Red River Gorge Climbing Guidebooks

In this post, we’ve detailed the most up-to-date Red River Gorge climbing guidebooks. These may be most helpful for experienced climbers visiting the gorge, as well as current Southeast clients that are making the transition from gym to crag. These guidebooks are not a substitute for professional instruction – find more about our instructional guided rock climbing services here. 

The Red – If you’re coming to the Red River Gorge to sport climb, this is the only book you need! It’s currently the only single guidebook that includes every publicly accessibly sport climbing crag in the Red River Gorge; including the PMRP, Miller Fork, Muir Valley, the crags with sport climbing in the Northern Region, as well as crags in between. This guide also includes all the trad climbing at those predominately sport crags. For the trad-only crags, check out “Red River Gorge North” below.

Red River Gorge North – This guidebook details all crags north of the Mountain Parkway, including most of the trad climbing in the Red River Gorge. There are still a few classic sport crags, though – including the ever-popular Military Wall, Left Flank, Phantasia, Funk Rock City, and Eastern Skybridge. 

Muir Valley Pocket Guide – This no-frills guidebook details Muir Valley, one of the most popular and accessible climbing areas here in the Red River Gorge. This guidebook is unique in that it keeps the information very simple and easy to follow. If you plan on doing most of your climbing in Muir Valley, this guidebook is all you need. 

Still overwhelmed? See our tips below:

For the most complete picture of climbing in the Red, buy 1-2 guidebooks:

The Red (covers what was previously detailed in RRG South and Miller Fork ) if you’re mostly sport climbing

OR purchase The Red & RRG North for all of the sport AND trad climbing in the Gorge

Climbing mostly in Muir Valley: Muir Valley Pocket Guide

Mostly trad climbing: RRG North

Don’t want to buy a guidebook? Or want to supplement your one guidebook with more info? Check out www.redriverclimbing.com – this online guidebook is the most up-to-date info you’ll find!