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Red River Gorge, Kentucky fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Red River Gorge area peaks around October 28, with the best viewing from roughly October 27 to November 4.
- Typical peak
- October 28
- Best viewing
- Oct 27 – Nov 4
- Color starts
- Around Oct 16
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 10
- Elevation
- 1,000 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 28. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Red River Gorge on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Red River Gorge
The Red River Gorge, in the Daniel Boone National Forest, is known for its sandstone cliffs and more than 100 natural arches. At Natural Bridge State Resort Park, a trail climbs to Natural Bridge itself, a massive sandstone arch with views across the forest from the top. Sky Bridge, a short walk from the road, is an arch you can walk across, and Chimney Top Rock looks down into the gorge from a narrow point of rock.
Scenic drive
The Red River Gorge Scenic Byway loops through the gorge on Route 77 and Route 715. From the north, Route 77 passes through Nada Tunnel, a narrow, one-lane tunnel cut through the rock for an old logging railroad, then follows the Red River beneath the cliffs before Route 715 climbs past the turnoff to Sky Bridge.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Look for higher ground
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Red River Gorge typically peaks much earlier. Look for higher ground nearby: in this part of the country, color tends to arrive about 4 to 5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb.
Too late? Already past peak
Look for lower valleys
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Red River Gorge typically peaks much later. Lower valleys nearby are your best bet: color tends to hang on about 4 to 5 days longer for every 1,000 feet lower.
Nearby destinations
- Lexington, KYTypical peak Oct 28, about the same time. 47 miles away.
- Cincinnati, OHTypical peak Oct 29, about the same time. 99 miles away.
- Louisville, KYTypical peak Oct 30, 2 days later. 117 miles away.
- Hocking Hills, OHTypical peak Oct 27, 2 days earlier. 127 miles away.
- Knoxville, TNTypical peak Oct 31, 3 days later. 129 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Red River Gorge?
In a typical year, fall color in the Red River Gorge area peaks around October 28, with the best viewing from roughly October 27 to November 4. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Red River Gorge?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 16, and most leaves are down by about November 10.
Is Red River Gorge early or late compared with the rest of Kentucky?
Red River Gorge peaks close to the middle of the Kentucky season, about Oct 29 on average across the 3 Kentucky destinations we track.
What trees color up around Red River Gorge?
The main fall color in this area comes from red maple, sourwood, sassafras, and shagbark hickory. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.