Big Trip Day 6: Red River Gorge Windows, Bridges, and Falls

For June 10th, the last hiking day of our expedition that began here, Joan and I opted for a number of shorter hikes on the east side of the Red River Gorge Geological Area, picking up several sights while not trekking hours away from the car. After all, we got quite wet the day before.

 

Rock Bridge Arch

Our first destination was the Rock Bridge Arch, several expressway exits and a winding, unpaved road away from the lodge.

The greeting sign.

A modest loop.

The trail plunged into a ravine. Of course, that meant we had to come back up later. At one point a hooded warbler landed on a handrail just ahead of me, and I halted, but in two seconds it realized I was there and flew off.

We reached the bottom, surrounded by hemlocks and rhododendron. A short walk took us to Creation Falls.

A view from downstream.

Very soon thereafter, the bridge appeared, the only bridge/arch in the Red River Gorge that is over water.

A better view.

After admiring the bridge, Joan and I continued along the loop through this magical forest, and didn't encounter anyone else until near the end.

Chimney Top 

We drove back out on the gravel road and then several miles north to the Chimney Top trailhead.

There is a stern warning at the beginning of the short path out to the viewpoint. People have fallen to their deaths going beyond the fence.

A portion of the panorama there. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Closeups of the features rising out of a green sea.

Zooming in ...

Princess Arch

Back at the parking area was also the trailhead for Princess Arch, just off the top of the prior map, but only a short walk away.

 

Standing almost underneath it.

A closeup of the far end of the arch; a short loop trail heads out to a point and then returns to the top of the arch.

Looking from the other side.

We spotted these interesting bi-colored leaves here, green on top and pink underneath.

Sky Bridge

To reach the Sky Bridge, second in popularity only to the one at the eponymous Natural Bridge State Resort Park, we drove back down to the main road and headed north.

We expected a crowd, but, perhaps because of the day of the week (Thursday) or yesterday's downpours, Joan and I saw only a handful of other visitors. The top of the bridge is close by the parking area.

No guardrails, but it's several feet wide.

At the far side, the path narrowed,

led to a small viewpoint, and then began to descend, taking us to the bottom of the arch we had just walked across.

I couldn't take it all in with one image ...

panorama mode on my camera wasn't tall enough, and the auto-stitching stuttered.

The path continued level alongside the ridge, whose flanks were often exposed.

The rock strata have seen a lot of torment. Definitely click on this one to enlarge.

Water erosion has also created cups and curves.

There is a short drive from the main parking area to a two-vehicle spot at an overlook; however, the vegetation has grown up and obscured the view. Don't bother with that one.

 

Whistling Arch
Our next stop was at the Whistling Arch.

It's a short quarter-mile to the arch. This photo looks along the side of the arch.

Other hikers standing in front. Now you can see the "arch," which feels more like a rock shelter with a window in the back.

It whistles because the wind blows through this gap, a constriction in the arch's only opening.

A quick walk back to the car followed, and a short drive south to Angel Windows. Angel Windows is also a quarter-mile from its parking area.

 

Angel Windows
As usual, the trail began with a small descent.

A small, preliminary window.

We passed a very rusty-looking bluff.

This formation has lots of arches and windows.

Eye-catching roundleaf catchfly nestled at the foot of the main column.

On our return walk we encountered some eager young boys and their dads. At the parking area the two moms were sitting and chilling with each other.

 

Angel Windows was our final stop for the day. Cleanup, dinner, and packing followed, and the final day of hiking was done. The next day we drove back to Ohio, having thoroughly enjoyed our first overnight outing (six nights! six!) in a long time.