Indian Staircase Red River Gorge Scramble

Cloudsplitter-Sheltowee Trace Intersection | 37. I have been very lazy in posting anything about my adventures in the Red River Gorge. This is the southern end of Indian Staircase Trail. However, on the way, there's a passage which sneaks down the cliff to your left and comes to the largest rock shelter in the Gorge. If you're not confident in your ability to do this, then take the upper trail, which begins at the left corner of the parking lot. Indian Staircase Loop and Campsite Exploring. 25 miles are along a very narrow cliff ledge with a steep drop off to the valley below. But it will be another several miles back up the road to the Bison Way Trailhead, so if you're going to do this you need to plan ahead and park another vehicle over there. Matt listened to the great advice from his mother and got Carson's number. While researching the area, I found an unofficial trail that promised a challenging and almost impossible scramble to the top. Once I reached its junction with the Sheltowee Trace Trail, I turned LEFT and began the short walk to find the Cloud Splitter Trail. While on the unmarked Indian Staircase Trail, we did a bit of exploring, as there are a multitude of backcountry campsites on the route. Depending on where you begin your ascent, you may or may not find them.

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Muir Valley Red River Gorge

Parking is very limited within Red River Gorge so it is recommended to arrive as early as possible to ensure that space is available. It might shock some to know that just below the summit, within the rock itself is a hidden cave containing one of the most unique arches in Red River Gorge, Cloud Splitter Arch. They'll move around to position their bodies at right angles to the polarity of the sun's rays. Reliable mapping tools. But the trail is very steep. The bluffs were dynamic, beautiful, and overwhelming. What makes it so dangerous is it's basically a giant vertical rock with foot holes etched into it. Featured Image: View of Indian Staircase from across the valley. Red River Gorge / Backpacking around the Indian Staircase area. | Michael Peterson Backpacking. En route to the staircase is another landmark, arguably the most famous rock house in Red River Gorge, the Council Chamber Rockshelter. A small side path just off the main trail takes you behind a dense grove of rhododendrons to the arches which are only a foot high and wide. I could provide more specific direction, but actually finding this gem is part of the fun, so good luck (: This one felt like an obstacle course, demanding and dangerous at times but totally worth the effort. Leaving Adena Arch, head back the way you came towards Indian Arch to complete this 1 mile side trip. Sites Visited: Indian Staircase, Cherokee Arch, Frog Head Rock, Grand Ballroom, Ohm Hole, Indian Arch, Adena Arch, and Adena Window.

The Red River Gorge

It is a broadly held belief that Council Chamber was one of the main settlements of the Adena Culture Peoples while they lived in the Red River Gorge. If you're trying to make life easy, like most hikers, you'll turn left, follow the rock base around 20 or 30 steps, and come to a low ledge you can scramble up to. This may or may not have a 'found' rope attached to a rather small tree that will at some point succumb to hiker use. We are so excited for Matt and Carson! I knew there was no way I could go any further. Indian staircase trail red river gorge. You'll walk along massive boulders, and eventually start your way up the rocks, you will walk up several "stairs" worn into the rocks, before you reach the main set! A good rule is to keep right and follow the most well worn trail in front of you. The second, a little less steady; I knew right where we were heading.

Indian Staircase Red River Gorge Kentucky February 2013

You'll be able to see the etched stairs to go up. It didn't exactly go as planned. We had said, "if either of us didn't reach the summit, neither of us wins. " You will begin on Bison Way, a one mile trail that connects to the Sheltowee Trace.

Indian Staircase Red River Gorge

Other attractions near the Indian June 16th, 2005. This hike is a very special and magical place. You have to be able to raise your front foot to about chest high, then hoist yourself up. Overall Difficulty | Moderate + Two Scrambles. It was winter, 2017, and the views were terrific while the trees were still naked from shedding their leaves the fall before.

Indian Staircase Red River Gorge Ky

You'll take this until you come to the intersection of the Sheltowee Trace Trail #100. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Leave the pooch at home if this one is on your agenda. The biggest problem we've seen has been people trying to go up wearing thongs, Crocs, or other substandard shoes.

Indian Creek Road Red River Gorge

I drove a little less than a quarter mile past this trailhead to find an appropriate place to park and walked back along the road to jump on the trail and begin my journey. Keep Louisville interesting and support LEO Weekly by subscribing to our newsletter here. Continue climbing until reaching Indian Arch up top past the wooden staircase. Our second attempt, we brought along Katy, boasting on our way there of our all but sure success at hiking up the sandstone bluff. Indian staircase red river gorge. Personally I would take those comments with a grain of salt. If you backtrack from Indian Arch down towards Sheltowee Twin Windows, you should be able to spot a tall metal trail marker exactly in front of an unofficial side trail that climbs over a ledge and to the RIGHT of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. While the gorge is within the range of timber rattlesnakes, copperheads are the most common poisonous snake encountered.

Indian Staircase Trail Red River Gorge

The next best choice would be a relatively new basketball shoe that still has its grip. The trail winds around the shoulder for half a mile, then drops steeply down to the very small Greasy Fork, crosses it, and climbs sharply back up to the Sheltowee Trace. Indian staircase red river gorge ky. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline the app. You'll alternate dirt and sandstone as the trail pushes north and steeply uphill. Once, I had made my son give up his glory for my own phobia. Steep drop-offs are often unseen until you are right on top of them; and if you are hiking with children keep them close by your side at all times! The "stairs" are not carved out, but worn down!

They say his survival after a 170-foot drop was "nothing short of a miracle. It crisscrosses the creekbed up the valley, but you have to be able to cut off at Sargeant's Branch and follow it up to the Sheltowee Trace. Descend carefully (crabwalking preferred) while maintaining a low center of gravity and three points of contact at all times.