Thursday, December 4, 2008

Sky Bridge, Red River Gorge, Kentucky


Kentucky's Red River Gorge is an amazing geological area which is a magnet to rock climbers, hikers, kayakers, and sightseers. the gorge is best known for its more than 100 natural stone arches, the largest concentration of such geological formations east of the Rocky Mountains.

A loop drive through the Gorge will take a minimum of two hours, but you will need at least half a day to hike to even a few of the natural arches and overlooks. The drive follows Ky-15 about 1 1/2 miles north of Slade to KY-77. After about four miles turn right on KY-175, and that will eventually lead you back to KY-15 south of Slade. The road is narrow and very winding. One-lane gravel side roads lead to some of the points of interest.
One of those points of interest is Sky Bridge, forming an arch with an opening 74-feet in length and 23-feet high. It is one of the largest and perhaps the most beautiful of the natural arches to be found in the Red River Gorge. Sky Bridge belongs to the finished arch class since its surfaces are graceful and smooth. It is reached by a gravel side road off the main loop through the Gorge. There is a small parking lot and a short hiking trail which leads over the top of the arch and then descends and comes back under it, before climbing a flight of stairs on the return trip.

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