Rock Bridge and Turtle Back Arch in Daniel Boone National Forest, KY

Hike Rock Bridge and Turtle Back Arch Daniel Boone National Forest, KY

Class 2 4.4 miles 300 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Oct 20, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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This was a really great short hike, including a natural bridge over an actual creek and a bunch of other features. From the Rock Bridge trailhead, I followed the west side of the Rock Bridge Trail loop down to Swift Camp Creek, passing Creation Falls, and continuing to Rock Bridge. It was pretty impressive. Rather than just complete the loop, I continued north along Swift Camp Creek, which paralleled the creek and entered a beautiful sandstone slickrock grotto. It wasn't super obvious where to leave the trail to find Turtle Back Arch, but a social trail led up a ridge away from the creek. The arch actually ended up being pretty elusive and I passed a couple who gave up trying to find it. I stumbled on it eventually, kind of unsure how. Turtle Back Arch is a really interesting sandstone feature with a small arch at its base. I returned along Swift Camp Creek and completed the Rock Bridge Loop.

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Starting down along the Rock Bridge Trail.
Starting down along the Rock Bridge Trail.
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Along Swift Camp Creek.
Along Swift Camp Creek.
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Creation Falls.
Creation Falls.
Continuing along Swift Camp Creek.
Continuing along Swift Camp Creek.
Rock Bridge ahead. Impressive.
Rock Bridge ahead. Impressive.
A fall leaves shot with Rock Bridge ahead.
A fall leaves shot with Rock Bridge ahead.
Rock Bridge.
Rock Bridge.
Rock Bridge again, taken from along the trail.
Rock Bridge again, taken from along the trail.
One more of Rock Bridge before I continued along Swift Camp Creek.
One more of Rock Bridge before I continued along Swift Camp Creek.
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
Pretty views along Swift Camp Creek.
Pretty views along Swift Camp Creek.
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A slickrock grotto along the Swift Camp Creek trail.
A slickrock grotto along the Swift Camp Creek trail.
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A view after leaving the Swift Camp Creek trial, working up a ridge to find Turtle Back Arch.
A view after leaving the Swift Camp Creek trial, working up a ridge to find Turtle Back Arch.
Image 18 from gallery
Turtle Back Arch.
Turtle Back Arch.
Image 20 from gallery
After returning along the Swift Camp Creek Trail, I completed the Rock Bridge Trail loop.
After returning along the Swift Camp Creek Trail, I completed the Rock Bridge Trail loop.
A nice view just before the trailhead.
A nice view just before the trailhead.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!