The two RV Gypsies at Yahoo Arch in Kentucky

The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers

and their grandson, hiked to Yahoo Falls - Kentucky's highest waterfall
July 8, 2011

Historic Yahoo Falls, known also by its possible Muskogee name - Yahoo Falls, is located in McCreary County, Kentucky.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"Cumberland National Forest, now Daniel Boone National Forest, was created in 1937. It includes the Falls and surrounding second-growth timberland. It is owned by the Federal government and management is entrusted to the U.S. Forest Service.

Forest supervisor, Robert Collins created the Yahoo Falls Recreation Area in the 1960s. The decision was made to turn Yahoo Falls into an accessible scenic attraction in an effort to lure visitors to the Stearns Ranger District. An all-weather road was built to the top of the gorge and a picnic area and primitive campsite was established."

But the two RV Gypsies did not know about the road to the top of the gorge until they got back to their RV and read more about the area on the internet. Bummer!

The curvy road leading to Yahoo Falls. Alex hated the curvy roads and laid down in the back seat during this journey.	The two RV Gypsies (plus one) prepared to hike to Yahoo Falls - the tallest waterfall in the state of Kentucky.


The two RV Gypsies and their grandson, Alex Jones, followed the dirt trail and then took a long flight of steel stairs that went down into the gorge past cliffs and nearly vertical lush slopes adorned with mountain laurel, rhododendron, and many threatened and endangered species of plants and mushrooms.

Despite the caution sign, Alex hugged a tree to look down the cliff - trying to see the waterfall, until his grandmother told him to get back from the edge and to stay away from all cliff edges.


The trail to the falls was about 1-mile long. Once there, hikers can go right up to the base of the falls, and even go behind the falls. The trail went up and around the top of the falls, but the overlooks were overgrown and the views are not very good.

Below: Alex and Lee crossing a small stream of water

Unfortunately, the two RV Gypsies did not find Yahoo Falls and Lee Duquette did not want to try another path. But they did find the path for to the Yahoo Arch.

Yahoo Arch is located in Daniel Boone National Forest in McCreary County, Kentucky. It is a natural arch cave with a span of 57-feet and a height of 11-feet.

Below: Lee and Alex under the Yahoo Arch - the red dot in the photo below is Lee taking a picture of Karen as Karen was taking a photo of Lee and Alex.


Lee Duquette and his grandson Alex Jones investigated the underneath of a big boulder by the Yahoo Arch.




Alex, being a typical 11-year old boy, tried to move a rock with the walking stick. As the rock turned over, the sound echoed in the cave and Alex jumped and ran out of the cave.



Below: Karen Duquette and her grandson Alex Jones under the Yahoo Arch


Below: Back on the trail to the parking lot	Below: A bright orange lizard

So, the two RV Gypsies did not actually find the Yahoo Falls, but they did enjoy the Yahoo Arch. Karen Duquette thought they should have followed the yellow trail when she suggested that, but Lee Duquette would not listen to her and said he was tired, so they did not turn around and try to go to the actual falls. Karen was really disappointed not to see Yahoo Falls, but the Yahoo Arch was quite enjoyable.

You may visit each of the four sections below in any order you choose. The page you are on is not underlined and cannot be chosen from here.

Cumberland Falls (2 pages)

birthplace of KFC

Yahoo Arch (this page)

The Natural Arch

AFTER you have viewed all four sections above, please continue on for the travels of the two RV Gypsies and their grandson in Wapakoneta, Ohio

OR Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below





OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)

Alex, being a typical 11-year old boy, tried to move a rock with the walking stick. As the rock turned over, the sound echoed in the cave and Alex jumped and ran out of the cave.

OR

Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below

OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)

Continue Navigation in the order of your choice
via the alphabetical or category buttons below