Hike Red River Gorge: Indian Staircase and Indian Arches

The Indian Staircase hike is a 5.0 mile loop off of the Bison Way Trailhead located in Red River Gorge Kentucky, located in Daniel Boone National Forest. This spectacular hike includes everything amazing within the Red River Gorge and is one of the more advanced hikes of Red River Gorge. Green forest, that holds a winding trail which crosses small creeks and has 200+ ft of elevation.The Indian Staircase is an intermediate to advance scramble, take caution and know your limits, but enjoy the hikes amazing views!

DIRECTIONS-From exit 33 off of the Mountain State Parkway, turn left and return to the Mountain State Parkway.-East (8 miles)-Take exit 40 for KY-15/KY-715 toward Beattyville. (0.3 miles)-Turn Right at KY-15 N/KY-715 N. (0.7 miles)-Take the 1st right onto KY-715 N (9.7 miles)-Park in the Trail #220 Bison Way Trial Parking Area on the right, just after the bridge.

THE HIKETry to get to the Bison Way Trail head as early as possible, this trail head is popular and will fill up quick. I suggest get there before Noon. The Bison Way trail head has a bathroom, just incase. From the Bison Way Trail head, follow trail #210 (Bison Way) until it ends at the intersection with trail #100 Sheltowee Trace Trail. (0.8) This part of the hike is mostly up hill, so pace yourself. Depending on the weather, it could be muddy and slippery. Take a left at the intersection of #210 and #100 and continue on #100 Sheltowee Trace Trail for approx. 0.3 miles. The next part of the trail is unmarked, so keep an eye out and/or keep an eye on your milage. When you make the left off of trail #210 onto trail #100, start counting creeks or stream crossings. When you cross the 2nd small creek, go another 100 feet. This part makes a sharp "U" as it crosses the small creek. The trail will start to bend right, start looking for a well used unmarked trail that leads up and off to the RIGHT. From this point on, and until you return back onto trial #100 Sheltowee Trace Trail, you will be using unmarked trails, follow the spur trail. Follow this spur trail up to the base of The Staircase. Follow the base of the rock to the Left side, about 30ft and scramble to the base of the Staircase, about 20ft. This will be the start of the actual Indian Staircase. Climb/scramble up the Indian Staircase, there will be small foot indentions in the rock face, this is the "Staircase" part. Watch your step and use extreme caution. This part is dangerous and know your limits, some may bring rope, but some can climb up with no problem Remember, have fun with it. When you get to the top, take in the scenery while your above the green forest beneath you. The cliff edges on this part of the hike are breathtaking and are about 100ft tall. Take a break, hang an ENO hammock, or have some lunch on top of the Staircase. From this point, you can follow the trail around top of the Ridgeline and take in the blue skies and green scenery. If you stay left alongside of the Ridgeline, there is a trail that drops down and to the left to the LARGEST rock shelter in the gorge. Find out the natural beauty and you may see some people propelling from the top down to the trail your on. Follow the trail along the left side of the Ridgeline for about a mile, mile and a half. This part of the trail will start to turn south and will lead down to a wooden staircase leading back down to trail #100 Sheltowee Trace Trail. If you look around to the left, you will see the Indian Arch. Adventure around or hike down the wooden stairs and onto trail #100 Sheltowee Trace Trail. Turn left onto Trail #100 and hike about 1.5 miles. You'll approach a sign at the intersection of Trail #100 and #210. Take a right onto #210 Bison Way Trail and arrive at the parking area trail head, about 0.8 miles.