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.
BRING ON THE FALL COLORS! Fall colors are juuuuuust starting to show here in the Red River Gorge and the weather is perfect for some hiking! This week`s lineup has a LOT to offer too!
A few highlights this week include:
+@trailofterrorrrg
+Haunted Trail at 4 Guys RV Park at the Gorge/Mushroom Grove Shopping Village at the Red River Gorge/@toadsbarn_grill
+Overland the Red with Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway
+Sip n Shop at Sash & Bow (new time is 6pm-8pm!)
+Live music all over the place
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+Lots more!!!
Check the comments below in case we missed anything! Head to our website Gopoco.org/events-calendar anytime to see a full calendar and to submit your own event!
EVERY BODY CLIMBING! FREE COFFEE AND PASTRIES! Join us TOMORROW, Friday, October 10th from 9am-11am as we host a welcome reception for the new photo/audio exhibit inside the Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade. There will be free coffee and cinnamon rolls and muffins, what more do you need?
This photo and audio exhibit tells stories from the Adaptive Climber`s Festival that is held annually here in the beautiful Red River Gorge. The festival celebrates climbers with disabilities and the challenges they have to overcome to get on the wall. This exhibit is ultra-accessible with audio/visual parity, audio excerpts from climber interviews and braille guides. All elements are hung at an accessible height for wheelchair users and high contrast print for those with low vision.
This project was made possible through funding from Berea College and the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center and will be displayed at the RRG Visitor Center at Slade through December 10th.
Come on out and see this powerful exhibit in person! The RRGVC is open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm (9am-3pm on Sundays)!
EV CHARGERS! The Red River Gorge Visitor Center at Slade is proud to offer FREE LEVEL 2 EV CHARGING available 24/7! The best part is...it`s powered completely by the sun! We are accepting donations for this service for the Powell County Search & Rescue Team that is an all volunteer organization. Even if you don`t have an EV, you can still make a donation anytime at pocosar.org/donate to help this amazing organization. 🌞
Pictured here is the wonderful Jane Hayes with the RRG Discovery Zone who wanted to be the FIRST person to use our new chargers when they were first installed.
FALL IS HERE AND WE`RE READY! A huge thank you to Stanton ACE Hardware, Elk Hollow Farms, and Blessings Floral Design for helping us look pretty! 👻🍂🎃
The Red River Gorge Visitor Center is open 7 days a week for all of your map and information needs! Please be considerate this time of year as this is our peak season. Please have a backup plan in place in case the trail head parking is full (DO NOT create your own parking spot). Please be mindful of the crowds and be respectful of others. Also please remember to practice Leave No Trace principles while visiting our beautiful region. Remember, if you help pick up trash in the RRG, swing in the visitor center for FREE Ale-8-One!
Red River Gorge Visitor Center:
Monday-Saturday - 9am-5pm
Sunday - 9am-3pm
606-663-1161
info@gopoco.org
IT`S FALL AND WE HAVE A PACKED WEEK! Get out those magnifying glasses for this one because this week is absolutely STACKED!
A few highlights include (but definitely not limited to):
+@rrgcc Annual Rocktoberfest! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this yearly event!
+Grand opening ribbon cutting of the @hungryhikerbarandgrill
+Ken-Mor Bluegrass Nationals Drag Racing at @kentucky_dragway
+Haunted Trail at @4guysrvparkatthegorge
+@trailofterrorrrg
+Live music at @pithouse_tbc, @toadsbarn_grill, La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant, @145_roadhouse
+Friday Night Flicks at the Stanton Drive In with @thedriveindiner_
+Sip n Shop at Sash & Bow
+RRG Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting at @callieslakeandcampground
+TONS MORE!
Check the comments below in case we missed something!
refRRGCC ROCKTOBERFEST! IT`S ALMOST HERE! We are a proud sponsor of this year`s Rocktoberfest, held at Land of the Arches Campground, and throughout the RRG region.
We partnered with RRGCC and the UK Geology Department to bring you "Crags and Critters", a guided hike on the new Ashland property on Saturday, October 11! Tickets are required and HURRY because as of now, there are only 11 tickets left! This is open to all, not just climbers! Head to the link below for more info and registration:
https://rrgcc.networkforgood.com/events/90506-rocktoberfest-2025
THIS WEEK! Lots going on as always! Check out the full schedule below! 👇
PIONEER DAYS AND QUILT SHOW AT Red River Museum! This weekend! The weather is looking PERFECT for this Saturday`s events in Clay City!
Quilting, flintknapping, blacksmithing, weaving, agates, iron works, and MORE can be found this weekend at the Red River Museum. Pioneer days runs 9am-4pm and the Quilt Show inside the AMVETS Post runs from 10am-3:30pm.
HOT OFF THE PRESS! CHECK OUT THIS WEEK`S ROUNDUP OF EVENTS!
A few highlights this week include:
+Rawkin` the Gorge live rock n roll showcase at @pithouse_tbc
+Pioneer Days at Red River Museum
+Mini Golf Tournament at @thrillsvilleadventuregolf
+Drag Racing at @kentucky_dragway
+Sip n Shop at Sash & Bow
+Annual Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival
+Yoga with @elementalwellnessky and with @appalachian.asana
+LOTS MORE OF COURSE!
Check out the full rundown below or on our website! Check the comments below for anything we may have missed!
THIS WEEK IN THE RRG! Lots going on as always!
A few event highlights this week include:
+@livingarchaeologyweekend is on Saturday! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this event! This is one of our favorites every year!
+@nashvilleinthegorge is on Friday! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this awesome event too!
+Shop with a Cop Poker Run Fundraiser
+Annual City of Clay City Ice Cream Social! Free ice cream, train rides, popcorn, and more!
+Sip n Shop at @sashandbow on Thursday
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+Lots more!!!
Check out the full rundown on our website! Check the comments below if we missed anything!
THIS WEEK IN THE RRG! Lots going on as always!
A few event highlights this week include:
+Living Archaeology Weekend is this Saturday! PCTC is a proud sponsor of this event! It`s one of our favorites every year!
+@nashvilleinthegorge is Friday! We are a proud sponsor of this event also!
+Annual City of Clay City Ice Cream Social! Free ice cream, train rides, popcorn, and more!
+Shop with a Cop Poker Run Fundraiser on Saturday!
+Sip n Shop at @sashandbow
+@rrgfarmersmarket
+LOTS MORE!
Check out a full rundown of events on our website! Check the comments below in case we missed anything! If you have an event, let us know and we will get it added!
POWELL COUNTY FAIR WEEK AND LOTS MORE! The Powell County Lions Club fair kicks off and runs all week, plus a TON of other stuff! PLUS the weather is immaculate!
A few highlights this week include:
+Powell County Lions Club fair at the Lion`s Club Park Fairgrounds in Stanton
+RRG Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for newly installed solar panels and EV chargers at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center
+Lots of activities at Natural Bridge State Resort Park
+Old Mountain Remedies with Walt Cross at Brookside Cottages in Stanton
+Community Night Gear Swap at Southeast Mountain Guides
+Kid`s Night at La Cabana Mexican Restaurant
+TONS MORE!
Check the comments below in case we missed anything! See you in the Red River Gorge!
