The Red River Gorge sits tucked away inside Daniel Boone National Forest. The historic Red River cuts through the gorge, and over millions of years carved the over 150 sandstone arches within the geological area's 29,000 acres. There are many free standing arches, rock shelters, jagged cliffs, natural forming bridges and waterfalls. If you are hiking with dogs, be sure to confirm you can take your dog as some paths restrict pets. We wore out three dogs with several hikes on this trip. A must-see is the Natural Bridge in the Natural Bridge State Resort Park but this would be a day to leave the dogs behind. There are 7 different trails plus a skylift to reach the top of the bridge. It was about a 1.5 mile hike taking the short route.
Whittleton Arch is an easy hike with dogs and ends at a beautiful arch with a waterfall. The hike is beautiful with many natural rock formations and streams along the way. When we were ready for a break, we connected our hammocks to the trees and grabbed a sandwich to relax by the stream listening to the babbling brook. The dogs took this opportunity to rest and beg for food!
Princess Arch and Chimney Top Rock were two other great views and great hikes with the dogs. We also relaxed at Natural Bridge Campground, cooking over open fire and I set a relaxing environment in the camper diffusing Siberian Fir. It has a woody scent offering a tranquil, positive environment. Not only is it calming and relaxing, it felt great to apply to my muscles after a long day of hiking.
A popular place to eat is Miguel's Pizza in Slade, KY. There is plenty of outdoor seating at picnic tables to bring your dogs with you. The pizza was delicious! Stop at Brandenburg General Store down the road for a quick peak in the store or some delicious ice cream!
We had three dogs with us. One dog had an upset stomach so I took the opportunity to apply one drop of Digestzen to his stomach. Yes, some essential oils are great for dogs too. If you are applying essential oils to your dog, only use one drop with a carrier oil. If you aren't sure what essential oils you can use with your pet, just reach out to me for a list. I would never use any brand but doTERRA due to their purity standards. Your pets don't have to suffer when they are having tummy trouble.
Enjoy your hike in Red River Gorge!
To learn more about the top 10 essential oils to address day-to-day health needs, click here:
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