Skyscanner, a global travel booking platform, has ranked Red River Gorge as one of the top five U.S. destinations for peaceful solo travel, putting the Kentucky landmark on a short list of locations purposefully selected for solitude, tranquility, and space.
The designation can be found in Skyscanner’s recently published Elsewhereism guide for 2026, which features locations that assist travelers in avoiding crowds and embracing slower, quieter travel—a strategy that is becoming more and more popular as solo travel continues to rise across the country.
Google Trends shows that interest in “solo travel” in the United States is at its highest level in the last five years, with a notable uptick in searches for “quiet travel” and “quiet destinations” in late 2025. With January being the busiest month for travel planning, Skyscanner’s guide seeks to direct visitors to locations where peace is naturally occurring rather than created by resorts or crowds.
Why Red River Gorge made the list
Skyscanner’s research identified several factors that make Red River Gorge especially well-suited to solo travelers seeking peace and space:
- Moderate visitor numbers: Roughly 300,000 visitors annually, spread across a vast trail system
- Natural sound buffering: Dense forest cover, sandstone cliffs, and narrow hollows help absorb noise
- Limited development: No large commercial developments within the Gorge
- Low-traffic trails: Numerous routes with low to moderate foot traffic, especially outside summer weekends
- Protected surroundings: Much of the area lies within Daniel Boone National Forest, including the federally designated Clifty Wilderness
Red River Gorge is a popular destination, but it’s easy to avoid crowded access points due to its size, rough terrain, and wide network of trails, especially in the winter and shoulder seasons when things are usually quieter.
Where to go for more peaceful strolls at the Gorge
Red River Gorge provides plenty of options for lone hikers who want to spend hours hiking alone without encountering many other hikers.
Even on longer hikes, the Swift Camp Creek Trail feels secluded as it follows shaded forest corridors and creek crossings through the heart of the Clifty Wilderness. One of the most well-known features of the Gorge, Double Arch, becomes a particularly serene out-and-back route early in the day or outside of peak seasons, providing expansive views across Auxier Ridge without the crowds.
Use the Gorge’s own website to find accommodations while there.
Photos from around Red River Gorge:
This article appears in Jan 1-31, 2026.