Hiking: Carter Caves 4C's Trail

I must admit, I did not expect to enjoy the trails of the Carter Caves State Resort Park nearly as much as I did.  I pre-judged this area before doing adequate research, and I was in the wrong.  Carter Caves has an awful lot of enjoyment to offer, from caving to paddling to hiking, there is something for everyone.  

The trails were very well maintained and fun to hike.  We chose to hike the 4C's trail, an acronym for Carter Caves Cross Country Trail.  The trail is 7.5 miles in length with beautiful views that incorporate the many parts of Carter Caves I really enjoyed.  The trail passes through Shangra La Arch to wind along the banks of the Smoky Valley lake.  Crossing a swinging bridge to the far side of the lake, you hike back across it's dam and spillway toward a beautiful backcountry campsite.  The trail winds to a close joining the 3 Bridges Trail near Fern Bridge, a massive sandstone arch which gets it's name from the assortment of flora along it's base.  This was rated as a difficult trail, but I found it most enjoyable and worth every step.

Location: Carter Caves State Resort Park

Lat/Lon: N38 22.651 W83 07.328

Trail: 4C's

Hiking: Red River Gorge (Trail 221, 220, 226, 223)

I will try and keep this post very brief.  Hiking through the Red River Gorge is a wonderful thing to be able to experience.  This is one of the most amazing hiking areas in Kentucky, and I thoroughly enjoyed our hike.  I would add that I would not return to this trail during the summer months.  The combination of excessive heat, humidity, and trail difficulty definitely hampered the experience.

Location: Red River Gorge

Lat/Lon: N37 48.492 W83 39.464 (Grey's Arch Trail Head)

Trail: Grey's Arch, Rough Trail (221), Koomer Ridge Trail (220), Buck Ridge Trail (226), Pinch-Em Tight Trail (223)