Red River Gorge
Forest · Kentucky
Daniel Boone National Forest's sandstone canyon country holds more natural arches than anywhere else in the eastern U.S.; the short loop to Sky Bridge, a rock arch near Slade, is one of the most photographed spots once the canopy turns in mid-to-late October.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 18–October 22
Color builds from October 12 · mostly bare by November 12
Sampled at Red River Gorge’s own coordinates and elevation (336 m) rather than a regional average.
Kentucky is sampled at 20 weather points, then moved 3 days earlier so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. This year's weather has the peak running 7 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Red River Gorge
Good color holds through about October 29, giving you roughly 17 days from the first turn to past peak. That runs roughly 4 days earlier than the rest of Kentucky. At 1,102 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
Red River Gorge on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Kentucky, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Kentucky
Farms & harvest
Frequently asked
- When does Red River Gorge peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 18–October 22 (best estimate October 20). Color starts around October 12 and is mostly bare by November 12.
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