever seen. Kentucky as a whole, doesn't really care about climbing at all ... but the 10 mile radius around the RRG lives breathes and eats climbing. Even the beer store has a sign that says "welcome climbers!" The only camp site worth anything is Miguel's Pizza. It's $2 a night, great access to everywhere. The guidebooks even give you directions from there exclusively. Best part is the community there though. The basement is full of climbers looking for people to climb with ... or more likely play some N64 and eat some pizza with. Overall, it's an awesome place. I've never had a bad trip to the Red ever. I'm envious you get to go and get paid too.

Agree with everything Alex said... had a good laugh at "Kentucky as a whole, doesn't really care about climbing at all ... but the 10 mile radius around the RRG lives breathes and eats climbing." Could not have put it better.

And accordingly, "The Red River gorge has one of the most unique climbing scenes I've ever seen" that is also true. Since it was the first place I started climbing at, I thought ALL climbing areas would be like that, but definitely not true (except maybe EPC).

I do like Miguels, but for a slower pace (not sure what your pace is, I don't like crowds) and when I have partners I prefer Lago Linda's. Instead of $2/per person, it charges a bit more per campsite. It is less hustle and bustle, and has a slightly less crowded area to cook. Also you can drive directly to your campsite instead of park in a parking lot and walk 2 minutes (lazy climber here). I also prefer the shower there (not coin operated, like Miguel's is, and if I don't have enough coins I am still soapy). Miguels sells gear and the breakfast and pizza are amazing. At least the girl bathrooms get a bit crowded in the morning.

On the downside, Lago Linda's only has a limited menu (by day) and limited food service hours. And if you like lots of people, maybe go for Miguel's. I believe both have wi fi, bathrooms, and showers.

Another consideration for you may be, Lago Linda's is full of people from Quebec, where I notice you are from. It seems like Canadians like Lago Linda's. When I go there I find myself, a non-French speaker, the only person who doesn't speak French... unable to communicate in English (well, they can speak English, but prefer not to) in the middle of nowhere Kentucky, USA.

A small consideration may be where you plan to climb, although it is all pretty close... Lago Linda's is closer to PMRP so depending on where you plan to hit up (Lower Gorge vs. Upper Gorge) it may be another consideration.

Alex Jordan wrote:The only camp site worth anything is Miguel's Pizza.

Miguels the only campsite worth anything? Ha ha ha ha. No, no, no no no.

Thats about the worst advice I have heard. Yeah, if you like the party frat scene and sharing 3 toilets with about 300 other climbers than its a great spot to be. Super noisy, super dirty and not enough showers or bathrooms. I would suggest Land of the Arches, Lago Linda's, or basically any other campsites before I would send anyone to miguels.

If you are looking for partners though Miguels is your best bet so you might be stuck going there, sorry. Their pizza is pretty good too but camping there sucks.

yesrodcire wrote: Miguels the only campsite worth anything? Ha ha ha ha. No, no, no no no. Thats about the worst advice I have heard. Yeah, if you like the party frat scene and sharing 3 toilets with about 300 other climbers than its a great spot to be. Super noisy, super dirty and not enough showers or bathrooms. I would suggest Land of the Arches, Lago Linda's, or basically any other campsites before I would send anyone to miguels. If you are looking for partners though Miguels is your best bet so you might be stuck going there, sorry. Their pizza is pretty good too but camping there sucks.

Agree stay away for camping at miguels. Only go for great pizza. lago lindas or land of arches is much more low key.

Love Miguel's. Rockhouse down the road has the best burgers in the world (IMHO).

My wife and I got tired of the camping there, so we just fork out an extra 30 bucks, or whatever it is, and stay in one of their air conditioned rooms for rent. Also, the showers are a $1 for 5min, but they're clean and the water is hot...

Plenty of welcoming people to chat up and go climbing with.

There is a dedicated website/forum you can google search (not sure if I can post another site here) that is solely dedicated to RRG climbing. They have an area in their forum just for finding partners to climb with. You'll also find the latest routes there as well. New routes are constantly being bolted and the guidebooks become partially outdated shortly after they are printed (mostly the Southern Gorge).

You'll love the area, the atmosphere and the amount of quality climbing is fantastic. Stay at Miguel's and if it's too busy for you, drive down the road to Land of the Arches. You can leave the tent in the car and sleep in their "indoor camping" if you prefer (bring ear plugs).

Good luck and enjoy your time there.

redriverclimbing.com is the site he refered to

It also has its own online guidebook, and is more current than the guidebook. which is nice because new routes go in often, especially in some areas.

Its still worth buying the guidebook though...

yesrodcire wrote: Miguels the only campsite worth anything? Ha ha ha ha. No, no, no no no. Thats about the worst advice I have heard. Yeah, if you like the party frat scene and sharing 3 toilets with about 300 other climbers than its a great spot to be. Super noisy, super dirty and not enough showers or bathrooms. I would suggest Land of the Arches, Lago Linda's, or basically any other campsites before I would send anyone to miguels. If you are looking for partners though Miguels is your best bet so you might be stuck going there, sorry. Their pizza is pretty good too but camping there sucks.

I dunno if you've been there recently but one of the men's toilets is out of action and it gets ever more popular, so now it seems like 1.5 toilets (gotta share the one inside) with 500 climbers. Miguel's is pretty much where you have to stay if you're trying to meet people though. Or LoA. Or the parking lot of muir I guess.

Lago Linda's is great, but a bit out of the way if you are climbing in the north gorge, but great for PMRP or MFRP. Lago's is $5/p/n compared to Miguel's $2, but it is at least 3 or 4 times nicer of an atmosphere.

Thank you very everyone. It was way more information then I expected. I gives me a very good idea of what to expect if i make it out there.

Thanks,
Max

I hate camping at miguels. It's a loud obnoxious party. I go for dinner or in the morning to Meet people.