Five Easy Trails in Red River Gorge

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Things to Know Before You Hike in Red River Gorge

Dangerous Cliffs

There are some fantastic easy trails in Red River Gorge that almost anyone can do. However, some of these hikes lead to the top of tall arches, and cliff overlooks with no guards or railings. If you’re traveling with young children or animals, always keep them close to you.

Limited Cell Service

The Red River Gorge area has spotty cell service. On most of our hikes, we were able to maintain cell coverage about half of the time. It’s always a good idea to download a map before you head out on your hike.

Wildlife

Red River Gorge is home to many species of wildlife, including the occasional black bear and poisonous snakes. Always be aware of your surroundings and watch out for the wildlife.

Pets

Pets are allowed on the trails in Daniel Boone National Forest. They are not allowed on any of the Natural Bridge State Resort Park trails, with the exception of Henson Arch and Whittleton Trails.

Be a Responsible Visitor

Remember, as you visit this park, to respect nature. Stay on established paths, pack out your trash (including food waste), and leave what you find behind.

The more popular these destinations become, the more we need to be diligent about keeping our parks and lands clean and safe for all. You can learn more here.

5 Easy Hikes in Red River Gorge

Most of these easy trails in Red River Gorge are in the Daniel Boone National Forest and aren’t too far from each other. You can easily do four of these easy hikes in one day.

The last hike is in the Natural Bridge State Resort Park, requiring a chairlift ride to the top. It’s an easy trail, but not for those who fear heights!

The Sky Bridge Arch is one of the more well-known arches in Daniel Boone National Forest. It’s 75 feet long and 23 feet high. The Sky Bridge Loop is a popular hike in Daniel Boone National Forest in Red River Gorge. It’s only 3/4-mile, so it’s relatively short, and, aside from the stairs, it’s a relatively easy trail.

Good to know: There is another short trail around the corner that leads to an overlook of the Sky Bridge Arch. It was overgrown at the time of our hike, but it might be worth stopping at in the winter and early spring. That trail is also easy and very short.

If you want to keep this trail very easy, take the paved path from the parking lot to the top of the arch. It’s about a 500-foot walk. You could even take a stroller along the path.

However, for a bit of a longer hike that is slightly more challenging, you can head to the bottom of the arch first and then hike up to the top of the arch. There are several stairs to get to the bottom (75, according to the Forest Service).

The Sky Bridge Arch is one of the more prominent arches in Daniel Boone National Forest. It’s 75 feet long and 23 feet high.

After checking out the underside of the arch, you’ll want to continue on the trail to the point where you’ll have a beautiful overlook of the Red River Gorge. After that, you’ll find stone steps that will take you to the top of the Sky Bridge arch.

Whistling Arch is perfect to combine with the Sky Bridge Loop (see above). As one of the shortest and easiest hikes in Red River Gorge, it shouldn’t take too long to complete.

The trail to Whistling Arch has a slight descent to the arch (only 40 feet over .25 miles), but there are still many rocks and roots to navigate, so this is not considered an accessible trail.

Whistling Arch is a small arch (about 4 feet high, according to Kentucky Arches), but it is fun to see and climb around the base of the arch.

If you’d like a fun overlook, continue your hike past the arch about 100 feet. It’s not far, and it’s worth it for the view!

3. Princess Arch

Trail Location:	Chimney Top Rock Road in Daniel Boone National Forest (Trail #233)
Trail Length:	.5-miles out-and-back to bottom of arch; 1 mile out-and-back to top of arch
Trail Difficulty:	Easy
Trail Type:	Out and back
Elevation Gain:	100 feet to the top of the arch
Dog Friendly:	Yes

The Princess Arch Trail is another short and easy hike in the Red River Gorge. It starts from the same parking area as the Chimney Top Trail (see below).

Good to Know: The road to the parking area for the Princess Arch and Chimney Top trails is 3.5 miles long and unpaved. There were several pot holes and bumps along the road when we visited.

This trail is very easy, especially if you only hike to the bottom of the arch. It’s about .5 miles out and back and offers a slight descent to the arch. Like the Whistling Arch trail, this is not an accessible trail due to the many rocks and roots along the path.

Princess Arch is only 32 feet across, making it one of the smallest arches in the Daniel Boone National Forest. But it was actually one of my favorites! It’s flat on the top, making it easy to walk on if you choose to continue on the trail. It’s about .5 miles to the top of the arch, and there are some points along that trail where you can see the gorge through the trees.

Chimney Top Trail leads to a gorgeous overlook that is 400 feet above the Red River. It gives you a good perspective of how the area was formed so many years ago.

The Chimney Top Trail is an easy “hike” that is about .75 miles out and back. It is paved for about half the trail. Although the other half is relatively flat, you still have occasional rocks and roots to navigate, so it’s not a wheelchair-friendly chair. You might be able to use a stroller along the path if it’s one that can handle off-roading.

From the overlook, you can see parts of the Red River to your right and Half Moon Rock to your left. Chimney Top Rock is also a great place to catch the sunset.

5. The Laurel Ridge Trail at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky

Trail Location:	On top of Natural Bridge at Natural Bridge State Resort Park
Trail Length:	.75 miles from the top of the arch to Lover’s Leap (1.5 miles total)
Trail Difficulty:	Easy
Trail Type:	Out and back
Elevation Gain:	50 feet
Dog Friendly:	No. Dogs are not allowed at Natural Bridge State Resort Park

The easiest way to access the Laurel Ridge Trail is to take the Sky Lift (for a fee). The Sky Lift drops you off about halfway through the trail, and from there, you can walk to the top of the Natural Bridge and then turn around and head to the overlook of the arch.

The trail’s total length is about 3/4 mile from Natural Bridge to Lover’s Leap, though you will backtrack some if you are coming from the Sky Lift.

You can also hike the Original Trail to the top of the arch to reach the Laurel Ridge Trail. However, the original trail is more moderate.

Other Trails in Red River Gorge

There are so many amazing trails to arches in Red River Gorge. They can range from easy, like the ones listed here, to very difficult. When we visited, we enjoyed some of the more moderate hikes, like the one to Grays Arch (one of the largest arches in Red River Gorge) and the Rock Bridge trail (which leads to a fun waterfall and wading hole).

Easy Hikes in Red River Gorge Wrap-Up

One of the best things about Red River Gorge is that hikers of all levels, whether you’re a beginner or an avid hiker, can find trails that are perfect for them. Red River Gorge has many trails that are perfect for those looking for a nice, short walk in the woods to some amazing stone arches.

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