The Red River Gorge was once covered with sediment that was deposited by an ancient river flowing into an inland sea that covered much of North America. Over millions of years, the sediment was turned into rocks and then weathered and eroded into what you see today. Courhouse Rock is a shining example of what happens because of differential weathering. The Corbin Sandstone in the area is more resistant to weathering than many of the surrounding sedimentary rocks and as such, you'll notice many sandstone features in the gorge. The ridge you are hiking to get out to the area is one such sandstone feature and the valleys below must have been made of softer sedimentary rock that was eroded much more quickly and to a greater degree. As you hike the area, pay attention to the cracks and fissures you see in certain rock formations. The Cumberland Plateau of which this area is part, was uplifted causing many of the joints that you see in the area. Other joints or fissures in the rock are formed similarly to those at Natural Bridge, where differential weathering from freezing and thawing of water enlarges small cracks into larger ones causing them to fracture off of the structure. So, in some areas you will find craggy, fissure filled rocks like Chimney Top and nearby you might find a softly rounded figure or arch that had a slightly different weathering and erosion process causing its formation.
The hike here will take you a minimum of 5 miles so plan accordingly. There is no water on the ridge suitable for filtering and it won't be until you get into the valley below Courthouse Rock that you will find a suitable water source. In other words, if your doing this as a dayhike, pack some water. Also, be aware of the weather forecast before hitting the trail. On our last trip to Courthouse Rock we were caught in a thunderstorm on the ridge before descending towards the rock, which made for an exciting hike but one that put us dangerously close to some serious lightning.
To get credit for this Earthcache, email me the answers to the following questions and even though it isn't required, I would highly encourage you to take some photos.
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Based upon what you know about the geology of this area, which of the following types of rock is Courthouse Rock composed of? Igneous, Metamorphic, or Sedimentary.
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Estimate the height of the rock. Also, provide the elevation of Courthouse Rock near the coordinates.
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Comparing nearby Haystack Rock with Courthouse Rock and using the information above, explain why you believe their structures appear very different even though they were formed so close together.
I believe that this is one of the finest official trail areas in the Red River Gorge and I hope you enjoy the sites on your way to this EC and back.
