About
Welcome to Powell County, Kentucky!
Powell County Tourism Commission
Welcome to Powell County, Kentucky! Clay City, Stanton, Bowen, Slade, and several other unofficial towns make up the county. We are the home of the beautiful Natural Bridge State Resort Park and a portion of the Red River Gorge. Our county also houses the Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve and the wild and scenic Red River.
Powell County has miles and miles of hiking trails, lots of kayaking and canoeing options and boasts thousands of climbing routes. The Red River Gorge is currently the #2 climbing destination in the world – next only to Utah. Kentucky’s only wild and scenic river welcomes you to canoe or kayak for miles along its’ beautiful routes. The outdoor adventures are endless!
If adventure isn’t for you, we have even more to offer! You can listen to world class Bluegrass music at the Meadowgreen Music Park or take a look back in time at the Red River Historical Museum in Clay City. You may even want to spend your weekend clogging at Hoedown Island in Slade. Take a day trip through the Daniel Boone National Forest by driving the Scenic Byway and visiting the Gladie Cultural & Environmental Learning Center for information from the United States Forest Service. You can even learn about our reptile friends in one of the world’s largest collections of venomous snakes at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade. Exciting motorsports and racing can be found in Clay City with a family owned IHRA sanctioned Drag Strip. Don’t forget to shop at our local shops and eat at our local eateries!
Want to stay awhile? Choose from our wide range of hospitality companies including cabins, tree houses, motels, lodges, and more! Bring your RV and camp at one of the beautiful RV parks. Grab your tent and camp in the Red River Gorge after purchasing a camping pass/permit at one of the local shops in Slade.
With so many attractions, lodging options, and adventure, there is something for everyone in Powell County, KY. With so much to do and see you may not ever want to leave!
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is owned and operated by the Powell County Tourism Commission. The commission consists of 7 board members and meetings are held every Fourth Wednesday of each month at 5pm at the visitor center.
For a list of current board members and for any other information regarding the PCTC, please reach out to info@gopoco.org or call 606-663-1161.
Our Mission
Here at the Powell County Tourism Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade, our Mission Statement is to deliver the best hospitality service in the industry to the visitors of this region of Kentucky. We strive to improve the quality of life for our county by promoting visitors to our unique area while marketing and supporting economic growth. We respect the integrity of our beautiful area and seek to promote it in a meaningful and sustainable manner.
INAUGURAL RED RIVER GORGE BIGFOOT FESTIVAL!
If you`ve somehow missed this awesome event, make sure to mark your calendars now! While the VIP Dinner on Friday, May 30 is SOLD OUT, fret not! There is PLENTY of fun to be had on Saturday, May 31! Speakers will be throughout the day and include the top names in the Bigfoot Research world, costume contests, vendors, food trucks, movies, and more! The best part is that the event is FREE to attend!
This is event is put on by Stanton Tourism and Convention Commission and we are a proud sponsor. Mark your calendars and book your rooms NOW! Rooms are starting to fill up for this massive event! 👣
WOW WHAT A NIGHT! The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade was PACKED on Saturday night for our screening of River Cowboys, a film put together by Kentucky Waterways Alliance,Friends of Red River, and @wilkinsonvisual. A huge thank you to our sponsors Ale-8-One, Against the Grain Brewery, and Miguel`s Pizza! We were able to raise almost a thousand dollars for KWA!
We also had a few surprises throughout the night as well when Donnie Lawson received a Volunteer of the Year award and Russ Miller was officially inducted as a Kentucky Colonel!
Thank you to everyone who came out! We love hosting unique events here at the RRG Visitor Center!
THIS WEEKEND!
Folks, we have quite the lineup of fun stuff this weekend! Check out the full rundown below, but a few highlights include:
+SINGO tonight @toadsbarn_grill
+Bluegrass night at Pit House
+Country Two-step dance party at @skybridgestation
+Photos and arts/crafts with the Easter Bunny at Natural Bridge State Resort Park
+Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt at Lion`s Club Park
+Drag racing at Kentucky Dragway
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is OPEN! That being said, the area received a lot of rain and storms over the last few days. We have been receiving a lot of phone calls and messages inquiring about the status of the area. While flooding has occurred in Clay City and some surrounding areas, the waters are receding and most area businesses are open. If you are planning a trip to the RRG, reaching out to your cabin host or company to inquire about the status of their particular roads would be helpful.
All trails aside from a handful over at Natural Bridge State Resort Park are open. The Skylift is also closed until further notice due to tree damage. The trails will be muddy and there may be some downed trees/limbs so please plan accordingly and always have a backup plan in place. Please don`t walk around the mud, that will just create more trail erosion and damage existing trails even more so.
Pictured here is on HWY 77 north of 715 leading up to Frenchburg. That road is closed until further notice. Here is the latest from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 10:
"Water has receded from all routes in Breathitt, Magoffin, Morgan, and Wolfe counties, and all in Powell County except KY 2026 between MP 2.0-2.4. Some routes in Estill County remain closed due to high water."
The RRG Visitor Center at Slade is open 7 days a week, and our current hours are 9am-3pm. Our phone number is 606-663-1161 or you can email us at info@gopoco.org with any questions!
Photo taken from Clifton Gifford in Red River Gorge Hiking Group.
LEAVE NO TRACE! FREE ALE8!
Powell County Tourism and the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade have teamed up with Ale-8-One for this super cool promotion that helps keep our beloved Red River Gorge litter-free and gets you a free ice cold Ale8! 🤝
Simply swing into the center for a trash bag and gloves, pick up some trash on the trail (in a parking area, or anywhere really!), snap a picture, then swing in for your free ice cold Ale8 (or Ale8 Zero)! Bring your own trash bag? No problem at all! We just want to see a photo of you and some trash! 🚮📸🤳
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is open 7 days a week! Our current hours are 9am-3pm everyday, but keep an eye out for some expanded hours SOON! 🗺
RED RIVER GORGE FARMERS MARKET OPENING DAY! Mark your calendars for the triumphant return of the Red River Gorge Farmers Market on Saturday, May 3rd from 10am-2pm! This market runs every Saturday from May through October over at the The Natural Bridge Skylift & Giftshop parking lot. This event is popular amongst locals and visitors alike because there is something for everyone! 👩🌾🍅🥕
EASTER! Hop on over to Natural Bridge State Resort Park Hemlock Lodge on Saturday, April 12 from 11am-1pm for a fun-filled, family-friendly morning filled with pictures with the Easter Bunny, arts and crafts, a bird egg ID display, and goodie bags! 🐰📸🥚
GETTING TRASHY! This morning, a group of volunteers including PCTC Executive Director and Assistant Director cleaned up a two-mile stretch of Highway 15 in between Nada and Stanton. They got two full truckloads weighing almost 400 pounds of trash! Thank you to everyone who helped on this beautiful spring morning! 🚮❤
How would you caption this epic photo taken by Little Sandy Dronography? It really captures the Red River Gorge in all of her glory, doesn`t it? Thank you for looking and thanks for sharing! 📸🌈🌦🥾
TOADS AND MUSHROOM GROVE!
@toadsbarn_grill is opening for the season THIS TUESDAY MARCH 18! They will have some new merch, but the same delicious smashburger (which you can now get as a single, double, or TRIPLE)!
Also, you may have noticed the new buildings popping up in front of Toad`s and 4 Guys RV Park at the Gorge. Those will soon be the new Mushroom Grove Shopping Village! Keep your eyes peeled for more info!
SEARCH AND RESCUE FUNDRAISER! Head on over to La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant anytime today, Monday March 10th to help raise funds for @powellcountysar! 10% of all sales today go to help our beloved SAR team! The team will be there from 6-8pm this evening, but sales will be donated all day.
SPRING IS STARTING TO SPRING!
Just a reminder that the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade (Slade Welcome Center) is open 7 days a week 9am-3pm! Pete, PCTC Executive Director, is working the front desk today. Come on by and say hi, grab some maps, and give him a high five! 🥾🗺
In other good news U.S. Forest Service-Daniel Boone National Forest has reopened all of the winter road closures! That being said, always have a backup plan in place in case a trailhead is full and doesn`t have available parking. Please respect all USFS guidelines when it comes to legal parking. Our visitor center, along with Gladie Visitor Center, would be more than happy to provide trail options and maps.
In more other good news, The Natural Bridge Skylift & Giftshop opens for the season TODAY!
