New Trails and Recreation Opportunities Taking Shape at Cave Fork Recreational Preserve (CFRP)

Exciting things are taking shape at one of Lee County’s newest outdoor recreation areas.

On September 17, at the invitation of the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC), Beattyville/Lee County Tourism Director Dedra Brandenburg joined RRGCC board member Tara deCamp and Executive Director Louie Allen for a hike through the Cave Fork Recreational Preserve (CFRP) to see firsthand the progress being made on public access, trail development and future recreation opportunities across the property.

The visit also provided an opportunity to see just how much the RRGCC’s presence in Lee County and the climbing community surrounding it, has grown.

A Growing Recreation and Conservation Partner

Founded in 1996, the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition has grown tremendously, particularly over the past decade. What began as an effort to protect climbing access has developed into a major nonprofit organization dedicated to land preservation, conservation, responsible recreation and permanent public climbing access in the Red River Gorge region.

Today, RRGCC owns and manages more than 1,800 acres of recreational land in the region, with a substantial amount of that property located in Lee County.

The growth of those land holdings has occurred alongside a remarkable increase in climbing visitation. According to economic impact studies conducted in 2016 and 2021, estimated annual climber visits to the Red River Gorge region increased from approximately 7,500 to more than 102,000 visits per year. Follow the RRGCC page for updates! Soon to be released is the NEW 2025 Economic Impact Study!

That growth demonstrates the increasingly important role rock climbing plays in the region’s outdoor recreation economy. It also creates a greater need for permanent public access, sustainable trails, conservation and responsible management of the natural landscapes attracting those visitors.

In 2025, RRGCC took another major step when it purchased 718 acres of the former Ashland Wildlife Management Area in Lee County for $1.7 million. The purchase was the largest land acquisition in climbing-access history by a local climbing organization in the United States.

The acquisition established the 582-acre Cave Fork Recreational Preserve while also adding acreage to RRGCC’s existing Miller Fork and Pendergrass-Murray recreational preserves.

Together, these properties represent an extraordinary amount of nonprofit-owned recreational and conservation land in Lee County dedicated to protecting the landscape while keeping it available for public recreation.

Seeing the Progress at Cave Fork

During the September 17 visit, deCamp and Allen showed Brandenburg some of the work already underway at Cave Fork.

A new gravel parking lot has been constructed just a short drove off KY Highway 11 on Cave Fork Road, to provide access to the property. RRGCC’s now full-time land manager, along with volunteers and members of the organization, has also been putting considerable work into clearing and developing trails throughout the preserve.

The group followed one of the newly constructed trails uphill to the Marie Antoinette climbing area, where deCamp and Allen showed Brandenburg the climbing routes and features being developed there, including a route appropriately named “The Guillotine.” 

The hike also offered plenty to enjoy beyond the climbing cliffs. Summer wildflowers were still blooming along the trails, a friendly black snake made an appearance, and the views along the trail around the lake provided a beautiful look at another side of the property.

Cave Fork Is About More Than Climbing

One of the most exciting aspects of the work taking place at Cave Fork is RRGCC’s vision for making the property useful to more than rock climbers.

As trails are developed, the organization and its land manager are focusing on creating routes that connect and form loops, providing opportunities for hikers to explore the property as well.

Rather than developing only one-way access trails that take climbers from a parking lot to a cliff and back, the goal at Cave Fork is to create a more connected recreational trail system.

A wide trail currently being cleared around the lake is especially promising. With beautiful views of the water, forest and surrounding landscape, it could become an enjoyable route for hikers, mountain bikers, families and nature lovers who simply want to spend time outdoors.

That broader approach is important for Lee County. While RRGCC is rooted in the sport of rock climbing, the land the organization has protected can provide recreational opportunities for a much wider audience.

Someone doesn't have to put on a harness or climb a cliff to appreciate these properties.

Protecting Land While Creating Recreation

Cave Fork represents another important addition to Lee County’s growing outdoor recreation landscape.

RRGCC’s investment in land acquisition, conservation, trail development and public access is helping ensure that large areas of Lee County's natural landscape remain protected while also creating places where people can responsibly experience them.

The work happening at Cave Fork also demonstrates how conservation and tourism can complement one another. Protecting forests, cliffs, waterways and wildlife habitat preserves the very landscapes that draw people to Eastern Kentucky, while thoughtfully developed trails allow visitors and residents to experience those places.

There is still plenty of work ahead at Cave Fork, and trail development will continue through the efforts of RRGCC’s land manager, board members and volunteers.

But walking the property today provided an exciting glimpse of what is taking shape just off Highway 11 — a place where climbing, hiking, conservation and outdoor recreation can come together.

For Beattyville and Lee County, Cave Fork is another example of how the Red River Gorge region continues to grow beyond its traditional boundaries while creating new reasons for visitors to explore the quieter side of the Gorge.

Rocktoberfest Helps Support RRGCC’s Land

The next major event on the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition calendar is Rocktoberfest, the organization’s annual fundraising event, taking place October 7–11 at Land of the Arches Campground.

Rocktoberfest is more than a gathering of the climbing community. The annual event serves an important purpose: raising funds to help RRGCC make payments on and protect the recreational properties it has acquired.

The multi-day event brings the climbing community together while directly supporting RRGCC’s continued investment in climbing access, land conservation and recreation throughout the region.

For visitors who enjoy climbing at places such as Cave Fork, Miller Fork and Pendergrass-Murray, events like Rocktoberfest are an important reminder that maintaining public access to these properties requires continued fundraising, volunteer work and community support.

The trails being built, parking areas being improved and hundreds of acres being protected are the result of years of work by RRGCC members, staff, volunteers, donors and supporters.

As Cave Fork continues to develop into a destination for climbing, hiking, mountain biking and nature exploration, Rocktoberfest provides an opportunity for the outdoor community to help support the organization responsible for protecting these places for future generations.