Why Fall 2025 Was a Fantastic Season for Climbing in the Red River Gorge

If you’ve spent any time in the Red River Gorge this fall, you already know — 2025 has been one for the books. From crisp sending temps to breathtaking color and some major new additions to our climbing landscape, this season has given us everything we love about autumn in the Gorge… and then some.

Here’s why Fall 2025 has been such an incredible time to climb in the Red:

1. The Weather Has Been Perfect for Sending

This fall blessed us early. Humidity dipped out sooner than usual, ushering in those ideal, dry conditions climbers dream about. Pair that with consistently cooler temps that have stuck around well into November, and you’ve got prime friction season.

Whether you were battling sandstone slopers or dancing up crimps, the rock felt crisp, grippy, and as welcoming as it gets. The kind of weather that makes you dig a little deeper, try a little harder, and maybe even send that project that’s been haunting you all year.

2. New Climbing Areas Opened — Expanding the Red in a Big Way

2025 was a landmark year for the future of climbing access and conservation in the Gorge. Two major areas came online, opening hundreds of acres and miles of cliffline for recreation, stewardship, and exploration.

Cave Fork Recreation Preserve

The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) made history with the purchase of 718 acres of the former Ashland WMA which is the largest land acquisition ever completed by a local climbing organization in the U.S. This $1.7 million effort added a massive stretch of land to the Cave Fork region, including several tracts that connect directly to Miller Fork (MFRP) and Pendergrass-Murray (PMRP).

Cave Fork Recreation Preserve (CFRP) now stands as the RRGCC’s fourth major property at 582 acres, featuring miles of largely undeveloped cliffline. A handful of climbing areas already exist, but the potential is enormous for both for new routes and long-term conservation of this incredible landscape.

This acquisition isn’t just an investment in climbing today; it’s a gift to future generations.

Cliffview Recreational Preserve

On top of that, the RRGCC established a recreational easement with Cliffview Resort and Lodge, creating access to over 30 cliff faces and 3.5 miles of cliffline in Campton, KY.

This new Cliffview Recreational Preserve (CRP) has exploded with development. Volunteer route setters have already established over 160 routes in 2024 alone, bringing fresh lines, new challenges, and exciting variety to the community.

More access. More routes. More places for climbers to explore. It’s an incredible time to be part of the Red River Gorge climbing community.

3. The Fall Colors Put On a Show

Every autumn in the Gorge is beautiful, but this year? Stunning.

The mix of warm days, cool nights, and steady weather patterns created some of the most vibrant leaf colors we’ve seen in years. Ridges glowed in amber and red, cliffbands peeked through gold, and every approach trail felt like walking through a painting.

Whether you were topping out on a sport route in PMRP or wandering through the quiet back hollers near Cave Fork, the scenery was pure magic.

4. Rocktoberfest Celebrated Its 25th Anniversary

This fall marked a huge milestone: the 25th anniversary of Rocktoberfest, the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition’s biggest annual fundraiser and community gathering.

The event brought together climbers from all over the country for competitions, clinics, raffles, vendor booths, live music, and of course — a whole lot of sending. This year felt extra special, honoring decades of community effort and climber-led conservation that have shaped the Red into what it is today.

If you were there, you know the energy was unlike anything else.

A Season to Remember

From unbeatable sending temps to historic land conservation, breathtaking fall color, and a Rocktoberfest for the ages, Fall 2025 has been a season we’ll be talking about for a long time.

Whether you climbed your hardest, discovered a new area, or simply soaked up the beauty of the Gorge, we hope this fall left you feeling inspired — and excited for everything still to come.