3 Easy Day Hikes in Red River Gorge to see the Arches!
3 Easy Day Hikes in Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge is just a 2-hour-drive from Cincinnati (where we live) and we have started to make this a regular spot to visit! We have enjoyed cabins in the woods and also camping. Both offer great ways to see the area. There are so many things to do if you love the outdoors: hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, and more!
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In this post, you’ll find:
Our top 3 easy day hikes in the Gorge offering beautiful views of the arches!
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3 Easy Day Hikes in Red River Gorge
#1: Sky Bridge-.8 Miles
This is our favorite easy hike at Red River Gorge because you get a lot of “bang for your buck”: Great views and a really cool arch that you get to walk on top of and then underneath! This trail offers a lot of great photography options and is very accessible for all hiking levels. This is a dog-friendly trail, and we took our pups on this hike in fall of 2020. We returned again this summer (2022) and took our 1-year-old! This trail is a short loop, first taking you on top of the arch. You can view chimney rock from the top! Then you descend below the arch, and of course, have to climb some stairs to get back to the top!
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#2: Natural Bridge-1.1 miles
Although this is a short hike, I will say that the first part is a little more difficult because it is uphill! That being said, I had my 25 lb. 10-month-old on my back! We loved hiking to the top & checking out one of the more famous arches at the Red River Geological Area. Take note that this trail is not Dog-Friendly! We especially enjoyed the hike downhill after our climb! The views were worth it!
Natural Bridge
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#3: Gray’s Arch-2.3 Miles
This is the longest and most difficult hike on our list, but we thought it was definitely worth mentioning because of the cool arch you get to see! You also get to do some optional climbing at the arch which we enjoyed! I would consider this leaning towards the more “moderate” level for hikes, but it also seemed a little more difficult because we had a 10-month old in tow. This was another dog-friendly hike that Millie & Marshall joined us on. It is an out-and-back trail and be prepared for some steps! This is a trail that you can also add on to if you’re looking for more mileage! Make sure you pack plenty of water & snacks for this one!
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More Notable Easy “Arch” Hikes:
Princess Arch Trail-.6 Miles
Angel Windows-.6 miles
Check out All Trails for more!
We love Red River Gorge & plan on coming back here for years to come! What is your favorite hike at The Gorge?
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