Southeast Mountain Guides

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Campton, KY
Southeast Mountain Guides

Welcome to your headquarters for Via Ferrata, guided rock climbing, and guided rappelling in the Sou
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09/14/2026

📸 Summer Photo Contest Winners! 📸

Thank you to everyone who shared your favorite Southeast Mountain Guides and Red River Gorge moments with us this summer! We loved seeing all the adventures, views, and memories you captured.

Congratulations to our winners! 🏆 And thank you to everyone who participated. We’re grateful to have such a creative and adventurous community.

Check out the winning submissions!

09/12/2026

📣 Weekly Conditions Report 🧗
📍 Red River Gorge, Kentucky

🌦️ Weather Conditions

Saturday, 9/12: Scattered rain showers with a chance of thunderstorms later in the evening. Highs in the upper 70s.

Sunday, 9/13: A mix of clouds and sun with highs in the upper 80s. There’s a small chance of pop-up thunderstorms in the afternoon.

🚙 Road Conditions

PMRP / Lode Hill: Lode Hill has some deep ruts. 4WD/AWD and high clearance are highly recommended.

Miller Fork: The entrance off Shoemaker Ridge has a lot of exposed rock and a significant “step down” in the road. Please use caution and only attempt this entrance with 4WD/AWD and high clearance. See photos for reference.

As always, check the weather before heading out and use your best judgment when traveling to the crags.

09/08/2026

💚 Thank you, Red River Gorge Community!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate 25 years of Southeast Mountain Guides with us! It was such a special evening filled with good food, familiar faces, new friends, and so many incredible stories.

Hearing everyone share their memories and stories of Southeast through the years was a wonderful reminder of just how much this community has shaped who we are.

Here’s to 25 years of adventures, friendships, and memories and to the next 25! 🥂🧗‍♀️

Thank you for being part of our story. 💚

09/04/2026

🌄 Red River Gorge Weekly Conditions | September 4–7

It’s a holiday weekend in the Gorge! ☀️ We’re looking at some pretty great conditions, just be prepared for the heat and keep an eye on those afternoon storms.

🌤️ Weather Conditions

Friday 9/4: Hot and sunny with highs in the mid-90s. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible, so keep an eye on the sky if you’re out climbing.

Saturday 9/5: Hot and sunny with highs around 90°. There’s another chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Sunday 9/6: A little cooler, with highs in the low 80s. There’s a small chance of morning rain showers, but otherwise a great day to get outside.

Monday 9/7: Partly cloudy with highs in the mid-80s. Great Labor Day weather! 🙌

🚙 Road Conditions

PMRP / Lode Hill: Lode Hill is still a pretty rough from the summer storms, so proceed with caution, especially if you don't have a lot of clearance as some of the ruts are very deep! As always, we recommend 4WD/AWD.

🧗 North Gorge Reminder

If you’re climbing in the North Gorge this weekend, keep in mind that the holiday weekend could mean crowded crags and busy parking areas. Please park in designated parking areas only and avoid blocking roads, pull-offs, or access points.

Have a great Labor Day weekend, get outside, and enjoy the Gorge! 🍂☀️

09/01/2026

🎉 25 YEARS AGO TODAY… 🎉

On September 1, 2001, something pretty extraordinary opened on a sandstone cliff in the Red River Gorge.

The first Via Ferrata in the United States. 🇺🇸🧗‍♀️

What started as a wild idea brought to Kentucky by a family with an adventurous spirit became 3,400 feet of steel cable and iron rungs above and 25 years later, it's still here.

But how did a European mountain tradition make its way to eastern Kentucky? Who built it? What was it like to open an activity that almost no one in America had even heard of?

We dug into the history of the Via Ferrata and the story of how it all came to be. From a six-person French construction crew hanging from the cliffs to the very first paying customer, there's a lot more to the story than you might expect.

Read the full story on our blog: "The First Via Ferrata in the USA: 25 Years in the Red River Gorge."

And tonight, we get to celebrate that history and the people who have helped shape the last 25 years, with our 25th Anniversary Party! Come celebrate with us tonight at 6:30 pm. 🎂

Here's to the first 25. And whatever comes next. ❤️

08/31/2026

25 years. One cliff. A lifetime of stories. 🧗‍♀️

As we get closer to our 25th anniversary, Nicole took some time to look back at the journey from being a kid watching the first Via Ferrata in the United States being built, to becoming a guide, manager, and eventually owner of Southeast Mountain Guides.

It's a story about climbing, business, the Red River Gorge, the people who have shaped Southeast, and all the ways a business can shape the person building it.

There have been plenty of adventures, hard lessons, changes, challenges, and a whole lot of people who made this place what it is today.

"I Grew Up on This Cliff" is Nicole's reflection on 25 years in the Gorge and a look toward the next 25.

Read the full story on our blog. ❤️

And if you've been part of the Southeast story along the way, we'd love to hear from you. What's your favorite memory? 👇

08/26/2026

📸 Last call for our Photo Contest! 📸

We’re down to the final few days, so if you’ve been meaning to submit a favorite Southeast Mountain Guides or Red River Gorge photo, now’s the time!

And here’s a little extra incentive… 👀 With only a few days left, your chances of taking home one of the prizes are looking pretty good! 😉

Dig through your camera roll, pick your favorite shot, and get those submissions in before the deadline!

📷 Ready to enter? Click the link in our bio to check out the blog with all the contest details and rules for entry.

Good luck, and we can’t wait to see what you’ve captured! 🧗‍♀️🌲

08/19/2026

🌧️ A little rain wasn't going to stop this crew! 🧗‍♀️

This family kicked off their guided rappelling adventure with a rainstorm, but it didn't dampen their stoke one bit. If anything, it made the experience that much more memorable!

Strong work to everyone for overcoming fears, challenging yourselves, and encouraging each other along the way. That's what we love most about getting outside together—it's not just about the adventure, but who you share it with. 💪

Thanks for spending the day with us in the Gorge! 🌲

08/17/2026

Our SUMMER PHOTO CONTEST is still going strong!

Got an epic shot from your latest Red River Gorge climb, hike, or via ferrata adventure? Send it our way for a chance to win!

1st: $100 + 2 Via Ferrata Passes
2nd: $75
3rd: $50
4th: $25

HOW TO ENTER:

Name your file with your name + email
Email it to [email protected]
Deadline: August 31, 2026

Judged by our team of creative experts. By entering, you certify your photo(s) show only fully clothed, helmeted adventurers, and grant SE Mountain Guides permission to feature your shot on our website and socials.

Tag us and show us your best moments in the mountains!

Address

1617 N Ky 11
Campton, KY
41301

Telephone

+16066686613

Website

http://www.southeastmountainguides.com/

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