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Natural Bridge State Resort Park and
Red River Gorge, Kentucky
Anne's Mini-Vacation
June 3-5, 2009
I've traveled alone often, but this was my first vacation trip alone. The rain didn't deter me from enjoying the time away from work and home. And no mishaps occurred (like falling on a trail or possibly being murdered), in spite of the warnings I received from friends, but not from my dad, who encouraged me to go.
Tonye, the bridge pictures are for you.
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| Red River Gorge Scenic Byway a little way past Nada Tunnel |
Bridge one on byway | Bridge two on byway |
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| Red River | Barn at Gladie Historic Site | Gladie Cultural-Environmental Learning Center Sign Click on photo for larger image. |
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| Sign at Gladie Cultural Center | No joke?! Everything was thoroughly wet from the rain! |
Third bridge |
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| Another view of the bridge | Devil's Canyon overlook sign and parking | View from Devil's Canyon overlook |
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| Swift Creek Overlook sign | View from Swift Creek overlook | Anne was there at Swift Creek Overlook! |
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| Next stop, Sky Bridge | View of Sky Bridge from the viewing area trail. ~ Click on photo for larger image. |
Red River Geological Area sign. |
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| View from overlook | Angel Windows trialhead | Angel Windows trail - very wet! |
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| Rock wall along the trail | Firepink growing on the rock. Click on photo for larger image. |
Firepink Silene virginica |
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| The Angel Windows. Click on photo for larger image. |
Window (behind tree in photo on left) | Other side of the window at left |
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| Other side of the window on left above. | Trail past the windows. Wilderness! Click on photo for larger image. |
Anne on Angel Windows trail |
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| Rock wall (on the way back) | Wet wildflowers (unidentified). Click on photo for larger image. |
Chimney Rock Overlook trailhead |
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| There were memorials to several people who had fallen to their deaths on the trail, including one this year. |
Click on photo for larger image. | View from the overlook |
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| Clouds and mist kept changing the view | Top of Chimney Rock | No railing here (right side of overlook) |
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| View into the canyon (left side of overlook) | Click on photo for larger image. | Half-Moon Rock on left side of overlook |
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| Right side of overlook | Hop clover ~ Trifolium campestre (?) Click on photo for larger image. (Not a very good image.) |
Ox eye daisy ~ Chrysanthemum leucanthemum |
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| Chimney Rock Overlook trail | Princess Arch trailhead | Princess Arch trail |
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| Rock at end of the trail over the arch | View from the rock | Scraggly mountain laurel |
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| Top of Princess Arch. I didn't take time to go on trail under the arch. |
Trail sign at Natural Bridge State Park | Up the mountain! Original Trail steps |
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| There were several informational signs in the park. Click on photo for larger image. |
Shelter built by CCC in 1934 | Click on photo for larger image. |
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| Another trail sign | Steps on Battleship Rock Trail | Ice storm damage on Battleship Rock Trail. Click on photo for larger image. |
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| Rock wall approach to Natural Bridge. Note red rock in lower right. Click on photo for larger image. |
Red rock formation in middle of the rock wall. Click on photo for larger image. |
First view of Natural Bridge. Click on photo for larger image. |
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| Sign at bridge. | Under the bridge | Trail to top of the Natural Bridge is through the narrow opening on the right. Click on photo for larger image. |
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| Steps to top of bridge. Click on photo for larger image. |
Postcard view of Natural Bridge – this was the view on the postcards in the gift shop. ~ Click on photo for larger image. |
Top of Natural Bridge Click on photo for larger image. |
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| View of Lookout Point from Natural Bridge Click on photo for larger image. |
Top of the Skylift | Trail sign |
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| View of Natural Bridge from the Laurel Ridge Trail overlook. Click on photo for larger image. |
Another view from overlook. | Anne at Natural Bridge State Park. Photo by fellow hiker. |
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| Mist changed the view of the bridge continuously. | Vacationing family from Ohio going down the Devil's Gulch stairway. Click on photo for larger image. |
Steps through the rocks Click on photo for larger image. |
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| Long way down | Devil's Gulch stairway Click on photo for larger image. |
Continuing down the mountain |
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| Click on photo for larger image. | Another sign | View from trail |
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| Near the end of Devil's Gulch stairway | Boardwalk at end of steep part of trail Click on photo for larger image. |
Almost back to the lodge |
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| Next morning (June 5) view from lodge — rain had ended. |
Squirrel feeder on lodge balcony (never saw a bird on one of these feeders!) |
View from balcony at Hemlock Lodge |
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Updated November 27, 2013