Red River Gorge is known for its spectacular rock formations, with the 75 foot long Natural Bridge, Silvermine Arch, and Sky Bridge just three of the 150 natural bridges and arches in this region of the Bluegrass. But there are many, many more natural bridges and rock arches to discover in Kentucky, including the whimsical structure highlighted in today’s adventure. Located in Big South Fork Scenic Area along the Kentucky/Tennessee border, the Split Bow Arch Loop is an accessible trail that offers explorers the unique opportunity to walk beneath a whimsical rock arch.
This whimsical arch is one of the most alluring and accessible in the Bluegrass, though it’s one you probably haven’t visited.
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area/Facebook
This captivating sandstone arch is Split Bow Arch, a striking structure located in Big South Fork National Recreation Area.
Sara Harvey/AllTrails
Spanning 125,000 acres in some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork has an abundance of dramatic cliffs, arches, and rock shelters, with this area home to more natural arches than any other region in the eastern United States, in fact!
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area/Facebook
Split Bow Arch is one of the region’s most whimsical and wondrous arches, and it’s easily viewed via an accessible 0.7-mile loop trail.
McCreary Tourism/Facebook
There is a parking lot at the trailhead which also has access to the Bear Creek Overlook. This natural arch in Kentucky can actually be viewed from the parking lot, before you even get started on the trail!
James Johnson/Google Local
If you do want to venture out onto the trail (which we highly recommend), it’s a fairly short and easy hike that offers a unique adventure. It feels like a natural playground with stone staircases that take you up, down, and around the arch.
Gillian Yorkman/Google Local
The entire loop unfolds like a scene out of a J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy, with mossy bluffs and almost anthropomorphic flora and rock formations.
Sara Harvey/AllTrails
The star of the hike is, of course, Split Bow Arch, a beautiful and perfectly proportioned and symmetrical sandstone arch surrounded by boulders and forest canopy. It’s a sight straight out of a fairy tale that will have you feeling a bit like Alice in Wonderland, especially when wandering beneath its stone archway.
Sara Harvey/AllTrails
If you are looking for an accessible place to see some of these magical features of Kentucky, this is a great place to visit. It’s also typically pretty quiet and dog friendly, making for a fun adventure with your four-legged hiking buddies.
Gillian Yorkman/Google Local
Have you explored this part of the Bluegrass before? Did you know about this short-and-sweet arch trail in Southern Kentucky? The Split Bow Arch Loop is a marvelous and accessible adventure that highlights a truly beautiful region of Kentucky.
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area/Facebook
Sara Harvey/AllTrails
McCreary Tourism/Facebook
James Johnson/Google Local
Gillian Yorkman/Google Local
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Address: Split Bow Arch, Tappley Ridge Rd, Strunk, KY 42649, USA
