This is the first in a series of posts about short hikes on the Kentucky side of the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, and this one features Yahoo Falls!
With our other travel plans canceled or on-hold, my mom and I have taken the opportunity to enjoy tourism close to home over the last several weekends by taking advantage of our proximity to the Big South Fork NRRA. Since we are not “serious” hikers, we’ve focused on shorter distance trails, and we’ve mostly hiked on the Kentucky side of the park in McCreary County. I had planned to compile them all into one long post, but I have decided instead to share enough detail about each one to provide a resource for other folks who want to explore the area.
Yahoo Falls
The Yahoo Falls Trail is an approximately one-mile loop trail that leads to Kentucky’s tallest waterfall. The loop trail actually takes you through a huge rock shelter that goes behind the waterfall, and the trail is mostly easy with the exception of some steep metal stairs.
Trail sign with map. 
Steep metal stairs on the trail.
I would suggest going clockwise on the loop, which will take you down the stairs to the base of the falls, behind the falls, and up switchbacks on the other side back to the parking lot. There are some overlooks along the upper part of the trail, but they’re overgrown and don’t offer much of a view.
How to get there: From Highway 27 going South toward Whitley City, turn right onto Highway 700, and follow signs to the Yahoo Falls Scenic Area. There is a large parking lot with a picnic area and restrooms.
Side trails off the lower part of the main loop overlap with the Sheltowee Trace, and will lead through some beautiful and impressive rocks that are worth seeing in their own right.
Wooden bridge on Sheltowee Trace 
Large mossy rocks on Sheltowee Trace
Also nearby: A spur trail (.8 miles each way) leads to Yahoo Arch in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The trail to the arch is mostly easy, but does have a bit of incline. The arch is so large it is hard to capture well in a photo, but it’s well worth the effort to see in person.
Yahoo Arch
If you go clockwise (down the metal stairs) on the Yahoo Falls Loop, the trail to Yahoo Arch will be past the falls and near the top of the switchbacks that lead up toward the overlooks and trail back to the parking lot. The Arch spur trail is marked with a sign and easy to spot. If you prefer to start with the Arch before the Falls, just be prepared to get your heart rate up its time to climb up the metal stairs!
(Post updated 9/13/2020 with photo and info regarding Yahoo Arch.)