Mountain Project Logo

Best RRG guidebook?

Original Post
Erik Withak · · Vail, CO · Joined May 2021 · Points: 0

Wondering what book(s) will best represent the area as a whole. Interested in sport and trad. Not too keen on buying the three specific region books as that's a lot of cash and a lot of book to carry around. I'll be there for a month so plenty of time to explore.

Alan Rubin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 10

While there are the 'select' guides, which are OK, if you are there for a month and want variety, I'd splurge for the three books (and if you want to dispense with one, I'd pass on Millers Fork--but that's just my opinion). If you want, I imagine you could sell them when you leave and recoup a little of the cost. As far as carrying them around, you'll only need to 'carry' one at a time, depending where you are climbing for the day.

Ciarán Lynch · · Ann Arbor MI · Joined Nov 2019 · Points: 119

Best of the Red.
Well put together and the star ratings always seem to be on point. Can't speak to it for trad, but was perfect for sport climbing.

Noah Betz · · Beattyville, KY · Joined Nov 2017 · Points: 49

The Red is easily the best one that’s most current- unfortunately it has little of the Northern Gorge trad

Caleb Mattson · · Cincinnati, OH · Joined Jun 2019 · Points: 60

The Red only has sport crags (including trad routes at sport crags I believe) and is only focused on where the routes and crags are (which may be what you are interested in).  The individual guidebooks have all the crags and more history and cool pictures.  I don't know much about RRG Select or Best of the Red, but I would assume they are not as comprehensive

DrRockso RRG · · Red River Gorge, KY · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 860

The Red is a great guidebook if you plan on only doing sport climbing.  The Wolverine publishing books "North and South" are also very good and ought to be coming out with new editions soonish.

A little article I wrote on the subject, or refer to the summary I wrote on the RRG MP page.

https://bluegrassclimbingschool.com/2021/04/14/the-best-climbing-guidebook-for-red-river-gorge/

Nicholas K · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2019 · Points: 36

The default for RRG now is:

The Red (for all Sport climbs + any trad climbs present at the crag ex: Phantasia or Military walls) and the North guide (for all the northern trad crags)

The rest of the guides are moot at this point.

DrRockso RRG · · Red River Gorge, KY · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 860

Locals don't need guidebooks!

Misha Sweeney · · SLC · Joined Feb 2019 · Points: 5

"The Red" has less pretty pictures tho

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
Post a Reply to "Best RRG guidebook?"

Log In to Reply
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.