 It was a cool, quiet morning and I really wanted to get outside and hike, but I needed to get my flowerbeds ready for winter along with other yard work, housework and grocery shopping. So the decision was made and this was the perfect hike! Short...which means I would still have the energy to do all the above. Quick...so I would have the time to do all I'm wanting to get done. And then, Beautiful...it's always a bonus when there is an arch or some type of natural sight to see. Plus it is fall and the leaves are finally starting to change.   This is a dirt trail that has a decline soon after you start. But it doesn't last long. The trail levels off and makes for a nice hike. I usually dread the trip back knowing it is uphill, but this wasn't bad at all. I didn't even need to stop for a breather!  The designs and natural carvings in the huge boulders are fascinating to look at. Some of them are big enough to sit in! Kids, young and old, would love this trail! Don't just stop when you get to the windows, though. Walk thru and enjoy the sights on the other side! Even in doing this, my husband and I were back to our vehicle in less than 30 minutes.  This is a marked trail in the Red River Gorge/Daniel Boone National Forest. Pay attention to the white diamond marks on trees which verifies you are on the right trail.
So get outdoors and take a hike! Grab that camera, have fun and be safe! Remember... 'Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.' - John Muir
0 Comments
 It's fall, y'all!! Sky Bridge is an absolute must see during this beautiful time of year! The views are breathtaking! And if you decide to go under the bridge, you will not be disappointed! It is such a grand and stunning bridge. I had the place to myself the whole time...on the bridge, under the bridge and even on the trail. So this made for a wonderful hike and lots of pictures! Goodness, I could have stayed there all day! Especially with these cooler temps and blue skies. As you can see above, the bridge is 1/4 mile hike from the parking lot. This trail brings you to the top and is paved with a few steps to get down onto the bridge, making it an easy trip. There is even a bench about half way. Take a snack, have a seat and enjoy the view for a little while. But please remember the Leave No Trace principles which include carrying out any trash you may have.  To continue on the trail or if you just want to see under the bridge, which I highly recommend, you will need to cross and follow the path from there. The pavement is pretty worn and it can't make up its mind if it wants to be paved or dirt. This is also where stairs come into the hike. We are talking over 100 steps in this little 1 mile trail! And it is in the last leg that has the most. But thankfully, the forestry department built a small landing on top for us to catch our breath. Or, you can go the opposite direction starting at the parking lot and end up at the bridge. If you do this, you will be going down most of the stairs instead of up. I would have totally went this route but I was hoping to see some morning fog floating in the valleys for some cool pictures. Although I was early, it wasn't early enough. When I hike, I am taking everything in. I'm talking from watching the birds and clouds to straining to see if there is something in that little hole in the rock. The rock wall on this trail is so fascinating with all its holes and designs. And with the leaves beginning to change it just made for a beautiful hike. Even with all my stopping, it only took me about 40 minutes.  The directions to get to this trail can be found easily on the Daniel Boone National Forest web page - https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/dbnf/home
If you are in the area, you can also stop by the Gladie Visitor Center. They will gladly give you directions and answer any questions you may have. So get outdoors and take a hike! Grab that camera, have fun and be safe! Remember... 'Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.' - John Muir This trail is exactly what I think of when I imagine a nice, simple hike. It's not to short and not to long. The mature trees create a canopy overhead allowing you to be in the shade during the whole hike, out and back. And there are so many cool things to see...like the massive boulders that are covered in tree roots!  There are some obstacles I wanted to bring to your attention, though. *There are a couple of decent size logs that I had to straddle to get over. These are part of the trail and to me this is fun but to others it could mean they have to turn back and not continue on with the hike. *There are a total of 12-15 steps along the trail. *The one I really want to point out is in the picture below, top right corner. It is a pipe in the ground. If the log was removed out of it, this could cause a serious injury if stepped into. So please keep an eye out for it.  All of the bridges are well constructed and are holding up very good. The one below is perfect for stopping to enjoy the babbling and burbling stream below. And since we are looking at this picture I would like to point out the trail marking. Throughout the Daniel Boone National Forest you will notice the white diamond mark painted on trees to help keep you on the right trail. Pay attention to these. When you come to a split in the trail that does not have a sign, you can normally look ahead and see one of these diamonds on a tree and know which way to go. I'm sure you have also noticed the white turtle above the diamond. For those who don't know, this is the mark for the Sheltowee Trace trail named in honor of Daniel Boone. Sheltowee is the name given to Boone by Chief Blackfish of the Shawnee tribe, meaning “Big Turtle." Pretty cool, huh?  Now, back to our hike! Just you wait until you see this arch! My oldest son who is 5'11 is under that green arrow in the picture below! I was tempted not to share it, but I had to! This arch is huge! There is a waterfall off to the right and was coming down beautifully. I am sure you can go on top but I was content with just sitting on the rocks and taking it all in from there. So get outdoors and take a hike! Grab that camera and have fun!  Whittleton Arch Remember...
'Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.' - John Muir  Henson's Arch Trail-head What a beautiful weekend it was to get out and hike! Cooler weather and rainy. This usually means no snakes, no mosquito's and less crowds. While I consider myself an avid hiker I will be the first to tell you that I am not in good shape! Hills and stairs and I do not get along. But this doesn't stop me from getting out and enjoying God's beautiful creation! And what better place than right here in our county! We are truly blessed.  Henson's Arch Trail I started with the Henson's Arch Trail which is located in the Whittleton Campground. When the campground is open, you will park by the brown shed. During the off season you can park just outside the gate and walk in from there. This is not the Whittleton Arch trail. Remember that. So you will need to walk toward the bathrooms and the trail-head is just behind them. If you are needing a quick hike (and a cardio workout), this trail is perfect for you! It has a good incline along with some steps right at the start. But it soon levels off for awhile giving you time to catch your breath, which I do quite often. Today I had to walk thru water running down the path along with a lot of mud. But no big deal. That is why I wear hiking boots. When you reach the big rock, see picture above, there is another incline. This area has decent size rocks, not little gravel pieces, you will be walking over. The good news, though, is you are now in the home stretch of the tiny arch. Yes, I said tiny, but you just have to go see it! This is truly one of my favorite places to take family and friends that come to visit because it is so cool and different! This trail ends at a hole in the ground! Crazy, right?! There is a steep staircase/ladder that goes down into it so you can explore this neat place. About 4 steps from the bottom you will be eye to eye with the tiny arch. There is usually a small waterfall that flows down the limestone wall along with a tree that fell in sometime ago.  Henson's Arch Trail Take time to walk around and explore a little. Find where the water from the falls goes. Take pictures. And most importantly, have fun! Remember... 'Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.' - John Muir |
AuthorAngie Gable 
Archives
February 2021
Categories
|
RSS Feed
Home | Tradio | Contact | Service Portal | Employment (EEO) | Better Radio Reception
[email protected] - Office: Stanton or Irvine (606) 663-2811 - Fax: (606) 663-2895 - Text: (606) 663-2811
All Rights Reserved Moore Country 104, LLC 2009, 2011, 2014, 2020
..::Login::..
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address email address or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.