Known for its incredible 400 miles of underground passageways, Mammoth Cave National Park draws in over 2 million guests each year. While most of them visit the park to take one of the numerous ranger guided cave tours, a select few come to this park for its above-ground gems. The same geological properties responsible for creating the massive cave systems here have also adorned the park with an untold amount of natural arches, bridges, and waterfalls. Hidden out of sight along its 85 miles of back country trails, it is an outdoor adventurers paradise just waiting to be explored.
Mammoth Cave National Park Trail Map
Mammoth Cave National Park Location | Google Maps
A note to would-be hunters; While most people hang up their hiking boots during the bitter cold months of winter, here in Kentucky it is prime time for hunting arches and chasing waterfalls off-trail throughout the state. Off trail hiking is not for most people as it involves a more developed set of skills to navigate in raw wilderness. Utilizing the use of a map and compass, GPS, and the ability to reference natural landmarks from the outlines of topographical maps all come into play here. Sheer cliffs with life altering drops abound all throughout the park. The best time to see waterfalls are after several successive days of heavy rain, which can also elevate the risk of slipping and falling. While bears are not known to reside in Central Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to 23 species of snakes, including the venomous Eastern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake. Ticks containing Lyme Disease are also a danger which is why these outings are mostly conducted while the cold weather keeps them at bay. As with any type of outdoor activities, there are many dangers involved with backcountry hiking, but when done right, can lead to a very rewarding experience.
Edmonson County, home to Mammoth Cave National Park, ranks 5th among the counties in Kentucky with the largest concentration of arches. With over 200 known and confirmed natural formations, it makes each ravine, hollow, valley, and drainage a prime spot to search for arches and waterfalls. Some of these back country sights even catalogued with rare U.S. Department of Interior badges. Easily accessible resources online can help lead the way to discovering these hidden gems, but there are rules to this fun pastime. Leave No Trace principles are always followed while recreating outdoors, especially in areas without established trails. A lot of these formations are located in ecologically sensitive areas that could be easily be harmed, so it is of the upmost importance to leave these areas better than we found them. Widely publicizing the exact locations of arches and waterfalls is frowned upon due to the unintended consequences it could inspire; mainly vandalism and the destruction of habitat associated with mass visitation. While I wont be mentioning the specific drainages where these features can be found, the images of these magnificent landmarks should be enough fodder to get you started on your own unique adventure. This page will be regularly updated as I discover and document more landmarks. Now to the good stuff!
Casper Falls
Casper Falls
Grotto Falls
Grotto Falls (Top), Talon Falls/Cascades (Below)
Hobbit Hole Arch (also known as Wham!)
Peering through Hobbit Hole Arch at nearby Grotto Falls
Talon Arch
Eye Socket Falls (with Eye Socket Arch in the background)
Indian Cave
Chasing Off Trail Arches & Waterfalls | Edmonson County, Kentucky Part 1
Temple Hill Twin Arches
Inside the cave complex of Temple Hill Twin Arches
Ferguson Natural Bridge
Skylight above Ferguson Natural Bridge (watch your step!)
Elephant Head Arch
Rock shelter below Elephant Head Arch
Cave Canyon Falls
Close up of rock shelter beside Cave Canyon Falls
Chasing Off Trail Arches & Waterfalls Pt. 2 | Edmonson County, Kentucky
Pinnix Pocket Falls
Triple Arch (Front View)
Triple Arch (Rear Cave Entrance)
Triple Arch (view of the multiple caverns inside)
Side view of Narrow Arch
View from inside Narrow Arch
Cyan Falls
Cobalt Falls
Azure Cascades
Azure Falls
Pillar Falls
Chasing Off Trail Arches & Waterfalls Pt.3 | Edmonson County, Kentucky
Sandstone Falls
Thank You Ma'am Arch
Unnamed Arch (Hominy Holes at bottom of picture)
Fishbowl Falls
Outside View of Eye Socket Arch
Inside View of Eye Socket Arch
Log Jam Falls
Chasing Arches & Waterfalls Part.4 | Edmonson County | Kentucky
Asphalt Rock Pictographs (nearby area)
Close up of Asphalt Rock Pictographs
Houchins Ferry Arch
Houchins Ferry Falls
Wagon Box Double Arch
The Waterfall at Waterfall Cave Arch
Looking out over The Waterfall at Waterfall Cave Arch
Boulder Den Arch
Unnamed Window (previously thought to be Nolan Window)
KYROCK Arch
3 comments
I would really love to know where those pictographs are located. They are so similar to the ones in the Southwest US and I’m intrigued and would love to go see them in person. Would be so appreciative if you would email me directions. Many, many thanks.
Hey Nicolas, Kentucky has a substantial arch and waterfalls database found respectively at kywaterfalls.com and kyarches.com. You’ll have to pour over the maps to figure that out for yourself. In my opinion, that’s half the fun. Best of luck!
Hey there! I just discovered your YouTube channel! I really enjoy your videos keep up the great work! I’ve watched the videos of you exploring off trail arches and waterfalls at Mammoth Cave national park in Kentucky. How exactly do you get to the waterfalls and arches. I didn’t know if there was a specific road or area that I needed to be at to go check them out.