The Running Yoders: Running at Red River Gorge (Auxier Ridge Trail Loop)

Much like I said in our last post, the trails within the Red River Gorge geological area were certainly varied. They were also full of intrigue and scenic views. The most difficult part of keeping a steady pace on the trails was continually running into interesting geological formations. If I had to pick one "must run" route for a visit to Red River Gorge it would be the following loop from Saturday.

We ran up the Auxier Ridge Trail and then left to the Courthouse Rock Trail, past Haystack Rock, Courthouse Rock, back on to Auxier Ridge and then turned around and came back around the Auxier Branch Trail with a detour up to Double Arch and back around the loop to return to the parking lot near Nada Tunnel where we started. Auxier Ridge is probably the best view in the park, basically running along wide expanses of the Gorge. After the higher single track and lots of pines we dropped down at into floor of the Gorge where it felt like a rainforest. I said over and over again that if I woke up in the lower Gorge trails I would probably assume I had been dropped off in South America.

The whole loop was rugged, steep (>15%) at times and required some climbing and jumping over large rocks and gaps. The last 1.5 miles on the "Double Arch" trail back down to the parking lot were pretty much smooth rolling dirt road so quite a departure from the rest of the trails.

Here are some photos I shot along the way. As you might be able to tell we ran in alternating sprinkling rain or fog depending on our elevation most of the way.