Cave Fork Recreational Preserve is the fourth major property owned by the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition. The property spans 582 acres and, along with expansions purchased for the MFRP and PMRP properties, marks the largest land acquisition of its kind by a local climbing organization in the United States. This addition has paved the way for hundreds of new climbing routes to become available in the future. While the majority of the crags here are still under development, the RRGCC is hard at work building trails and infrastructure to get them open as soon as possible. Currently open is The Venue, a premier destination for the hardest of climbers that rivals the legendary Motherlode. This crag was first discovered and developed in secret years before it was purchased by the RRGCC; now its access is permanently secured, with numerous more outstanding crags to come.
Directions & Parking
Turn off KY-11 onto Ashland Camp Loop and then onto the dirt/gravel Cave Fork Road. Wind down a hill for about a half mile, crossing a small stream at the bottom of the hill. A blue gate will be in front of you — turn left to stay on the main road. Immediately afterward, there will be a split. Head down and right to the Lake District parking, or veer left and continue for another half mile, crossing a second, more technical stream (depending on recent wetness), before reaching the large, gravel Wilson Hollow lot on your left. 4WD is helpful but not required.
Waivers & Access Considerations
All RRGCC climbing areas require visitors to fill out their waiver in order to recreate in the area.
Road conditions vary widely throughout the year. Traffic, weather, and visitor usage can drastically affect the condition of the gravel roads — check current conditions before driving down into these areas.
CFRP is the newest RRGCC property. The majority of the crags here are still under development and the Coalition is hard at work building trails and infrastructure. Please only park in designated lots and only use designated trails. Do not seek out crags that are not published on Mountain Project or Red River Climbing. If a crag isn’t found on either of these resources, it is considered closed until the Coalition has approved it to be opened. Respect all climbs with tags and do not climb them, as they are potentially dangerous or unfinished. The climbs that are open here are still very new and rock breakage is very likely, so we strongly recommend wearing a helmet.
Must-Try Routes
The current selection of routes open to the public is limited. Stay tuned, as hundreds of stellar new routes and dozens of amazing crags will be gradually coming online in the near future. Right now, we highly recommend checking out the world-class crag “The Venue.” While it is primarily geared toward harder climbing, it is still a gorgeous area worth a simple hike. For more beginner-friendly to moderate climbing, look for crags such as The Chicken Coop, Isengard, The Casino, Dragonstone, and The Aviary, possibly opening before Rocktoberfest 2026.
Best For
Much like the PMRP, the CFRP will be an incredible destination for climbers of all skill and experience levels once most of its crags are open to the public. This historic purchase has given rise to a new generation of hard-working, stoked developers who are passionate about creating new routes for everyone to enjoy.
← Back to Where to Climb