Red River Gorge

If you need to refresh your soul, this is a place to visit. We hiked almost 42 miles this past week in Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park, and the Daniel Boone National Forest. Trekking through the woods feels like any forest in the USA, the you come to these glorious arches and think, “Holy Cow! Am I still in Kentucky!?”

This was our annual birthday trip for this year. Every July, we have a tradition of going out for a week of camping somewhere. Getting out in nature is good for mind, body and soul. Japanese medical literature backs this statement up. Forest bathing is a thing and it adds to your longevity and health.

The first day we hiked a total of 3.5 miles. We went to Creation Falls and then hiked the Sky Bridge Trail. These are probably the most used trails in the park. The falls are very pretty. It’s not a tall waterfall, so there were people climbing and sliding down as well as playing in the plunge pool. The Sky Bridge was stunning. One cannot imagine the enormity of the rock arch unless you are standing face to face with it.

The first evening, the owner of the HipCamp came to greet us. They own several cattle farms and this small farm where they live. On the hill next to our campsite, there is a graveyard. He told us we were welcome to explore. After supper, we went up the hill to the graveyard. When you walk up, there are trees everywhere, but there is a strange tree that catches one’s eye. It looks like a real tree upon first glance. Once you gt up to it, you realize that it is a gravestone! A-mazing! My mind wondered about the husband and wife buried there. I ultimately came to the conclusion that they were nature lovers. Several days later, the owner stopped by again and told the story of the man who died chopping down a tree. I don’t know if that story is true or not, but it is a good one. I think I might like a headstone that looks like a tree when I die.

The following day, we hiked to Flat Lick Falls using one of our waterfalls guide books. These are genuinely fun to find! Many of the waterfalls are hidden gems and you have to follow unmarked trails using sometimes sketchy directions. <laughter> S-K-E-T-C-H-Y. This was a 3 hike day. We also hiked to Princess Arch and Chimney Top Rock.

We hiked 6 miles the next day. We went into Natural Bridge State Park and since there were only two trails that dogs were allowed, those were the two we hiked. Henson’s Arch was neat. It was a sinkhole that then formed an arch. One can walk to the bottom, too. From there, we went to the opposite end of the campground where the trailhead for Henson’s Arch was located and we hiked out to Whittleton Arch. The third hike of the day was a short hike to Whistling Arch. AAAAnd…the fourth hike of the day was to Angels Windows. It poured rain on our return hike, but the rain was refreshing! With the scorching heat, we appreciated the cooling power of the rain.

Tuesday, we hiked 5 miles to see the Double Arch and then another 3 miles later in the day to see Gray’s Arch. I used my Theragun that night. <giggle> My Theragun keeps my muscles moving. Grays Arch is 80 ft wide and 50ft high, making it one of the largest arches in the area.

Big Dog Falls was impressive. We headed down FR (Forest Road) 457 to Pond Ridge. Very primitive roads, so we were glad to be in our Jeep to get through. We came to a point where there was a downed tree, but having left our chainsaw back at camp……we tried to use the tow strap to move a few branches. No Go. So we parked the Jeep and walked up to where the book’s directions began. We also discussed always bringing the chainsaw and getting a lift kit for the Jeep. Ha. Ha. Once we walked to Pond Ridge and followed along, we were looking for a cemetery near a gate. We found the gate, but missed the cemetery until we were coming back. The book said the tombstones were easily visible. Well, we are blind. On the way back, we did find them and explored the cemetery. We had to cross over Big Dog Branch Creek, then take a spur on the left to cross back over the top of Big Dog Branch. Directions ended there. We made our way through a thicket of rhododendrons down a fairly steep slope to get to the base of the waterfall and the plunge pool. We got a little wet on this one, but seeing Big Dog Falls was worth the effort.

Thursday, we also did two hikes. We felt like professional waterfall hunters. Just kidding. The first hike included Julia Lynn Falls and Princess Falls. Not much water in the area. BUT the falls were still very gorgeous. We crossed over the plunge pool for Princess Falls and got a few really good pictures there. Not far away, we hiked 3 miles to see Yahoo Falls and Yahoo Arch, bringing our total for the day to 6 miles. Yahoo Falls is the highest falls in Kentucky at 113 ft high.

Friday’s first hike was off another sketchy dirt road. A road that definitely needed a high clearance vehicle. It was really the only hike where we were bummed when we got there. We had taken the road to an intersection of the Sheltowee Trace trail. We walked across the arch, but due to private lands around the trail, we couldn’t find a spot to get to the base of the arch. It was all very overgrown. We ended up with 8 miles after we hiked to Hidden Arch and Silvermine Arch. As with all the other days, I found myself asking, “Am I still in Kentucky?” Some of the rock formations made you feel as if you were on a Star Wars or Star Trek planet somewhere. Some of the formations made me feel as if I was out west again.

Level 57 is going to be the best level to date. I feel happier and know that I am healthier than I have ever been. Life is good. God is faithful and His Creation is stunning. I am so blessed with great health and the ability to get out there and hike! I love the stickers that say, “Hike Your Own Hike” — hiking and basking in God’s Creation does wonders for your mind, body and soul. For me, it gives me a chance to listen to God through his Creation.

Through the inch worm that hitched a ride on my shirt, the turtle on the trail, the garter snake and all the wild flowers and various mushrooms and lichen. It tells me who God is. Through these experiences and listen to Him, I find out who I am, as well. We have a lot of silence on the trail. Hiking, sweating, noticing all the small things. It brings clarity and focus. I have big dreams for retirement. God’s nature is calling me…….