Red River Gorge search and rescue team saves hiker after injury on unofficial trail
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Powell and Wolfe search teams plus a paramedic located and treated off-trail hiker.
- Team lifted hiker over downed trees and carried her to ambulance in ~3 hours.
- Coordinated effort credited to PCSAR, Menifee County EMS and Wolfe County SAR.
A search and rescue team in the Red River Gorge area rescued an injured hiker from the woods Saturday.
The hiker fell on an unofficial path off Princess Arch Trail and suffered a possible broken leg. Search and rescue teams from Powell and Wolfe counties and a paramedic were dispatched to the coordinates and treated her until other rescuers arrived to carry her out of the forest.
They placed the injured hiker, who was not identified, in a Stokes basket and carried her to a waiting ambulance, which took her to a hospital. The Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team said officials lifted the hiker over multiple downed trees, and the rescue took about three hours.
“We would like to thank our friends from PCSAR (Powell County Search and Rescue) and the Menifee County Ambulance Service for a very successful coordinated effort,” the Wolfe County search and rescue team wrote in a Facebook post.
Princess Arch Trailhead starts at the end of Chimney Top Rock Road and goes to Princess Arch, a large arch-shaped rock that overlooks the gorge. The path is an out-and-back trail more than a half-mile long.
The trail is near Whittleton Arch, where a hiker fell to their death in late August. Whittleton is one of the largest natural arches in the area and a popular hike in Red River Gorge, according to Kentucky State Parks.
There are hiking trails in the Red River Gorge area for all skill levels. Beginners are encouraged to check the weather before headed out, stay on marked trails, avoid climbing or exploring off trail and letting someone know your plan if you are hiking by yourself.
This story was originally published November 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM.
