Top natural arches
Natural ArchCreelsboro Natural Bridge
Natural ArchDouble Arch
Natural ArchYahoo Arch
Natural ArchAngel Windows
Natural ArchCastle Arch
Natural ArchCloud Splitter
Natural ArchGrays Arch
Natural ArchHalf Moon Arch
Natural ArchHidden Arch
Natural ArchNada Arches
Natural ArchNatural Arch
Natural ArchNatural Bridge
Natural Arches by county
All natural arches (35)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creelsboro Natural Bridge | Russell County | — | Burkesville | 2 |
| Double Arch | Powell County | 354 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Yahoo Arch | McCreary County | — | Whitley City | 2 |
| Angel Windows | Wolfe County | 329 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Castle Arch | Wolfe County | 308 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Cloud Splitter | Menifee County | 333 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Grays Arch | Powell County | 308 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Half Moon Arch | Wolfe County | 300 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Hidden Arch | Powell County | 357 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Nada Arches | Powell County | 361 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Natural Arch | McCreary County | 351 m | Whitley City | 2 |
| Natural Bridge | McCreary County | 370 m | Stearns | 2 |
| Natural Bridge | Powell County | 390 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Owls Window | Powell County | 368 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Princess Arch | Wolfe County | 347 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Ravens Window | Powell County | 323 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Red-byrd Arch | Wolfe County | 301 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Rock Bridge Arch | Wolfe County | 291 m | Beattyville | 3 |
| Rock House Natural Bridge | Russell County | 199 m | Burkesville | 2 |
| Sand Gap Arch | Powell County | 384 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Short Creek Arch | Powell County | 317 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Silvermine Arch | Wolfe County | 322 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Sky Bridge | Wolfe County | 325 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Slade Twin Arches | Powell County | 272 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Star Gap Arch | Powell County | 402 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Turtle Back Arch | Wolfe County | 296 m | Beattyville | 3 |
| Whites Branch Arch | Powell County | 375 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Whittleton Arch | Wolfe County | 364 m | Stanton | 3 |
| South Fork Twin Arches | Powell County | 357 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Timmons Arch | Wolfe County | 251 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Whistling Arch | Wolfe County | 288 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Adena Arch | Menifee County | 294 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Moonshiner Arch | Menifee County | 339 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Henson Cave Arch | Powell County | 237 m | Stanton | 3 |
| Burnt Bridge | Rockcastle County | 474 m | Berea | 4 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph natural arches
Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.
- Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
- At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
- Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
- Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
- Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.
Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.