Grab the Handwarmers for This Hike in Kentucky That’s 100% Worth Braving the Cold

You never know what weather you'll get on a winter day in Kentucky. It might be 50 degrees and sunny; it might be 10 degrees with frigid wind and grey skies. Despite the wild swings in the weather, winter can be a great time to hike in the Bluegrass State. The trails are often quieter, as the crowds tend to visit them in the warmer months. The cold is also not so bad when you have the right gear, like warm socks, a hat, and gloves; I especially love using handwarmers to stay warm when it's chilly. The Rough Trail and Gray's Arch Trail is a wonderful winter hike with incredible views.

The Rough Trail and Gray's Arch Trail is a 7.4-mile loop hike in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. It's considered moderately challenging and takes nearly four hours to complete. Parking is available at the Martins Fork Parking lot near the trailhead. The trail begins on the Rough Trail headed south towards the Daniel Boone Hut Trail. It continues to the Sheltowee Trace Trail, the Rough Trail, the Gray's Arch Trail, and back to the Rough Trail, forming a loop.

Hikers see incredible scenery along this trail. There are lush forests with many trees and foliage. During the winter, there are lots of leaves on the ground. Following storms, there may be downed trees along the trail. The Gray's Arch portion of the trail takes hikers past Gray's Arch, an incredible natural sandstone arch. The arch is massive at about 80 feet wide and 50 feet tall. This portion of the trail also passes beautiful rock formations.

Visit our list of must-have hiking accessories to ensure you're prepared for a comfortable experience on the trail. Handwarmers can also make winter hiking more enjoyable.

For more details, visit the Rough Trail and Gray's Arch Trail listing on AllTrails.

The Red River Gorge Geological Area is an incredible 29,000-acre natural area in eastern Kentucky. It's great for biking, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and more. The area has many challenging trails, including the Rock Bridge Loop and Double Arch Trail. Red River Gorge Zipline Tours takes visitors on an exciting zipline over the scenic area.