Auxier Ridge Trail to Courthouse Rock Hiking Guide
Auxier Ridge is one of the Red River Gorge's signature view hikes: a ridge walk with dramatic cliffs and sweeping views, ending at Courthouse Rock, a huge sandstone block named for its resemblance to a courthouse. It starts at the last parking area on Tunnel Ridge Road and needs no permit for a day trip. Pick a clear day and be ready for exposure on the ridge.
The Numbers
AllTrails lists the out-and-back to Courthouse Rock at 4.3 miles with 741 feet of gain, typically a two-hour-plus outing. In its own mileage list the Forest Service counts Auxier Ridge Trail #204 at 2 miles, Courthouse Rock Trail #202 at 2 miles and the connecting Auxier Branch Trail #203 at three-quarters of a mile, so the route you choose decides the total.
Getting to the Trailhead
Tunnel Ridge Road leaves KY 15 a little over three miles east of the Slade exit and runs five miles along the ridgetop. Only the first three are drivable; the final two are gated, and the Auxier Ridge Trailhead sits where the drivable road ends. Note that the road passes over Nada Tunnel without connecting to KY 77. Park in the designated lot only, since the Forest Service prohibits roadside parking on Tunnel Ridge Road and the road gets crowded on weekends and holidays.
Walking the Ridge
AllTrails describes the trail starting in forest among cliffs and gradually opening to views of the valley and ridges before Courthouse Rock comes into sight. Forest Service safety material is direct about this ridge country: every year people are hurt or die after going over a cliff here, vegetation along a rim won't reliably catch a slip, and kids should never be allowed to run or play near a drop. Stay on the worn tread, especially where wind or wet leaves make footing uncertain.
Adding Double Arch
The most popular variation is the full loop that also takes in Double Arch. AllTrails maps it at 6.2 miles with 1,043 feet of gain and rates it one of the top routes in the gorge. It includes several big climbs and long descents, and the final stretch follows the closed gravel end of Tunnel Ridge Road back to the car, which reviewers say feels longer than it looks.
Dogs, Water and Weather
Dogs are allowed on Forest Service trails here. Use a leash at the trailhead, where federal rules for developed sites call for six feet or less, and keep it on along the ridge's drop-offs. There is no drinking water at the trailhead; carry what you need from Slade or the Gladie Visitor Center. Cell service in the gorge is unreliable, so set a turnaround time and tell someone your plan.
Hiking tips for Auxier Ridge Trail to Courthouse Rock
- Skip the ridge in high wind or storms; it is exposed with no shelter.
- Keep kids and dogs within arm's reach near the cliff edges.
- Budget the full two to two and a half hours AllTrails estimates, plus stops.
- Download the route; signal fades in the gorge.
- If you add Double Arch, remember the last miles are on gravel road.
Nearby trails to explore
- Double Arch Trail (Red River Gorge)
- Gray's Arch Trail
- Chimney Top Rock Trail (Red River Gorge)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Auxier Ridge is the classic Red River Gorge ridge walk, and it is better with a few people setting a steady pace. Use TrailMates to find hikers in the Red River Gorge and organize the trip with the event group chat. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.