Subterranean Arch Complex

This gallery contains photos of three adjacent arches in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Two additional windows (not shown) are also part of this complex. The three subterranean arches provide underground passageways through a ridge. The overland routes above the arches are each about thirty feet long. A rusty old refrigerator is inside the largest room. Evidence suggests that the room was previously sealed with sheets of plastic. A rusty old wood stove lies nearby on the forest floor.

The photos in this gallery were not taken under good conditions, and are not particularly scenic. Therefore they're not offered for sale. Perhaps I will have more photos to share later after the place is cleaned up. I find the mystery surrounding the historical use of this place to be very intriguing, so my first order of business is to share these "before" photos.

I have no knowledge of any historical names for this arch complex or the three arches. Therefore, I have assigned some names for now. I'll update this gallery if more information becomes available.

Scroll down for more photos. Captions below each photo provide more details, and a bit of speculation about how this arch complex was used long ago.

Smaller Entrance to the Room Underneath Refrigerator Arch
I called this arch Refrigerator Arch. That may sound like an odd name, but there is a rusty old refrigerator inside!

I was hiking off-trail when I noticed some black plastic which was hanging over this entrance. The very old plastic fell apart when I started to clean up the mess. However, I could see that it ran back underneath the surface layer of dirt and leaves. When I bent down for a closer look I could see an underground room with a larger entrance on the other side.

This entrance is near the top of a long slope. So it will likely go unnoticed to anybody in the area unless they happen to be walking at a specific level where it is possible to see into the opening.

This entrance has a span of approximately seven feet. The underground space has a maximum height of approximately six feet.
20170417 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex
Larger Entrance to the Room Underneath Refrigerator Arch
This (approximately thirty foot long) natural trench provides entry to two arches. On the right is an approximately five foot high entrance to Refrigerator Arch. To the left of the rusty refrigerator is an entrance to another arch which I called Escape Arch. The reason for that name will be explained in the caption to one of the following photos.

Once again, the topography allows this arch to hide in plain sight. One must be walking fairly close to the trench for it to be noticeable. Fallen trees make it less likely that anyone would consider walking close enough to see the entrance. A slope leading down to the arch entrance is underneath the fallen trees in the foreground. I assume the refrigerator was taken down that slope sometime before the trees fell.

The forest floor at the upper left of the above photo is also the top of the third arch in this complex. I called that arch Hideout Arch. See the photo caption for Hideout Arch for additional details.
20170419 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex
Alternate View of the Large Entrance To Refrigerator Arch
The tree in the foreground is growing between the large opening of Refrigerator Arch and a natural rock wall. The refrigerator is partially visible to the left of the tree. Very old plastic is visible along the base of the opening.
20170419 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex
Inside Refrigerator Arch
The ceiling here seems to have been blackened by fire. Plastic is visible on the ground at the base of both entrances.
20170419 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex
Escape Arch
Escape Arch (shown to the left of the refrigerator in the photo above) provides an alternate exit from underneath Refrigerator Arch. The other entrance to Escape Arch is also normally hidden from view. It is above a steep slope, and at the base of a cliff.

I talked to a retired state police detective who suspects this was a site for a specific illegal activity. If his suspicions are true, then this arch could have provided a hidden escape route. Hence the name Escape Arch.
20170419 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex
Alternate View Of Escape Arch
One end of the refrigerator is shown in the previous photograph. The above photo was taken from beside the opposite end of the refrigerator.
20170419 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex
Hideout Arch
I call the arch in the above photo Hideout Arch. I suppose if one was able to escape from refrigerator arch undetected then this would be an ideal hiding spot. The hump behind the tree at the left center hides part of the entrance to this arch. Moving down the slope behind the camera position will quickly put the rest of this entrance out of view as well. The other (not shown) entrance to this arch is near to the (also not shown) cliffside entrance of Escape Arch. Both of those entrances can only be seen when walking close to the base of a cliff. There is a vertically challenged natural window in the space between those two entrances. A lot more erosion could possibly cause this arch and Escape Arch to merge sometime in the distant future.

You can see a cliff starting to get higher at the right edge of this photo. You can walk to the right (along the base of the cliff) to find another natural window.
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Heavy Litter
This old stove was likely used inside Refrigerator Arch. I guess it ended up here after it served it's purpose, or after it became too rusty for further use.
20170417 Bushwhacking Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky Landscape Scenic Subterranean Arch Complex