Kentucky's Red River Gorge is a premiere destination for hikers, stargazers, and those looking for an adventure.

Fun fact: Kentucky's Red River Gorge is home to the second largest concentration of natural arches in the US, second only to Utah.

But what if we told you that, in the not-so-distant past, the Red River Gorge was almost completely destroyed? Would you believe us?

Need to know: In 1962, the Red River flooded — causing an event that would come to be known as "The Great Flood of Clay City."
The event caused community members + government officials to begin advocating for the construction of a flood control dam.

Need to know: Congress approved the motion to build a dam + began to provide funding.
Details: The $12-million dam was supposed to serve three major purposes:
- Flood control
- Water supply
- Recreation
Effects: If completed, the dam would have created a 2,100-acre lake that submerged two-thirds of The Red River Gorge underwater.

Date: Nov. 18, 1967
Need to know: Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, an adamant conservationist, led a group of hikers + journalists on a two-mile hike through the Clifty Wilderness portion of Red River Gorge — expressing his concern for the dam while hiking.
Date: 1971
Need to know: UK hired Wendell Berry, a local farmer + environmentalist, to write a book called "The Unforeseen Wilderness" to advocate for the preservation of the gorge.

In 1993, the Red River was entered into the National Wild and Scenic River system, preserving its natural beauty in its entirety.
There is now an established hiking trail that passes right through the heart of the gorge. It's called the "Douglas Trail" in honor of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.