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Hike the Creation Falls and Rock Bridge Loop

Gillmore, Kentucky

4.8/5
based on 5 reviews

Details

Distance

1.38 miles

Elevation Gain

285 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Curtis Liska

Scenic 1.5 mile loop with lush vegetation, an arch that spans the creek, a waterfall, and a rock shelter! 

From the Slade, KY exit take KY15 toward Campton to KY715 to Rock Bridge Rd.  Park at the Rock Bridge picnic area and take the trailhead closest to the entrance.

The trailhead will quickly descend surrounding you with lush vegetation.  A rockshelter can be found on the right hand side of the trail a quarter mile into the hike.  Continue down by the creek until you reach Creation Falls.  For a better view, pass over Creation Falls and follow the trail down to the sandy beach area.  

Once you're done playing around the falls continue on the trail a short distance to Rock Bridge Arch. One of the most iconic arches in the Red, Rock Bridge Arch spans the entire creek!  There are plenty of areas around here to stop for a nice picnic, so sit down, relax and enjoy! 

When you're finished marveling at Rock Bridge continue on the trail passing it on the left.  In about a quarter mile you will come to a fork in the trail.  Continue onto trail #207 to return to the picnic area.  

For an extended trip, take Swift Camp Creek Trail (#219) to the right for another mile until you reach Pooch Turtle Falls!  

On your way out don't forget to stop by Sky Bridge Station for some amazing gourmet hotdogs and cold suds! 

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Food Nearby
Forest
Scenic
Waterfall

Hike the Creation Falls and Rock Bridge Loop Reviews

Everything I like in a hike. Elevation changes, diverse scenery, combination of flat/easy walking and some steeper hiking. Trail well marked and maintained. Creation Falls was better than I expected. Not massive by any stretch of the imagination but beautiful with great photos by walking around and shooting at different viewpoints. Rock Bridge was interesting as I never saw one span water before.

This hike is easy, but is definitely not one to pass over. The rock bridge is a very unique feature, and the hike has the added bonus of being able to see Creation Falls as well. Would definitely recommend.

The Creation Falls/Rock Bridge loop is a very easy loop that takes you to two impressive sites within the Red River Gorge. Taken at face value, this is great on its own. What I really like about this area, however, is that you can easily extend this hike to include a plethora of off-trail wonders. There are also plenty of awesome campsites along Swift Camp Creek.

It is the most fun I’ve had in a while a great excuse to get the kids out of the house. Please don’t hesitate to do this!

I recently visited Kentucky and the Red River Gorge was one major stop on my trip! We spent the next 4 days hiking, and I must say this was one of the best ones! The rock bridge was a beautiful sight and we unexpectedly came across the waterfall along the loop. The trail was clean and easy to follow. This did seem to be a popular spot as there were others looking at the rock bridge, a couple in a hammock and some kids playing in the water down below. I'm not one for overly crowded hikes but this one was beautiful and I hope to hike it again some day!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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