Angel Windows - 3

Angel Windows Right Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Wolfe County Kentucky

Angel Windows - 4

Angel Windows Both Arches Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Wolfe County Kentucky

Auxier Ridge

Sundog Auxier Ridge Auxier Ridge Trail Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Powell County Kentucky My 9.7 mile hike with members of the Natural Arch and Bridge Society in November 2019 was the longest continuous hike I have ever done. We hiked to Star Gap Arch, Skyview Arch, out to Double Arch, and made our way over to Auxier Ridge for our return trip to the parking lot. Normally I'd be taking plenty of pictures but with having 13 people on the hike photography was a challenge, so much so I chose to not take any photos at Star Gap or Double Arch. By the time we made it to Courthouse rock at the end of Auxier Ridge my legs were complaining and my lungs were reminding me of all those years of smoking in my younger days. Harsh light and fatigue had me unmotivated to pull out the camera on the final leg of our trip. About a mile from the parking lot we stopped to take a break at an overlook along the trail. While we where standing there I noticed a sundog in the clouds. Then someone noticed there was a full arch around the sun! What a beautiful scene! I may have been wore out, but not too wore out to miss out on this rare opportunity!

Bell Falls

Bell Falls Unnamed Branch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky When I first began getting into waterfall photography one of the earliest waterfalls I shot was Bell Falls in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. At time I was like “Oooooo, waterfall” and I got some mediocre shots of the falls that at the time I loved. That was the only time I had ever shot that waterfall until a couple weekends ago. Myself and good friend Nathan Schertler made the trip down to The Gorge to check out some new things and some old things. There had been a lot of precipitation over the last couple weeks so the Red River was up and water was falling roadside everywhere. As we passed Bell Falls it was the best I’d ever seen it, but there was direct sunlight shining into the little grotto it flows through so I thought it would be a good idea to return later. After making the trek to the waterfall on Copperas Creek there was still about a ½ an hour of light when we got back to the car, hopped in and made a b-line to Bell Falls. By now the sun was off the falls and it had gotten pretty dark in there. I got off a handful of comps before calling it quits since I was getting into 50 second exposures and light was becoming scarce. I really wish we had arrived about 20 minutes earlier, not only did I have some other ideas to shoot the main falls but I wanted to visit Upper Bell Falls which I had never been to and it isn’t far upstream. Nonetheless I got a couple of the main falls I did like, I just hope it doesn’t take another 10 years for the opportunity to stop by here after a major rain event.

Copperas Creek Falls - 1

Waterfall On Copperas Creek Copperas Creek Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky I've come to the conclusion that the unofficial trail to Copperas Creek Falls in Kentucky's Red River Gorge is one of my favorite Kentucky hikes. This was the second time I'd made the 5 mile in and out and I'm going to have to admit, it is a real workout. Although there's not much elevation change, it requires at least 10 creek crossings, lots of creek wading, 20 + tree straddlings, 1000's of fussy rhododendrons, and quite a few wrong turns. This trail makes you think. As you weave and bob through an almost primeval forest, an emerald moss covers much of the woods and the whole time nature in some way tries to hold you back from going any further. The rhododendrons tangle into you, a grove of downed trees force a substantial detour, a thorn bush grabs onto your jacket, it is truly rugged Kentucky. However, in the end there is a payoff and what a payoff it is. A 40 ft. waterfall drops into an emerald splashpool that is surrounded by a grove of rhodys and behind is a beach of sandstone pebbles. This is just one reason I love Red River Gorge. Today I may be sore in places that I am never sore after a hike, but that's OK, because it was well worth it.

Copperas Creek Falls - 2

Copperas Creek Falls Copperas Creek Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky One of the things I discovered when I recently visited Copperas Creek Falls in Kentucky's Red River Gorge is that when making the 2 1/2 mile trek back there it should be done on a cloudy day, at least for me. When we arrived at 3:20 in the afternoon the sun was just off the falls and by time we left at 4:20 the sun had just moved off the cliff to the right, making for some tonal issues for the camera. As I studied the surroundings it was obvious that the falls is in full sunlight nearly all day long. In my opinion, this area of RRG is truly one of the more beautiful areas in the state, at 40 ft tall the falls has a sandstone recess behind it and large boulders beneath each side of the cliffs. The hike in is just gorgeous and it's fun too, even though there's not much elevation change the hike is a physical workout with many easy to conquer obstacles. Oh, and there's some side trails that will take you to some natural arches, but I've heard those are bit more strenuous to hike to.

Copperas Creek Falls - 3

Copperas Creek Falls Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Menifee County Kentucky One of Kentucky's sweetest waterfalls is Copperas Creek Falls, at 40 ft tall it is deep into Kentucky's Red River Gorge Geological Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest. A little under 5 miles, the round trip off trail hike to the falls is a good workout. I'm hoping for a return trip soon, it takes a nice rainfall to get this falls going and it's well worth getting your feet wet to spend some time with one of the states best!

Copperas Creek Falls - 4

Copperas Creek Falls Copperas Creek Clifty Wilderness Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Back in the early spring of 2018 myself and good friend Nathan Schertler made a day trip journey to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest. I hadn’t fully decided on where to go yet because it was a sunny day with no clouds. After stopping by the 1st stage Baby Arch, Underworld and the in-the-process Great Arch, we decided to make the hike back to Copperas Creek Falls. I had been to the falls two times in the past, 4 and 5 years ago, back when hardly anyone knew of the remote waterfall, so when Nathan and I started the trail I was surprised to see how things had changed. It had become a freeway. What once looked like nothing more than a deer path was now an easy to follow well worn trail. At first I was pretty concerned about making the 4 mile or so round trip hike, my knees had been bothering me badly all day and I started thinking to myself that I had made a mistake, but as the trail wore on my knees seemed to improve. I had never seen the water on the creek so high, there was no way to avoid getting the feet wet on this trek as there are at the least 10 creek crossings, some half way up the calf. I'll admit, half the fun is getting there as the hike is beautiful and really cleanses the soul. Upon our arrival this was the scene that had greeted us, I had planned the hike perfectly as the sun was just off to the right of the falls. The waterfall plunges 40 ft over a large rock recess into an emerald splash pool and though I'm sure these two rocks in the foreground had been moved there by a human, it made for a gorgeous scene. Damn, I could just live out here forever.

Creation Falls - 1

Creation Falls Rockbridge Fork Clifty Wilderness Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Located in the Clifty Wilderness in the Daniel Boone National Forest near the Red River Gorge, this was the heaviest flow I've ever seen at Creation Falls in all the times I have been here to view it. Even though it was 50 degrees on top of the mountain, down at in the bottoms it was still near freezing, making the hiking and viewing around the falls treacherous as previous hikers had trampled the snow down making it a thick sheet of ice. I didn't even go to the viewing area because of how hazardous it was but thanks to my friend Nathan who was exploring all around found a place that was safe to shoot and was a cool perspective too. Little did I realize when he told me about it that I was going to see one of the most beautiful waterfall scenes I had ever beheld.

Creation Falls - 2

Creation Falls Rockbridge Fork Clifty Wilderness Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Normally cold doesn't bother me but for some reason when good friend Christopher Morris and I arrived at Creation Falls in the Clifty Wilderness near Red River Gorge in Kentucky it was darn cold. The occasional breeze really bit into the bare hands but I put it out of my mind and soaked in the beauty of a fresh snow surrounding the gorgeous 10 ft. tall waterfall, one of my favorite places to visit in The Gorge.

Creation Falls - 3

Creation Falls Rockbridge Fork Clifty Wilderness Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky

Creation Falls - 4

Creation Falls Clifty Wilderness Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky

Creation Falls - 5

Creation Falls Rockbridge Fork Clifty Wilderness Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky

Creation Falls - 6

Creation Falls Rockbridge Fork Clifty Wilderness Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky

Chimney Rock Overlook - 1

Chimney Top Overlook Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Normally I have a tendency to kill a sunset, I rarely capture one and today was no different. We were shooting at the nearby Princess Arch when the skies began to open up after a very cloudy/rainy day upping our hopes that we were about to see some epic light. Well, it wasn't so epic but what I did get I was really happy with. When we drove down we were thinking that we were going to have a lot of color change but to our amazement there was only about a 30% change. Even with sunset being a dud, the moody sky and scattered color really made my day.

Chimney Rock Overlook - 2

Chimney Rock Overlook Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky The weekend this was taken was the first of many trips the fall of 2015 to Kentucky's Red River Gorge and of all the times I'd been to Chimney Rock I'd never been there in the morning, I was hoping for a fog filled valley but I knew that was wishful thinking. However, I wasn't disappointed. A beautiful blue sky against a forest on the edge made for a gorgeous scene, truly Red River Gorgeous.

Chimney Rock Overlook - 3

Chimney Rock Overlook Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky It's hard to believe that it's been two years since Chris and I made a spur of the moment run down to Natural Bridge State Park and Red River gorge during a major snow event. Of all the years I've been visiting the area I've never been there when something like this has happened. We ended our day at Chimney Top Rock curious as to what the surrounding landscape looked like covered in a white blanket. Wow! What a beautiful scene! This is one of my favorite spots to capture sunset, just a short distance up the trail from the main overlook. No sunset going on here, just a late afternoon scene looking out across Red River Gorge. I don't recall why but this was my last shot of the day, just as the sun popped out. Maybe the breezy cold air had finally gotten to my fingers and toes. It didn't really matter, it was a great day to enjoy winter.

Chimney Top Rock - 4

Chimney Top Rock Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky

Devil's Canyon Overlook

Devil's Canyon Overlook Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Wolfe County Kentucky This past Saturday myself and my wonderful other half Lisa decided to drive the back roads from our home in Northern Kentucky down to Red River Gorge in Eastern Kentucky with the hope of shooting sunset from Chimney Rock. Well, things didn't go exactly as planned because when we arrived a thick cloud cover was hanging over the mountains and a light rain was falling. While shooting at the Gladie Historical Site we noticed fog was beginning to form midway up the surrounding mountains so we hopped into the car planning on hitting the several overlooks along the road to Sky Bridge. We arrived at the first overlook called The Devil's Canyon, exited the car and began to cross the road when we noticed that the brightest reddest tree we had seen on the entire drive was standing there at the end of the path on the cliff wall and there was fog all around. We never made it past this place as the fog changed and swirled all around painting a calm and soothing mood across the landscape. This was my last shot from here. As blue hour was setting in in it created a deep contrast against the prettiest tree I've seen all fall.

Double Arch - 1

Double Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky This past late fall I got to get back out and shoot at Red River Gorge where after all these years finally made the hike to Double Arch. I had originally planned on visiting the arch back in October but after an unplanned night of nearly a bottle of Makers Mark Whiskey my shooting intentions for the next day were somewhat derailed. I've really found photographing arches a very challenging subject and I will have to admit this one is one of the more difficult I've come across, from both sides. Double Arch sits high atop a ridge line, this side is the hikeable up close and personal side where the other side of the arch is a sheer drop off, but visible on the opposite ridge from the Auxier Ridge Trail. The only thing I really didn't like about this side was you couldn't see both arches from below as the other arch is a sliver directly above the main one. I'll have to admit it was worth the 2.5 mile hike out to see this beauty and I'm definitely looking forward to returning in the early summer and in the fall.

Golden Cathedral Arch - 1

Golden Cathedral Arch Slade Powell County Kentucky In October 2019 I headed down to the Red River Gorge for some much needed adventure! Joined by good friends Adam Thompson and Marcus Creasy we met up Tim and Christie Abrams of Leave No Trace Adventures for a day hike to one of Kentucky’s most unique arches, Golden Cathedral Arch! The arch, along with several other significant and minor arches are located on private property, and not just any private property, it is the property of the proposed resort that has caused much conversation within the hiking and regional RRG community of late. We met Tim and Christie at the Slade Visitors Center and we followed them up a narrow country road to a long gate next to a massive patch of kudzu. Once inside the gate we had the option to either follow them up an old gravel road through the forest or we could park there and ride up in their truck. Not one to pass up an opportunity to ride in a 4 X 4 through the forest, we all hopped in. About a half mile later we pulled over near an old cemetery, hopped out and began walking up an old logging road. We walked a little over a mile to our first arch, but it didn’t seem like it. Good conversation passed the time quickly. We were all impressed with Tim and Christie’s love and passion for not only the private land we were on, but for the whole Red River Gorge area. Our tour took us to a total of 5 arches and we started off with the most impressive of the group, Golden Cathedral Arch. This arch has been on my bucket list since I first heard of it a couple years ago and it did not disappoint. Raising up from the hillside like a monolith at around 30 feet, there are two significant openings. One over the top of the other, and several smaller windows. Three of which can be seen in the middle right of the structure and they seem to be paper thin. Seriously flipping cool! We really appreciated Tim and Christie's patience allowing us to take our time, not only to shoot Golden Cathedral but the four other arches that day. I highly recommend anyone to take one of their hikes, they are officially licensed with the forest service and they are good folks too! Check them out on The Web, Facebook or Instagram. Leave No Trace Adventures

Golden Cathedral Arch - 2

Golden Cathedral Arch Slade Powell County Kentucky A view from the other side of the arch.