As We Like It...

Rock Bridge Arch, Red River Gorge Geological Area
A type of arch known as a waterfall arch as it was formed by a waterfall
 

Memorial Day is often called the ‘unofficial’ beginning of summer and the increasing temperatures we have been experiencing this past week were reminding us of this fact.  It was time to start moving north, plus we promised David’s brother we would be in Michigan the first week of June.  However there was time for a couple more stops in Kentucky and then maybe a few days in Ohio on our way to Michigan.

 

One of many small waterfalls on the Rock Bridge Arch Trail

 

From Cumberland Falls State Park we traveled north and a little east to the northern part of the Daniel Boone National Forest.  This part of Kentucky is home not only to magnificent hardwood forests with almost as much biodiversity as the Great Smoky Mountains but also some unexpected and unique geological formations.

 

Princess Arch

 

A princess poses under Princess Arch

 

We camped at Natural Bridge State Park next to the Red River Gorge Geological Area administered by the National Forest Service. Between the two areas there are over 100 bridge and arch formations surrounded by heavily forested slopes, ridges and cliffs.  We did not know Kentucky had natural stone arches like Utah and its own Red River, the state’s first and only National Wild and Scenic River.  

 

Top of Princess Arch
It was so cool to be able to walk on top and underneath the arch

 

We were so glad we spent a few days in this area.  The scenery was gorgeous.  The wind-sculpted bridges, arches and towers were so different from the ones in Utah.  Rather than standing out in the landscape, they were hidden in the lush vegetation, behind ridges and at the end of narrow, winding trails.  Sometimes you had to look a little to see them.  But it was well worth the looking.

 

Angel Windows

 

Rock ledge shelter on the Angel Windows Trail

 

Bordering the Red River Gorge on the east is the Clifty Wilderness where we had our best hike of this season so far.  We hiked to the Rock Bridge Arch, still in the gorge area, but then followed the Swift Camp Creek Trail into the Clifty Wilderness.  This trail reminded us so much of the Appalachian Trail around the Smoky Mountains.  We hiked through green tunnels of rhododendron with tulip trees, hemlock, hickory and oak as the canopy.  The trail mostly followed the Swift Camp Creek into the silent, dark wilderness where, for all we could tell, we were alone in the world.  Poison ivy was minimal and no ticks were found.  It was, except for being a little warm, as we like it.  And about time!

 

Swift Camp Creek Trail in the Clifty Wilderness

 

Looking down on Swift Camp Creek

 

Next we drove I-64 to Louisville.  As we neared Lexington, we began to see the Thoroughbred Farms with horses grazing in the fields of bluegrass.  We were only in Louisville for a day and a half but we had time for a little touring and we visited Churchill Downs.  There were only a few live races that afternoon so we didn’t stay long but the little girl in me who loves horses had to see Churchill Downs.

Kentucky has so much to see and do and we didn’t make it to many places – Mammoth Cave, Fort Knox, Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace, and all those museums, the Corvette Museum and the International Bluegrass Music Museum – just to mention a few.  Another time, another trip, if we are lucky…

Posing by Rock Bridge Arch

 

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked:  2  
Total Miles Hiked:   8.76   
Ave. Miles per Day:    4.38 
Total Elevation Gain:  1,190  
Ave. Elevation Gain per day:   595