Kentucky Geologist Creates 40-Site Arch Trail for Eastern Kentucky Hikers

Steve Martin, a geologist with the Kentucky Geological Survey, has compiled a Kentucky Arch Trail listing 40 natural-arch sites that have trails leading to them. Martin released the guide on January 16, 2026, to help residents and visitors locate arches, encourage outdoor recreation, and reduce damage to fragile rock features by concentrating use on established paths.

The guide emphasizes Pine Mountain as a key corridor for arches, noting concentrations in Letcher, Bell and Harlan counties. While the trail map spans the state, much of the fieldwork and site documentation focus on eastern Kentucky topography and accessibility. The project identifies sites with existing approach trails so hikers can plan visits that avoid creating social trails and trampling surrounding vegetation.

The Kentucky Geological Survey offers both a printed pamphlet and a digital story map to present the 40-site arch trail. In addition to map resources, the survey will send a sticker to people who hike to 20 arches and submit photos as verification. The effort pairs interpretation with an incentive program aimed at promoting low-impact tourism and increased trail stewardship among outdoor users.

For Perry County residents, the arch trail expands nearby outdoor destinations without requiring off-trail excursions. Even where no arches lie inside Perry County boundaries, the concentration of sites along Pine Mountain places many of the listings within a short drive for local hikers. Directing foot traffic to documented approaches reduces the risk of inexperienced visitors entering private property or fragile hollows and helps local governments and land managers anticipate and manage visitor flows.

The guide intersects with broader local priorities: promoting recreation as an economic complement to existing industries, protecting natural and cultural resources, and improving public safety on backcountry routes. By cataloging arches with established access, the Kentucky Geological Survey provides a planning tool for county parks departments, volunteer trail crews and outdoor businesses that serve regional visitors.

Martin’s trail compilation also serves as a conservation measure. Concentrating visitation on mapped routes lowers the likelihood of erosion and vandalism to arches, many of which are geologically sensitive. The sticker program and the story map create opportunities for community groups and schools to integrate arch visits into outdoor education and stewardship programs.

What this means for readers is practical: the new Kentucky Arch Trail makes it easier to find mapped access to natural arches while encouraging low-impact use. Local civic leaders and trail organizations can use the survey’s pamphlet and digital map to coordinate outreach, trail maintenance and signage as visitation increases.