The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area abounds in dramatic cliffs, arches, and rockshelters. The region may contain more natural arches that any other region in the eastern United States.
Natural arches are found frequently in the Big South Fork at the edges of the tableland surface, there the resistant Rockcastle Conglomerate slowly succumbs to erosion. Arches form along gorge edges where the resistant sandstone is able to support its own weight when layers below erode away.
Arches of varying sizes and descriptions can be found throughout the area but only a few have hiking trails leading to them. Below is a list of easily accessible arches and their general locations.
TWIN ARCHES were formed by headward erosion along a narrow ridge . The arches are considered to be the largest arches in the Big South Fork and quite possibly in the Eastern United States. They may be reached by a number of routes, the shortest being a .7 mile hike from the Twin Arches Trailhead.
NEEDLE ARCH is a thin, delicate arch that was left standing alone when the back of the rockshelter of which it was once a part eroded. It can be reached from the Sawmill Trailhead on Fork Ridge Road.
SPLIT BOW ARCH is unusual in that a narrow finger of the bluff split away from the main bluff. When large chunks of rock fell, a high, thin bridge was all that was left. You can see the arch from an overlook or hike a 0.7 loop trail that will take you through the arch. Signs at the Bear Creek Scenic Area in Kentucky (just off KY 742) will direct you to the arch.
