Natural Arch Scenic Area

The conspicuously named Natural Arch is not the most famous in the state. That distinction would likely go to Natural Bridge (which isn't actually a bridge since it doesn't cross over water). Semantics aside, the impressive sandstone arch is ~100 feet (30.5m) and stands out distinctly from the forest around it. It often reminds me of a great eye of the forest.

The arch is easily reached from a scenic area with ample parking and some limited facilities. Unlike most areas within Daniel Boone National Forest, use of the scenic area requires a $3 fee but offers an easy walk to an overlook of Natural Arch. Another trailhead within the scenic area leads to Buffalo Canyon; a 5 mile loop trail that travels down to the valley along the cliffs and to the base of the arch. A shorter variation is available.

Eastern Red Columbine were blooming along the trail on this late-April visit. Most of the trees had regained their leaves, with only a few flowers left on the red buds and dogwoods.

Information and hiking maps for Natural Arch are available at the Ranger Station in Sterns or from the US Forest Service. Remember to pack water & $3.

You can download a map of the hiking trails from the USDA Forest Service.

Devils Market House Arch

Having spent many weeks in the field with the guys, I decided to try my own hand at arch hunting in Daniel Boone National Forest. I headed to Menifee County in Eastern Kentucky for my first solo run. I began by walking along old county roads which have long been decommissioned, and are now simply dirt trails. Using GPS, I was able to locate two large arches in close proximity to each other but not without getting turned around once or twice.


Devil's Market House Arch


Devil's Market House Arch is certainly unique, as it stands isolated from any cliff or ridge. It appears to have dropped from the sky, arising seemingly from no where in the middle of the forest. Perhaps that unexplained element is how the arch was given its name. Each angle of the Devil's Market House presents a new view and myriad smaller arches and windows, making it very fun to explore.

Posing from the other side of Devil's Market


Although spring flowers were still scant, many butterflies were enjoying the warm temperatures and gentle breeze. I was thrilled to see several enormous butterflies, about the size of my hand, floating around the rocky outcropping. For a while, they followed me along the trail.

Yellow Tiger Striped Swallowtail

View of the Cumberland Mountains, from above the arch.


A rookie day in the field is not without mistakes, of course. Initially, I walked far beyond where I should have turned off trail believing that the Devil's Market Place would be visible from the old road. GPS cleared that up quickly. Harder to find was Sprat's Arch. I nearly gave up, deciding that the the view of the mountains from the peak was as good as it was going to get on this trip. Then I realized I was standing on top of the arch!

Sprat's Arch

Posing for scale

National Forest Boundary


Although I found two large arches, there were several others nearby. I had the coordinates roughly translated, but couldn't get my topographic maps to line up. Had I been more patient with myself, I'm certain I could have found them. As it is, I have another challenge for a return trip.

Colby Cumberland surveying Devil's Market Place

Cherokee Arch and Surrounds

It was a beautiful spring day on our last team hike in the Gorge. Skies were cloudy, but temperatures were above average and reached a high of 77°F/25°C. The weather was comfortable enough for t-shirts, which sadly means the camping crowds were also making their first appearance. Snakes are sure to follow, so we will have to wait until fall for more off-trail adventures. Thankfully, our last day together in the field was a good one.

Lost Camp Arch

Conglomerate stone layers at Mushroom Arch


Cherokee Arch was the largest of the arches we visited, seeming to hover like a heavenly staircase over a massive rock cave. Water splashes down from above, making a slight waterfall effect when viewed from the below. Massive boulders make wonderful impromptu tables for a snack or packed lunch. We spent our time shooting photos and shooting the shit.

Cherokee Arch

Peppered around the surrounding area is a collection of rock windows. Rock windows are smaller openings in the rock, not large enough to be considered an arch. The inartfully named Rat Windows run the gambit from easily accessible to requiring a rope and harness. We were able to approach some, while having to be satisfied by spotting another from a distance on a neighboring cliff.

Rat Window #1

Climbing through the window


As the leaves return to the trees, and the sticker bushes start to branch out, going off trail in the Gorge becomes much more difficult. And that's not even taking into consideration the return of the snakes from their winter hibernation. Or ticks. Or bears? Either way, the season for serious arch hunting is almost at a close. Thanks to my buddy Dale for taking us out into the woods to discover some beautiful and amazing things.

"Yeah, probably should go around. It's nothing but thicket through here." Haha! Sure thing, boss.

Searching for more arches...

Star Gap Arch and Beyond

This week the hiking team visited Star Gap Arch and Arch of Triumph, two of the dozens of natural rock arches in Red River Gorge located beyond the official trails. Some arches are more accessible than others and these were along somewhat visible trails among a maze of switchbacks, campsite spurs, and dead ends. Good backcountry skills are required and sometimes so is the occassional cliffside scramble. Some trails go directly over the rock arch following the top of the sandstone ridgeline, while never revealing there is an arch hiding underneath.

View from underneath Star Gap Arch

Couple and their dog resting under Star Gap Arch

We left early in the morning and saw the mountains appear through a thick fog. The fog eventually cleared from the valleys but the clouds stuck around. Sometimes the sun would come out for a bit and the air would immediately warm up only to disappear again as soon as I'd removed my top layer of clothing. Thankfully we kept moving so the chill wasn't too bad.

Star Gap Arch across the valley and through the fog

The trail to Arch of Triumph is a good example of where a hiker could miss an arch. The trail runs along the top of the cliffline, and over the sandstone of the arch. Even from a view further along the trail, the arch can easily be missed. This image shows the Arch of Triumph, which will be even easier to miss once the leaves return to the trees.

The trail looking onto the cliff and easy to miss arch.

Arch of Triumph is only a few feet high.

Sitting in a rock window

In the afternoon, we moved on to another area of the national forest and set out along a rarely used trail. We had to drop down to the very bottom of the valley to reach Black John Arch and Spout. From our approach, the arch looked like a door-sized keyhole in the rock. However, after walking down and through the opening, the arch is revealed and was quite large. The cliffline continues and leads to a rock window named Black John Spout. It was one of the most interesting arches we visited, but sadly we weren't able to linger. I hope to return in a few weeks, but definitely by a different route with less cliff scrambles. I couldn't have made it to the arch without a helpful boost up and down a few cliffs. Thankfully we had a good team that assisted everyone in the difficult sections.

Below Black John Arch

Cliff looking back on Black John Arch. Note the people for scale.

Black John Spout Arch

Colby Cumberland surveys the rockwall at Star Gap Arch

Natural Arches of Copperas Creek

The hiking team headed out for another epic day exploring Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest, Eastern Kentucky. The forest service allows hikers to go off trail and explore. We walked unofficial trails along Copperas Creek before veering off in thick patches of Rhododendron and cliff walls. First we stopped at Hopewell Arch, an arch nearly invisible through the trees, until you stand inside rock cave home. With a little climbing and hard work, we also located Snow Arch and Double Deer Arch.

Snow Arch

Double Deer Arch

Hopewell Arch

Hopewell Arch

Sometimes we found faint trails as we followed the GPS. Other times we were walking through rough forest and searching for a place with enough rocks to cross Copperas Creek without getting our feet wet. Temperatures were in the forties and we had a lot of mileage to cover, so there was no time for hypothermia. We took a break at Sand Arch and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on our faces after marching through the cold, shady valley. Every turn was a new treasure of rock formations and natural beauty.

Sandy Arch, which also has a waterfall not visible here

Window at Sandy Arch

Beautiful pattern left behind as the sand stone erodes

View from a rock cave along a cliff line

Copperas Arch

Our team leader took us to eight natural arches/windows and several waterfalls, most very isolated. Some unnamed. We were also lucky enough to spot a young coyote and, later, two deer. Neither of which I had ever seen at RRG, although I've often seen their tracks. Great day in the field! Perhaps the best discovery day I've spent in the Gorge.

On our way out, we spent a few minutes taking in Eagle's Nest overlook and passed Moonshiner's Arch, near Osborne Bend trail along the Red River.

Eagle Point Buttress

Moonshiner's Arch

Miller's Double Arch & Giant Doorway Arch

I met back up with my new buddies from last week in Daniel Boone National Forest. Thanks to some expert navigation, we were able to visit Miller's Double Arch, Zed's Window and Giant Doorway False Arch -- all located on the original Townsend Tract. A natural arch is created when an opening is formed in a rock through natural geological processes. In contrast, a false arch was created by fallen rock, and is not one continuous piece of stone. 

Now I know of five arches in the area. Maybe there are more hidden behind the trees and massive rhododendron thickets! 

Obviously, more exploration is needed! 😺

Miller's Double Arch is nearly hidden by all the trees, even in Winter.

View from below Miller's Double Arch

View on top of Miller's Double Arch. 

Exploring a cave near Zed's Window, one of many along the cliffs.

Giant Doorway False Arch reminded me of a jungle temple complex. 

The forest around the false arch resembled a jungle. 

Standing inside Giant Doorway. The other side opens to the creek. 

Creekside entrance of Giant Doorway

View looking back into Giant Doorway, where we had lunch. 

Standing next to the enormous boulders on Townsend Creek.

Turkey prints along the creek! We also spotted deer, raccoon and coyote.

"The trail is right through here. Trust me."