Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Permit None needed.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): Open: the Forest Service lists the site as open year-round. On October 29, 2026, the Daniel Boone alerts page listed no alert for Creation Falls or its trail. For winter 2025-26, FR 24 closed to vehicles on December 11, 2025, and a winter closure may recur. What the status labels mean
Creation Falls is on Rock Bridge Trail #207, a loop in the Daniel Boone National Forest's Rock Bridge Recreation Area in Kentucky's Red River Gorge. Trail guides put the loop at roughly 1.3 to 1.5 miles, past Rock Bridge Arch. We found no official height. The Forest Service says no fees are required and the site is open year-round. On October 29, 2026, the forest's alerts page listed no alert for Creation Falls.
About Creation Falls
Creation Falls is on Rock Bridge Trail #207 in the Rock Bridge Recreation Area, part of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Wolfe County. The Forest Service says the area 'provides access to the popular Rock Bridge Trail #207. The short loop trail leads past Creation Falls and Rock Bridge Arch.'
The loop has two named sights. Creation Falls is the waterfall. The Red River Gorge as a whole has more than 100 natural sandstone arches, according to Wikipedia. Rock Bridge Arch, the Forest Service says, 'is the only arch in the Red River Gorge that extends over water, creating a "bridge" over Swift Camp Creek.'
We found no height for Creation Falls from the Forest Service or Wikipedia. Blog estimates exist, but we don't print them. The Forest Service names Swift Camp Creek under the arch, but we could not confirm the name of the stream that forms Creation Falls.
The Forest Service's Cumberland Ranger District manages the site. Its office is at 2375 KY 801 South in Morehead, and it answers at (606) 784-6428. From the recreation area, Swift Camp Creek Trail #219 continues 'deep into Clifty Wilderness,' the agency says.
Getting there and parking
The Forest Service gives these directions from Slade: take KY 15 east for 7 miles to KY 715. Turn left on KY 715, go 0.3 mile, and turn right onto Rock Bridge Road. Follow it about 3 miles on gravel, as Forest Road 24, to its end.
According to the Forest Service, the recreation area has designated parking, visitor information, trash collection, a picnic table and vault toilets. The Forest Service adds, 'Potable water is not available at this site,' so bring all the drinking water you need for the loop.
You won't pay to park for a day hike. The Forest Service's Rock Bridge page lists the area as open year-round, 24 hours a day. A 2024 Federal Register notice proposed a fee here, but the Forest Service page lists none. That page, updated May 8, 2025, says 'No fees are required for this site.'
Overnight parking follows a separate rule. Wolfe County tourism says you need a pass to park in the Red River Gorge between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It costs $5 for one day, $7 for three days or $50 a year, per vehicle. The same FAQ says day hiking needs no pass.
Rock Bridge Road in winter
The drive in can end early in winter. For winter 2025-26, a Forest Service alert dated December 11, 2025 closed FR 24 (Rock Bridge Road) and FR 10 to motorized use, per a search excerpt. The agency added that 'closed roads are still open to foot and bicycle traffic.'
The December 2025 alert was no longer on the Daniel Boone alerts page when we checked on October 26, 2026. A winter closure may recur, and walking the closed road adds about 3 miles of gravel each way, so check the forest's alerts before a winter drive. The December 2025 alert had said the roads would reopen 'when conditions improve in the spring.'
Map and nearby falls
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The hike
The Rock Bridge Trail #207 loop past Creation Falls is roughly 1.3 to 1.5 miles. Trail guides such as Outdoor Project, Hiking Project and AllTrails list it at 1.25 to 1.5 miles. The Forest Service calls it a 'short loop trail' but gives no length.
Trail guides such as AllTrails list about 259 feet of elevation gain for a 1.5-mile version. We found no agency difficulty rating or hiking time, so judge your time from that distance and climb.
Because the trail is a loop, one lap takes you past both Creation Falls and Rock Bridge Arch, the Forest Service says. We could not confirm which direction is signed or which sight you reach first. If you want a longer day, Swift Camp Creek Trail #219 heads on into the Clifty Wilderness.
We could not confirm an accessible route or viewpoint on the loop. If you need step-free access, call the ranger district before you make the drive.
Dogs can come along. Wolfe County tourism says dogs are 'welcome throughout the Red River Gorge.' At Forest Service developed recreation sites, federal rule 36 CFR 261.16(j) sets the pet rule. A pet must be 'upon a leash not longer than six feet, or otherwise under physical restrictive control.'
When to visit
The Forest Service lists the recreation area as open year-round, 24 hours a day. Winter changes road access more than anything else here. For winter 2025-26, Rock Bridge Road closed to vehicles on December 11, 2025, and the alert said it would reopen in spring.
If a winter closure of Rock Bridge Road recurs, the short loop becomes a walk with about 6 extra miles round trip. Before a winter visit, check current alerts with the Daniel Boone National Forest or call (606) 784-6428.
We found no official guidance on the best season for flow at Creation Falls. The Forest Service page and the tourism pages we read don't name a peak month, so we list none.
Cumberland Falls and Yahoo Falls are in southern Kentucky, well south of the Red River Gorge. Our Kentucky waterfalls guide compares all three.
| Trail | Rock Bridge Trail #207, a 'short loop trail' that leads past Creation Falls and Rock Bridge Arch (Forest Service). No agency length found; trail guides such as Outdoor Project and AllTrails list 1.25 to 1.5 mi, and AllTrails lists 259 ft of gain |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | No agency rating; the Forest Service calls it a short loop |
| Entry fee | Free: 'No fees are required for this site' (Forest Service Rock Bridge page, updated May 8, 2025). The Forest Service page does not list the fee proposed in a 2024 Federal Register notice. |
| Permit / reservation | No day-use fee or permit at Rock Bridge (Forest Service). Overnight parking in the Red River Gorge needs a pass (Wolfe County tourism) |
| Parking | End of Rock Bridge Rd (FR 24); closed to cars winter 2025-26 |
| Hours / season | Open year-round, 24 hours a day (Forest Service). In the Red River Gorge, parking from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. needs an overnight pass (Wolfe County tourism) |
| Dogs | 6-ft leash or physical control. Wolfe County tourism says dogs are 'welcome throughout the Red River Gorge'. Under 36 CFR 261.16(j), a pet at Forest Service developed recreation sites must be 'upon a leash not longer than six feet, or otherwise under physical restrictive control.' |
| Swimming | No Forest Service swimming rule found. The Forest Service lists no swimming area among the site's amenities |
| Wheelchair / stroller | We could not confirm an accessible route or viewpoint |
| Restrooms | Vault toilets at the recreation area; no potable water (Forest Service) |
| Crowds | The Forest Service calls Rock Bridge Trail #207 'popular'; we found no crowd counts |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service, Daniel Boone National Forest (Cumberland Ranger District) |
Safety and swimming
We found no Forest Service swimming rule for Creation Falls. The Forest Service lists no swimming area among the site's amenities, so treat the pool as a creek, not a swim spot.
If you step in, expect slippery rock and keep children within reach. Do not climb the falls or the top of Rock Bridge Arch, and stay on the marked trail.
Carry water and a light. The Forest Service says the recreation area has no potable water. In a winter when FR 24 is closed, the road walk adds about 3 miles each way, which can put you on the road near dark.
Remember the overnight rule if a late start runs long. Wolfe County tourism says a car parked in the Red River Gorge between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. needs a pass.
Read our waterfall safety guide before you go.
Where to stay near Creation Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Slade.
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Photos
Creation Falls FAQ
How long is the hike to Creation Falls?
Roughly 1.3 to 1.5 miles, on the Rock Bridge Trail #207 loop, per trail guides such as AllTrails. The Forest Service calls it a short loop but gives no length or time. In a winter when FR 24 is closed to vehicles, as in winter 2025-26, add about 3 miles of road walking each way.
Is there a fee to park at Rock Bridge?
No day-use fee. A 2024 proposal for a fee here appears only in the Federal Register, not on the Forest Service's Rock Bridge page. Parking in the Red River Gorge from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. needs an overnight pass, per Wolfe County tourism. For day use, the Rock Bridge page, updated May 8, 2025, says 'No fees are required for this site.'
Where do you park for Creation Falls?
At the Rock Bridge Recreation Area lot, at the end of Rock Bridge Road (FR 24). From Slade, the Forest Service says to take KY 15 east 7 miles and turn left on KY 715. After 0.3 mile, turn right onto Rock Bridge Road for about 3 miles of gravel.
Is Rock Bridge Road open in winter?
Not always. For winter 2025-26, the Forest Service closed FR 24 and FR 10 to motorized use on December 11, 2025. It said they would reopen when conditions improve in the spring. The closed roads stayed open to walkers and cyclists. That alert was gone from the forest's alerts page by October 26, 2026, but a winter closure may recur.
Can you swim at Creation Falls?
We found no Forest Service rule on swimming there. Tourism sites say kids wade in the shallow pool, but the site's listed amenities include no swimming area. Expect slick rock if you step in.
Do you need a pass to park overnight in the Red River Gorge?
Yes, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to Wolfe County tourism. A pass costs $5 for one day, $7 for three days or $50 a year, per vehicle. We could not confirm whether overnight parking is allowed at the Rock Bridge lot itself.
Are dogs allowed on the Rock Bridge Trail?
Yes. Wolfe County tourism says dogs are welcome throughout the Red River Gorge. Federal rule 36 CFR 261.16(j) limits leashes to six feet at developed Forest Service sites, or requires other physical control.
Nearby waterfalls
No other waterfalls within 75 miles are on the site yet.
More waterfalls to explore
Cumberland FallsKentucky · 77 mi straight-linePartly open68FT
Yahoo FallsKentucky · 87 mi straight-lineOpen113FT
Ash CaveOhio · 125 mi straight-lineOpen90FT CAVE RIM
On these lists: Free waterfalls
Sources
The December 11, 2025 winter road-closure alert is no longer on the Forest Service alerts page, so its wording comes from a search-result excerpt. Other Forest Service facts on this page were read directly on the agency's Rock Bridge page.
- USFS Daniel Boone NF: Rock Bridge Recreation Area (updated May 8, 2025)
- USFS Daniel Boone NF: Alerts (Dec 11, 2025 road closure via search excerpt; gone Oct 26, 2026; no Creation Falls alert, read Oct 29, 2026)
- Federal Register 2024-16375: proposed new recreation fees, Daniel Boone NF (Jul 25, 2024; govinfo)
- Wolfe County tourism: Red River Gorge FAQ (overnight parking pass, dogs, Rock Bridge)
- 36 CFR 261.16 Developed recreation sites (Cornell LII)
- Wikipedia: Red River Gorge
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with USDA Forest Service, Daniel Boone National Forest (Cumberland Ranger District) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.