Hike to Arch of Triumph, Star Gap Arch & Skyview Arch in Red River Gorge

A fantastic day hike through a semi-secluded part of Kentucky's Red River Gorge. Featuring the stunning Star Gap Arch and the elusive Skyline Arch—one of the area's more unique and hard-to-find formations—the trail draws fewer visitors than nearby hikes and is a great option for those looking to escape the crowds.

Trailhead elevation 1,292'

Water none

Don't miss the spur trails to Star Gap Arch and the view of it near the 2.3-mile mark

Hike to Arch of Triumph, Star Gap Arch & Skyview Arch

The hike begins at the Tunnel Ridge Road Trailhead parking area, which can accommodate dozens of vehicles but typically fills up by late morning. From the parking lot, walk back along Tunnel Ridge Road and find the Double Arch Trail #210 at the turnaround, about 0.15 miles from the main parking area. If unsure, look for the trailhead with a gate at its entrance, as multiple trails branch off in this area.

The hike begins on a dirt and gravel service road, continuing for 0.15 miles before reaching an unmarked but recognizable spur trail on the right side of the main path.

This spur trail, 0.15 miles long, ends at what looks like an ordinary rock slab, however, this is the top of Arch of Triumph.

If hikers descend slightly to the left of this point, they’ll reach a view of the arch a few feet below. Though not particularly large—only a couple of feet high and about ten feet long—it’s worth a brief stop since it’s so close.

Returning to the main trail, hikers continue until the 0.95-mile mark, where the trail to Star Gap Arch and Skyview Arch branches off at a noticeable bend.

Once on this trail, at 1.35 miles, another unmarked spur trail on the right leads to Star Gap Arch. After a short 0.1-mile along this trail, hikers should watch for one of two unmarked paths on the left. Taking either path will bring them to the rock formation pictured below.

From this formation, hikers can descend and follow a trail below. At 1.5 miles, they’ll arrive at Star Gap Arch.

Those who skip either of the two left spur trails leading to the rock formation mentioned above will end up on top of the arch rather than viewing it from above. This is a common mistake that hikers make, often leading to frustration in locating Star Gap Arch.

After exploring Star Gap Arch, hikers can return to the main trail. Around the 2.3-mile mark, as they walk along the cliffs, a glance over the right shoulder offers a distant view of Star Gap Arch.

The next few hundred yards offer sweeping views of the gorge and an easy-to-follow trail. Gently ascending along the cliffs, hikers will encounter several backcountry campsites, though none with views as scenic as Hanson's Point or Rainbow Point, they are decent options for overnight stays. Near the 2.55-mile mark, the trail appears to dead-end. When this occurs, hikers will find the view below to their right.

At this point, ahead lies a rock slab, shown below, which hikers should descend.

Once below, hikers will find a faint but noticeable trail at the cliff base to the right.

This trail leads to Skyview Arch. It initially hugs the cliff base, followed by a steep descent (greater than 45 degrees). Hikers should keep from grasping on to branches that hang over the trail to help protect the fragile landscape, if possible.

The trail then continues along the base of the cliffs for roughly 0.2 miles, leading directly to the arch at approximately the 2.75-mile mark. Interesting erosion patterns are visible within the recess near the arch, and best of all, there’s no graffiti or soot from fires.

After exploring Skyview Arch, simply retrace your steps back to the trailhead. It is worth noting that there are many spur trails on this hike and getting lost or turned around is fairly easy, so having a downloaded trail map handy can be of use. There are also many overlooks along this trail, some better than others, and exploring any of them will add more mileage to the hike.