Department of Parks
Arches Hiking Weekend Set For Feb. 9-10 At Natural Bridge State Resort Park

SLADE, Ky. – Kentucky has some beautiful natural arches and Natural Bridge State Resort Park has set aside a weekend devoted to seeing these wonders of geology.

The annual Arches Hiking Weekend will be Feb. 9-10 at Natural Bridge near Slade.

There are hundreds of natural arches within a few miles of Kentucky’s Natural Bridge and winter is the best time to see them. You can join experienced guides for a day of hikes throughout the area and visit famous arches as well as some lesser known arches.

Destinations will include White's Branch Arch, Twilight Arch, Suzanna’s Arch, Castle Arch, Sandy Arch, and, of course, Kentucky's Natural Bridge.

The program starts Friday evening with some entertainment by Anne MacFie, a local singer and songwriter at 6 p.m. at Hemlock Lodge. Registration for the program starts at 7 p.m. and guest speakers will start at 7:30 p.m. Johnny Faulkner, an archaeologist for the U.S. Forest Service, and Al Cornett, author of “The Sandstone Chronicles,” will speak. Guests can also sign up for Saturday hikes.

On Saturday, registration will resume at 8:15 a.m. and the hikes start at 9 a.m. Afternoon hikes will begin at 1:30 p.m. Another program will be at the lodge at 7 p.m. featuring arch enthusiasts Victor and Todd Fife, who have visited 500 arches in the state.

The registration fee is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 2-12. For more information, call Noelle Theres at 1-800-325-1710 or email Noelle.Theres@ky.gov

Natural Bridge State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, restaurant, hiking trails and gift shop.

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