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 Slade Powell County Kentucky A view from the other side of the arch.
Grey's Arch Red River Gorge Geological Area Daniel Boone National Forest Powell County Kentucky The weekend I took this shot I did something I'd never done before, I made the journey from the rock house below Grey's Arch to it's base. Located in Kentucky's Red River Gorge Geological Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest, I had visited the arch many, many times but I always was drawn to the view from the rock house and for some reason I never made the journey up. I know why, really. I didn't think it would look as cool at it's base as it does from below. Boy was I wrong, it's just as flipping awesome at the arch, as it is looking up at it from down in the gully. If you've never been, you are really missing out, I've never seen a landscape like it and when I first visited here my mind was blown. I just stood there in awe, basking in the beauty of this gorgeous natural formation. Although my perspectives were limited this time because of a blown out sky, I am highly motivated to make the return trip here again in the next couple weeks; early in the morning just as the sun hits the sandstone with a blue sky above. Mmmmmmmm, I can't wait! I was already in love with the beauty of this arch, but after making the journey up to have a closer look I now don't think there's an arch that will ever top it as my favorite.
