Powell County 9-1-26
By Brandon Famer, Assistant Editor
On Friday, August 21st small bore motorcycle enthusiasts descended upon the Red River Gorge for a large and increasingly popular gathering that invites participants to come together and tour the beautiful and scenic countryside here in Powell and surrounding counties. The event is now in its fifth year and has boasted a steady increase in participation since its inception in 2022.
Wes Young is one of the event organizers and founders, heavily involved in its design, development, marketing, and promotion. Wes, along with wife Whitney and a group of dedicated volunteers, have created a very special regional attraction that has had a big impact on tourism and drawn many new faces to our beautiful corner of Appalachia.
“This event was created BY small bore enthusiasts FOR small bore enthusiasts,” Wes said, “What started as a group of friends gathering to ride small-bore motorcycles at the Red River Gorge has turned into what you see today. Originally a one-day event, now has progressed into a full, schedule-packed, two-day event.”
Among the fun events on the agenda is the keystone attraction of this annual gathering: the famous, Scenic Nada Tunnel Run, a 29-mile route from start to finish at the rally point. There are 5 planned routes total to various locations around the Gorge, including a Poker Run with five different locations, a Night Ride on both Friday and Saturday, a Fast Lap around the Gorge, and a Parade Lap on Saturday. There is a bonus ride to Gladie Creek where participants are invited to swim and jump off the famous Gladie Creek rock.
“The SBATG crew welcomes people to come see what the Red River Gorge has to offer,” Wes said, “Sites, views, and places to visit as a family. This year we had people travel from as far north as Michigan, as far south as Florida, and west from Houston, Texas, just to come ride the RRG and be part of SBATG 2026. Every year we are growing in attendees, with around 240 registered bikes this year, and guessing another 40 to 50 that did not register.”
The event still offers free primitive camping, on-site, due to grants and sponsorships.
“We are more than thankful to each and every one (grants/sponsorships) we receive,” Wes added, saying that with each contribution received, it helps them ensure that the event keeps going, each year.
You can find more information on Small Bore in the Gorge, find their page on Facebook where they post important updates and members share loads of fun photos and videos from this event and years prior.
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