There are two arches in Muir Valley along the trail system and both are beautiful. Liz’s Arch calls to mind Angel Windows while Sunny Side is a really unique arch with a kind of slot canyon feel along its eastern entryway. Both are worth a stop when visiting the waterfalls here over Winter when climbers (primary trail users) are away.
Read MoreThis is a classic Red River Gorge hike with all the crowds to go with it - and that’s why we hit it on a Monday…in November:-) Stops at Adena Arch, Indian Arch, Cloudsplitter, Frog’s Head, and Indian Staircase make for a fantastic day - just be sure your crew can handle the scrambles at Indian Staircase and Cloudsplitter. And remember - better to turn back and hike another day if it’s not right for you!
Read MoreIf you’re ever short on time getting out to sunrise at Auxier, this is the spot! While my time-lapse wasn’t great, in real life, it was a glorious morning:-) This quick one was perfect before hitting the road to Pine Mountain.
Read MoreThe scene at Cherokee Arch might be the most beautiful in all of Kentucky. Massive, primordial, pristine. Let’s keep it that way. The area under the arch is delicate to say the least - step only where others have stepped. Do NOT camp, build a fire, or otherwise unnecessarily impact this area.
Read MoreThis is a nice, steep hike to a gorgeous arch and beautiful overlook with a little scramble sauce mixed in. And, it has a big boulder sitting under it, making for a super awesome spot to chill, meditate, or enjoy lunch. Get here for Golden Hour before sunset.
Read MoreRed River Gorge. One day. Ten hikes. Ten arches. Two waterfalls. Sunrise. Sunset. Frog’s Head. And too many overlooks to count. Enjoy the show and make plans to get out there!
Read MoreThis is a beautiful small arch that’s difficult to locate this time of year thanks to plentiful roadside vegetation. If you’re passing through Nada Tunnel, this is a nice stop when parking is available. Use the GPS waypoints, photos, and navigation section to make finding this arch a little easier.
Read MoreI LOVE this hike! Cross Indian Creek, visit a pair of unique arches, and enjoy one of the best overlooks in Red River Gorge with plenty of elevation gain along the way. Be sure to pack a lunch to enjoy the massive views at Blackburn Rock!
Read MorePerhaps the most iconic sunset in Kentucky is here at Chimney Top Rock. An easy hike on mostly paved trails, summertime provides a magical sunset with the sun moving in line above Red River Gorge below.
Read MoreThis is one of the prettiest arches in Kentucky, and the hike comes with a few overlooks that were spectacular in the late day sun. While the trail has certainly suffered from heavy use, it remains a must-hike when visiting Red River Gorge.
Read MoreThis short out and back is an easy hike with one steep descent. Friendship Tube is neat, but I really enjoyed Friendship Arch’s smooth walls and large pockets. As a bonus, there’s a nice view above Laurel Branch just before the big descent. It’s best to hike this in dry weather when the descent is more easily managed.
Read MoreThis is a beautiful walk in the Clifty Wilderness through mature hemlock forest passing one of the largest bigleaf magnolias I can recall in the area. Turtle Back Arch is spectacular with a secondary window on the frontside and gorgeous sandstone erosion patterns on the backside. This hike is unmarked and has a short scramble that looked serious enough for me to fix some ‘just in case’ rope.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for a nice 3-ish mile hike, this one is fantastic! Enjoy playful Arch of Triumph and one of Kentucky’s best, Star Gap Arch. This is a ridgeline hike that is mostly flat, but comes with one tricky spot to descend to the last bit of trail to Star Gap Arch. Take your time and all will be well.
Read MoreThis is a tough hike with plenty of bushwhacking and frankly, a couple arches that aren’t exactly five stars:-) That said, I loved it! The hike back to Anvil Arch is relatively easy, but the ‘path’ to Eholia Arch is rough. It appears a wildfire devastated much of the vegetation in the area - leaving skeletons of rhododendron and mountain laurel on the forest floor. Be sure to read the cautions.
Read MoreThis is a gorgeous short hike with a little challenge, plenty of forest, a couple creek crossings, and beautiful Suzanna Arch at the end of the trail. While the trails were closed in Red River Gorge, private trails like these remained open. To access this trail, you must rent from a lodging partner in the Cliffview Resort Area.
Read MoreThis was a fantastic hike featuring an arch and four waterfalls. I was a bit late after recent rains (more than 24 hours earlier), so these could certainly have more flow closer to rain - especially at Nellie’s Falls. Horseshoe Falls is amazing, but Joe Ponder Double Falls steals the show. With the double falls in the foreground, Upper Joe Ponder Falls can be seen in the background on lookers’ right. Simply amazing!
Read MoreThese arches are so close to the trail, but I’ve passed them by a number of times completely unaware of their existence. The Red is cool like that! Unicorn Arch is a gorgeous little arch that reminds me of a cartoon character that I can’t quite place. Osborne Bend Arch is a playful one not unlike Arch of Triumph. This is a short, sweet hike with a couple small, fun arches.
Read MoreHopewell Arch is the most beautiful arch I’ve seen so far in Red River Gorge. While I’ve published trail navigation before, I took some extra time to put together detailed directions for this out and back. The reason is simple - when hikers don’t have marked trails, a zoo of trails invariably forms. These zoos detract from the hiking experience, damage vegetation and habitat, and generally turn what could be a beautiful forest walk into a trashy network of dirt. So, please take care to follow the trail and download an offline copy of this post in Chrome by tapping the download button. Alternatively, print a copy of this page to .pdf and save it to your device before you reach the trailhead.
Read MoreShort on daylight, I opted to hike Horseshoe Falls as a quick out and back. The trails were in great shape, and the falls were running beautifully. While the pics give you an inkling to the totality of these falls, its far, far better in person when you can see the full view from top to bottom.
Read MoreThis hike had been on my list for a number of months - it was just a matter of timing. Whittleton Arch Falls is the coolest waterfall on marked trail in Red River Gorge. The catch, of course, is you have to be there at the right time. With saturated ground conditions, local flooding, and some heavy overnight rain, it was a perfect day for a visit!
Read MoreFinding peace and happiness on the trails of Kentucky.
