All Trips > Kentucky > Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop Choose Your Dates AT A GLANCE Kentucky 10 Explorer Chicks Backpacking Backpacking, US-Based, Weekend, Workshop 2 Days 3 - Active Physical demand level for this trip Overview Photos Itinerary Logistics Activity Level What's Included Choose Your Dates Share Overview Over the course of two days, join other women and learn how to backpack in beautiful Red River Gorge, Kentucky. This Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop for women is a hands-on, fully immersive experience in the great outdoors. Yes, your dreams of hiking to a faraway, remote land to spend a few days camping and living in the wild surrounded by mountains can come true! We want you to be able to backpack freely in the wild at your every whim armed with the skills, knowledge, and experience to do so! So welcome to your outdoor classroom: the Red River Gorge Geological Area. AKA: This is ain’t no free class at your local outfitter. This is REAL backpacking with you doing all the things: packing, hiking with a full pack, cooking, setting up camp, hanging a bear bag, filtering water, asking a million questions, and if you’re real lucky pooping in the woods ?—with a supportive group of women and one of our expert guides. That means when you inevitably mess up, no need to feel embarrassed. When you question if you’re doing something correctly, your guide can help you. Let’s learn together in the outdoors, so when it’s time for your big adventure you’ll already have legit, backcountry experience. It all goes down in beautiful Eastern Kentucky. With the Red River Gorge hiking trails leading to an abundance of natural bridges, sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, and sandstone arches, we couldn’t think of a more beautiful location to teach you how to backpack in the wilderness. The best part? We’ll lend you the essential gear to get started! Every Explorer Chick will be provided with a: • Backpack • Sleeping bag • Sleeping pad • Shared two-person tent • Shared cooking equipment • Water filtration Yep! Give backpacking and camping a try before thousands of dollars into it. Try out our gear to learn what features you like and dislike. Ask your guide about other brands. Seriously, this workshop is all about learning while connecting to other adventurous, rad women! Photos Itinerary Expand All Days Day 1 - Learn How to Pack, Cook, Set Up Camp, Filter Water and More Rise early Explorer Chick! You are learning how to backpack this weekend. You’ll meet up with your Explorer Chick Guide at the trailhead first thing in the morning. She’ll be the one surrounded with enough gear and food to mobilize a small army. To kick off the workshop, she’ll walk everyone through a Duffle Shuffle where gear is passed out and you pack up together learning how to properly pack your pack. Once everyone is loaded up and packs have been adjusted, you’ll hit the trails in the Red River Gorge. Throughout the day, your Explorer Chick guide will pause for instruction including how to filter water, safety, Leave No Trace, and basic safety. You’re encourage to ask all the questions especially the weird ones. And, yes, we will teach you the trick for squatting in the woods without peeing on your shoes. By early evening you’ll roll into camp happy to heave off your backpack. Your guide will help everyone set up tent before prepping dinner. It’ll be hands on for dinner so you can try your hand at lighting the camp stove. After chowing down, your guide will also share how to properly dispose of food waste and how to clean dishes in the back country. We’ll shimmy out to our favorite spot to catch the sunset or watch the stars. And fire bans permitting, we’ll kick around a campfire. Distance: 3.4 miles Elevation Gain: 1,067’ Optional Evening Hike: 1.83 miles. 266′ gain. Accommodation: Backpacking Tent – Shared 2 per Meals: L-D Day 2 - Camp Coffee and a Day Hike Rise and shine, Explorer Chick! You freaking did it – backcountry camped with nothing but the stuff on your back. But first the most important lesson in all of backpacking – your Explorer Chick Guide will get you good and caffeinated with some hot coffee. Then she’ll recruit some help to pull to together a yummy breakfast. She’ll walk you through how to break camp and you’ll try your hand again at packing up all your gear. It’s a short hike back out to the trailhead where you’ll return the gear to your guide. Then it’s a caravan to a new trailhead for a short bonus day hike. We’ll close out our backpacking workshop with an included hot lunch at one of our favorite local food joints. Distance: 2 miles Elevation Gain: 450′ Meals: B-L Logistics Arrival Airport City: Lexington, KY (LEX). Approximately 1 hour drive to the Red. Pick Up Location: Trailhead Parking Lot Meeting Time: 8am on Day 1 Departure Airport City: Lexington, KY (LEX). Approximately 1 hour drive to the Red. Depart Location: Self drive to day hike and lunch on Day 2 Return Time: Plan to depart by 3pm on Day 2 Optional Add-Ons: Limited Single Upgrade Tents are available at booking. You will receive a Travel Guide with all the trailhead, packing, and additional information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip. We require a minimum of 5 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is guaranteed before booking airfare. Activity Level Rated 3 – ACTIVE This trip is rated as Active because it is backpacking with approximately 25-30lbs on your back. Backpacking differs greatly from casual day hiking and trail running in local parks. What makes the Red River Gorge absolutely breathtaking also makes it’s trails steep and strenuous at times. It is a gorge after all! You will be hiking some steep sections with a backpack. We want all Explorer Chicks to enjoy their backpacking experience which is why we find it crucial to set realistic expectations for this workshop. Expect to carry approximately 25 pounds on your back. You will be responsible for carrying your own pack, assigned gear, and necessities. When planning the route, we take into consideration the variety of skill and abilities of the women joining us on the adventure while stopping often for instruction and allowing ample time to reach camp. For these reasons the mileage is short, but your day will be full. Keep in mind we will hike together as a group. The pace of the trip will vary based on the group’s overall abilities. (ie. Some may find the trail/pace too slow while others find it challenging. Always support your Explorer Chick sisters!) Daily Backpacking: Day 1: 3.4 miles. 1,067′ gain. Day 1 Optional Hike: 1.83 miles. 266′ gain. Day 2: 2 miles. 450′ gain. Please consider the physical demands carefully as it is for the safety and enjoyment of the group. All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking. Read more about our Activity Levels. What's Included Essential Gear Shared 2 person tent Backpack Sleeping Bag Sleeping Pad Shared water filter, cookware, stove Digital Explorer Chick Backpacking Book Meals All meals as indicated in itinerary: B-1, L-2, D-1 Gratuities for included meals Practical Commercial permits and 1-Day Pass fees for Daniel Boone National Forest Professional leadership team with 1 Explorer Chick Guide A detailed Travel Guide with everything you need to know for your trip The freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander! Not Included Airfare Airport Transportation Alcoholic beverages Travel Insurance Meals exclusive of itineraries Costs for additional activities Gratuity for your Explorer Chick Guide Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents. More from the Red “I can’t say enough about my experience on the Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop! All the gals were so friendly, and I learned so much from our guide, Amy. She did such a great job of accommodating my paleo diet, which gives me ideas and hope for eating well when I backpack on my own! (Yes, after this trip, I feel like I could backpack successfully) The location was gorgeous and challenging. This trip was just perfect!”-Linda 📍Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop🙋♀️Ready to learn how to backpack in an empowered, female-led space? Get hands-on, ask all the questions, and walk away feeling confident about backpacking after just one night.🎒Gear’s on us, and we’re eating like backcountry queens (always).🔗Link in bio to learn how to backpack with us!#explorerchick #Womenempowerment #Backpacking #Backpackingtips #Camping #RedRiverGorge #Explorerchickred Open ✅ All backpacking gear is included.🤚 No experience required.10 women. 2 days.🗓 Spring 2024 dates are open! 🔗 in bio for the details!#trynewthings #backpackingwomen #explorerchickred #newfriends #learntobackpack #wildernessculture #backpackerlife #backpackinggear #hikingadventures #wildernessskills #adventuretravel #explorerchick #easydoesntchangeyou #appalachiantrail #amongthewild Open ⛺ "I had my very first experience camping with a group of amazing and badass ladies! ⭐ Amy, our guide, was just incredible! She went far and beyond to explain everything and make us feel safe every step of the way. I have already booked my next trip! 💪 I highly recommend Explorer Chick for all the strong and wonderful ladies that would love a wonderful experience !!! I am so lucky to have found this company!"-EC Ingrid💕 Ingrid! We are SO GLAD you found us and took that leap of courage to try backpacking for the first time, igniting that fire to explore!🔥💪 We cannot wait to take on Half Dome with you in 2024!#explorerchick #ExplorerChickAdventureCo #womenwhotravel #womentravelingtogether #easydoesntchangeyou #weareexplorerchick #adventuretravel #SheIsNotLost #WomenSupportingWomen #amongthewild #summercamp #memorylane #wildernesstraining #outdoorskills #hikingAT #wildernessskills #wildernessvibes #wildernessadventure #wildernesstherapy #wildernesslivingskills #wildernessexplorer #backpacking #womenwhobackpack #explorerchickred #backpackingtips #andshesdopetoo #womenintheoutdoors Open 🤗TOGETHER! 🤗 All ages, all walks of life, ANY experience level. Our Red River Gorge backpacking workshop is beginner friendly; a supportive environment to learn and be empowered to sleep outside 🏕️ #ExplorerChick #WomenWhoTravel #AmongTheWild #IdHikeThat #WanderWomen #AdventureTravel #OutdoorWomen #EasyDoesntChangeYou #WomenWhoHike #WomenTravelingTogether #WildernessExplorer #WeAreExplorerChick #HikingCulture #HikeLikeAWomen #SheIsNotLost #WomenWhoExplore #WeAreNature #WomenSupportingWomen #HikingTips #PositiveMindset #OutdoorTherapy #NatureTherapy #BucketListTrip #BucketListTravel #explorerchickred ##backpacking #wildernessculture Open 🙈 Intimidated by backpacking?✋GIRL... let EC Guide Ashley put your fears to rest! Peep this preview of what our beginner friendly (2) day Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop looks like 🤩.👇 Let us put you at ease... What fears or hesitations do you have about backpacking?#explorerchick #ExplorerChickAdventureCo #womenwhotravel #womentravelingtogether #easydoesntchangeyou #weareexplorerchick #adventuretravel #SheIsNotLost #WomenSupportingWomen #amongthewild #summercamp #memorylane #wildernesstraining #outdoorskills #hikingAT #wildernessskills #wildernessvibes #wildernessadventure #wildernesstherapy #wildernesslivingskills #wildernessexplorer #hiking101 #likeamountaingirl #backpackerlife #backpacktravel #backpackwithme #explorerchickred Open 🥾 Last month, 7 Explorer Chicks laughed their way through the woods of Kentucky, learning how to pack a backpack, filter water, and cook delicious backcountry burritos.🌸 They ooh-ed and aaah-ed at the beautiful spring flowers, climbed over and under giant fallen trees, using teamwork and communication to safely get each other over all the obstacles that Rough Trail has to offer! 🧘 They meditated to a magical view, feasted on gourmet charcuterie lunch, and workshopped their peeing in the woods systems in great detail until perfected.These women were ready for anything and truly gave this backpacking experience their all!-EC Guide Janie🌲 What`s your peeing in the woods pro tip?! 👇📍Red River Gorge, Kentucky 🔗 in bio for Fall Backpacking Workshop dates.#ExplorerChick #WomenWhoTravel #AmongTheWild #IdHikeThat #WanderWomen #AdventureTravel #OutdoorWomen #EasyDoesntChangeYou #WomenWhoHike #WomenTravelingTogether #WildernessExplorer #WeAreExplorerChick #HikingCulture #HikeLikeAWomen #SheIsNotLost #WomenWhoExplore #WeAreNature #WomenSupportingWomen #HikingTips #PositiveMindset #OutdoorTherapy #NatureTherapy #backpackinglife #backpackinggear #weekendtrip #explorerchickred Open "I was a complete newbie to hiking, but I decided to step far outside my comfort zone (which was more glamping if even that). 😅I packed enough to conquer the whole Appalachian Trail for an overnight trip, but with our amazing guide, who boosted us up from the very beginning to the self-fulfilled end, I was able to slim down my gear so I could at least get the pack on and not fall over.⛺ Backpacking to our campsite made me feel like an army of strong women taking on the wilderness. We were challenged, but in a good way, making it to the top together, celebrating with high fives, hugs and a celebratory lunch!We were provided with tools to continue our journeys once the trip ended, like learning to filter water, setting up a tent on our own, and preparing meals on the trail-which were all firsts for me. We can’t forget about hanging bear bags and 💩 in the woods ( I definitely didn’t know all the rules about that).😍 The views left me speechless, BUT what I loved the most was the feeling of accomplishment you have at the end, knowing we kicked butt trying something new and succeeded!💪We did it!! Together!! No woman left behind!!Fast forward to now…this trip empowered me and gave me the confidence to section hike part of the AT, do solo overnight backpacking trips and hike the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim.❤️Honestly, you will never know until you give it a try. It can open up a whole new version of you!🥾 Hiking/backpacking is now my happy place that gives me peace and an appreciation of the outdoors I never knew existed until Red River Gorge with Explorer Chick called my name!"-Explorer Chick Kim🤔 Have you been on a life-changing trip? Share it with us! We want to celebrate you👇#explorerchickadventureco #hikingforbeginners #learntobackpack #backpacking #backpackingforbeginners #backpacking101 #wildernessskills #backcountrybabes #easydoesntchangeyou #redrivergorge #wildernessadventure #sheisnotlost #amongthewild #backpackingtips #explorerchickred Open Load More Let's Do This Starting from $429 Book Now Save $30 with our Early Bird Discounts! Just book at least 6 Months in Advance! Discount is automatically applied. Non-Refundable Deposit: $100 due at booking to secure your spot Book with Confidence Your wanderlust doesn’t have to wait. Our payment plans make booking your dream trip easier than ever. The best part? Zero additional fees. Payment Plans We want nothing more than for you join us. However, we understand emergencies do occur that may cause you to cancel your reservation. Cancellation Policy To protect your travel investment and your hide, we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Receive a no-hassle, online quote in less than 2 minutes. Trip Insurance Questions about Red River Gorge? Name(Required) First Name Last Name Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Send us your RRG questions!(Required)PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In Her Words Kitty F. ★★★★★ 2 day 1 night - Red River Gorge, with the best group ever! Thank you so much Jody, wonderful, knowledgeable, guide. As well as a big thank you to the amazing group of "chicks". Thank you!Rachel H. ★★★★★ The Red River Gorge Backpacking Trip was an incredible weekend trip. I learned a lot of skills to make me more ready to experience backpacking, saw beautiful scenary at the Gorge, met wonderful people and worked with a truly wonderful guide. Would definitely recommencd the trip.Linda W. ★★★★★ I can’t say enough about my experience on the RedRiver Gorge Backpacking Workshop! All the gals were so friendly! I learned so much from our guide, Amy. And she did such a great job of accommodating my paleo diet, which gives me ideas and hope for eating well when I backpack on my own! (Yes, after this trip I feel like I could backpack successfully) The location was gorgeous and challenging, just perfect! Another great Explorer Chick adventure!Kara B. ★★★★★ I just did the Red River Gorge backpacking trip with our guide, Janie, and 7 other awesome women! I had a great time, felt like Janie always had everything under control and was watching out for us. It was challenging but we were all able to do hard things and succeed. It ended up being a beautiful fall adventure and I look forward to traveling more with Explorer Chick!Stephanie G. ★★★★★ 10/9/23 I completed the Las Vegas Climbing and Paddling Weekend Adventure with Explorer Chick. Lauren Beatty was our guide and she was super patient and encouraging. I left the tour crying because I felt like I was leaving old friends. I had a fabulous time!! The beauty of the Colorado River and all the Red Rock Mountains were just amazing. I felt like the trip was weeks long and it was only a couple of days.We launched at the base of the Hoover Dam. Ohhh all the dam(n) jokes. We camped under the stars and indulged in multiple stops at several natural hot springs, slot canyons, natural saunas, historic sites. The Colorado river runs between Nevada and Arizona, so I was back-and-forth between two states all day long. I enjoyed everything about the trip.Suzanne M. ★★★★★ I went of the Red River Gorge backpacking trip with Amy Anslinger as our guide. I can’t say enough good things about it! Amy was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and funny. She created a warm environment that helped foster a strong community between all of us in a short amount of time. This trip reignited my love for backpacking!Sarah M. ★★★★★ Amy Anslinger is an amazing guide! She thought of every detail and made the trip so fun! I loved the Red River Gorge backpacking adventure and plan to do more Explorer Chic trips!Jesse P. ★★★★★ This weekend we spent a couple of days backpacking with Explorer Chick Adventure Co. in the RedRiver Gorge of Kentucky. It was such an awesome experience! It was honestly one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. Those packs weren’t just huge - they were heavy! And the trail was quite aptly named the Rough Trail, haha. Steep inclines and fallen trees were just par for the course along our route. The wonderful guides left me feeling confident and excited about continuing my outdoor adventures. This place was beautiful, and I hope to visit it again someday. Lauren was an incredible guide and Jodi and Amy were awesome.Regan C. ★★★★★ Had a great time on my backpacking trip to Red River Gorge with Explorer Chick. My guide Ashley B. was fantastic and very encouraging and patient. I would highly recommend this trip.Joyce B. ★★★★★ My first trip with Explorer Chick exceeded my expectations. For someone who hadn’t camped since Girl Scouts there was a lot outside of my comfort zone in relation to this workshop, but there’s our guide Ashley. She was exceptional at editing out backpacks and preparing us to take the trails. We hiked the Rough Trail 4+ miles set up camp. Then strolled to Hansen’s Point to relax and chat before dinner (one of my favorite moments)! Next day, we hiked out almost 3 miles back to the trailhead and took an optional hike to Princess Arch before heading to lunch. There is a reason they call the Gorge…Red River Gorgeous. The forest landscape is absolutely breathtaking at every turn. The Backpacking Workshop is active learning and extremely informative. Ashley is an exceptional leader who empowered her group to excel at the task and bond as a team. Thank you Ashley and trailmates for a fabulous experience!Rena N. ★★★★★ I went on the October 8th, 2022 Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop trip. So glad I did! This was a perfect beginner backpacking experience. It was challenging but not too challenging to be enjoyable. Janie was such a knowledgeable, kind & patient guide. I learned a lot & cannot wait to go on another backpacking adventure.Courtney A. ★★★★★ Just went on my 1st Explore Chick trip, a backpacking workshop in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. What an incredible experience! This was my 1st solo travel trip and I was NERVOUS that I would be the only one that didn't have a friend with me. Boy was I wrong, out of our group of 9, only 3 knew each other. Right away our group got to know each other and the bonding started. By the end of the tip, I knew I had made some new lifelong friends...friends to continue to explore with! Our guide was amazing (shout out to Janie!) and taught us so much about backpacking and camping. I can't wait to go on more Explore Chick adventures, if you are on the fence...stop overthinking it and sign up! 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