Auxier Ridge Loop
6.3 miles hiking, 2.1 miles paddling (6-12 hrs)
Best Hiking Scenery, Most Adventurous, Short Float
This loop involves off-trail hiking and possibly some light rope-work if it’s wet and slippery, so look at a different loop if you want something easier.
Overview
Those that have hiked the Auxier Ridge area are well aware of the scenic value of this isolated section of the Red River Gorge. There are no official trails that connect the Auxier Ridge area to the rest of the park, but with a packraft and a little bit of use-trail chutzpah, you’ll be able to make a great loop that can be finished in a single day. Further, you’ll now know how to connect this area of the park to the RRG proper, for inclusion in longer, more adventurous trips later.
Parking
Easy parking is at the Auxier Ridge Trailhead, or the Martin Fork Trailhead. I prefer the Martin Fork Trailhead for trip pacing reasons. Plus, having no other way but forward can help your off-trail navigation skills.
Route
From the Martin Fork Trailhead, hike down the road to the river, and put in. The float is lazy and easy, with great views of Raven Rock and Courthouse Rock, among others. Be sure to take out before the boundary of the park (pictured), or you’ll end up on private property with fences. Pack up on the floodplain, then follow the old path for a short distance until you need to veer left to stay in the park. Sidehill above the plain, gently gaining elevation until you can slowly descend into Auxier Branch Creek on your right. Reminiscent of hiking in Oregon, follow the creek until you come to Auxier Branch Trail on the valley floor, following it north.
Ascend the steep rise on Auxier Branch Trail, then on Auxier Ridge Trail, topping out near Courthouse Rock. Optionally, this massif can be somewhat easily climbed without equipment or technical knowledge, yielding amazing views into the valley below. If you choose to climb it, you’ll want to head around its north-eastern side and find the chimney chute that ascends at a 45 degree angle, drop packs, and spend five or ten minutes climbing. Those with fears of heights need not attempt this diversion.
Next, continue following the Auxier Ridge Trail south on the ridge. For those that didn’t climb Courthouse Rock, this narrow ridge top offers the best views on the loop. Looking west, you can make out Double Arch across the valley, and maybe some folks taking breaks on top of it. Ravens Rock is near to the east. You’ll probably see plenty of other hikers on this unforgettable section of trail. Even the old burn area is quite pretty.
Leaving the beaten path: Continue hiking right through the trailhead parking lot and follow the road for a few left turns. After the right-side turn-around, you’ll make your first right turn on the road. Just after this turn, at the very top of the ridgeline, you’ll need to probe into the woods, heading east/northeast, off trail. You’re looking for (and should easily find) a well marked and well maintained use trail that follows the ridge top. It’s not visible from the road but should materialize a few hundred feet after entering the woods, if you move perpendicular to its direction of travel. This use trail follows the top of the ridge, offering several clearings with great views. There might be a couple times when the trail splits, but taking a few minutes to scout each option will allow you to stay on the main branch.
On the map, there is a place marked “The Moves.” This is worth mentioning, as it’s a 35 degree descent over about 40 feet of bare (but grippy) rock, which will be difficult if the rock is wet. The exposure here is a bit unnerving, so if you’re afraid of heights you may want to bring an 80-foot rope or cord and a short piece of webbing to set up a hand line to assist you on your way down (see hand line note below). I was able to do it on wet rock wearing a 30 pound pack with no hand line, so don’t let this warning scare you too much. When the trail begins its final descent down to the road, it braids out, but you should be able to make your way down the steep dirt paths by peering through the woods for a good route below you. This use trail ends in the Martin’s Fork parking lot.
Water Level Check
According to Paddling Kentucky, the Red’s minimum navigable flow is 180 CFS at the gauge at Clay City. With a packraft, you can probably fudge that a little. Winter and spring are almost guaranteed to have enough water, but summer and fall are more conditional. There are two bridges in the area that make it easy to visually check the level.
Hand Line Note
To reduce our impact on the area, make sure to use a good technique if you choose to make a hand line. The easiest way is to bring 40 feet of cheap rope, tie it to a tree, and leave it behind after you use it. The better way is to bring 80 feet of rope and five feet of webbing or other strong cord to use as an anchor. Tie your webbing around the base of a tree so it makes a big circle, then double your rope over the webbing, hanging it from the webbing (the rope is not wrapped around the tree at all). Carefully hold both sides of the rope as you descend, then pull one side to recover the rope when you get to the bottom. You’ll need to leave the webbing anchor behind. This method eliminates abrasion of the tree trunk as the rope is pulled. Consider packing out any cord or rope left by previous parties if you choose not to use it to descend; we don’t want that detritus building up.
Mapping Resources
CalTopo map of all routes
KML file of Auxier Ridge Loop
How to use the CalTopo Map
In the sidebar on the left, there are folders. Each folder represents a route, and can be toggled on or off depending on which route you want to see. Just check or un-check the folders. If more than one route at a time is checked, it will be hard to separate them visually. There is also a folder labeled “Global Objects” that you should keep checked. It contains points that belong to multiple routes, as well as some other scenic points that might spark your curiosity and may be worthy of a diversion.
Mile markers do not necessarily start at the trailhead, as you’ll choose your own starting point for each loop.
These maps can be printed cheaply online using Skurka’s printing advice.