Explore Places in Pine Ridge

2 of 4 excursions begin at the Chimney Top Rock Trailhead, located at the end of Chimney Top Rock Road at coordinates 37.8248° N, 83.6181° W. This site features a very large paved parking lot capable of accommodating at least 20 vehicles.

For bathroom facilities, a public vault toilet is available directly within the parking area, though you should note that there is no running water on-site.

The journey to the Chimney Top Rock overlook at coordinates 37.8226° N, 83.6232° W follows the Chimney Top Trail #235, which is a short and easy 0.25-mile paved pathway. Starting from the parking area, this accessible trail passes directly through a scenic pine-hardwood forest before culminating at a massive sandstone outcrop. At the end of the paved path, you will be rewarded with jaw-dropping, 400-foot panoramic views overlooking a wide sweep of wooded hills and the Red River flowing through the gorge below.

The trek to Princess Arch at coordinates 37.8274° N, 83.6197° W follows the Princess Arch Trail #233, an unpaved but easy 0.25-mile trail located on the opposite side of the same parking area. This trail extends out along a dry, wooded ridge lined with rhododendron and mixed pine-hardwood stands. The path forms a short lollipop loop that guides you directly to the slender, graceful 32-foot stone arch, where hikers can safely navigate both over the top and underneath the geological formation.

The journey to Half Moon Arch at coordinates 37.8211° N, 83.6142° W follows an unofficial, unmarked 0.6-mile out-and-back trail that begins by ascending a steep dirt embankment directly across from the roadside pull-off. Once you climb into the woods, the pathway widens out into a well-worn dirt track that rolls along a narrow, high-elevation sandstone ridge lined with thick rhododendron and pine trees. The trail passes through several primitive backcountry campsites before arriving at Half Moon Rock, where a short scramble reveals the hidden, 7-foot-high sandstone arch nestled right into the exposed cliffside.

The journey to Friendship Arch at coordinates 37.8146° N, 83.6032° W follows an unofficial, unmarked 1-mile to 1.2-mile out-and-back user trail that begins on the right side of the road across from the main vehicle pull-off. The path rolls out along a relatively level, forested ridge lined with thick rhododendron and mixed pine stands, occasionally becoming a bit overgrown. The trail tracks directly across the top sandstone layer of the arch before hitting an overlook; from there, a very steep, three-tiered scramble down a rocky cliff shelf drops you safely underneath the massive, smooth-walled formation where the arch and the adjacent Friendship Tube rock shelter are hidden.

This is our recommended parking spot. There are many other options, but this is the best spot to explore the top hiking trails.

We recommend using restrooms before starting activities, specially if you have kids.

Sky Bridge Arch is a striking natural sandstone arch in the Red River Gorge Geological Area, offering panoramic views of the surrounding forested canyon and allowing visitors to walk both beneath and across the top of the formation.

Buzzard’s Roost is a scenic overlook near the Sky Bridge Picnic Area in Red River Gorge, offering breathtaking views of the Red River valley, rugged sandstone cliffs, and some of the area's most spectacular sunset vistas.

Swift Creek Overlook is a picturesque viewpoint in Red River Gorge that provides sweeping views of the surrounding forested hills, sandstone cliffs, and the winding Swift Creek valley below.

Whistling Arch is a unique natural sandstone arch in Red River Gorge known for the distinctive whistling sound that can occur when wind passes through its opening, creating an interesting geological and acoustic feature.

Eagle’s Nest is a dramatic cliffside overlook in Red River Gorge that rewards hikers with breathtaking panoramic views of the Red River, surrounding sandstone ridges, and the rugged wilderness of the Daniel Boone National Forest.