Is Natural Bridge Worth Visiting on Your Virginia Trip?

I’m a big fan of natural bridges. When those geological wonders come with some interesting history attached, it’s even better.

Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park is one of those places, a scenic beauty with quite the historical pedigree.

We got to spend a day there on one of our road trips around the United States and were impressed by the scenery and general lack of humans. The low crowds allowed us to enjoy our treks in the park fully.

We even brought our pup with us, who definitely thought Natural Bridge was worth her time.

Get to know the connections between this bridge and a national president (or two) with this complete guide to the park and why it should make your Virginia bucket list.

Is Natural Bridge worth visiting?

Natural Bridge is worth visiting for its limestone arch along. This thing has impressed visitors for centuries, including historical figures like Thomas Jefferson.

That connection is why it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark in 1988.

Before the bridge itself, the park offers beautiful hiking trails along a nice creek, living history exhibits, and decent wildlife-spotting opportunities.

What is Natural Bridge State Park famous for?

The 215-foot Natural Bridge is famous for its history. It boasts origins as an ancient sacred site for the Native American Monacan tribe, only to be discovered by surveyors in our most recent history.

The story goes that George Washington took a gander at this site in 1750, even carving his initials into the walls of the bridge about 23 feet up from the ground below.

Fun fact: As you’re walking underneath Natural Bridge for the first time, try to notice a white outline a short distance up above. Inside you should see the initials “G.W.”

It wasn’t ol’ George who ended up purchasing the site some 24 years later, but Jefferson. Jefferson purchased both the bridge and the surrounding 157 acres in 1774 from King George III of Great Britain.

No, the Monacan people didn’t have anything to do with any of the sales, as was the custom back in the day when the white man was doing his colonizing thing.

In modern times, while Natural Bridge is one of the oldest destinations in the state, it’s Virginia’s newest official state park.

The Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund (VCLF) purchased the land, including the bridge, in 2013. The park opened in 2016 and still operates on private land to this day.

The VCF still owns the land despite difficulties paying off the loans that forced them to turn to the state park system for financial support. That doesn’t make it any harder for you to visit. I just love giving you extra background.

Visiting Natural Bridge State Park

Natural Bridge State Park is located along South Lee Highway in Rockbridge County, Virginia, which is a bit on the nose.

It’s best experienced on road trips in the area or on visits to Roanoke (30 minutes) or Richmond (two hours). Natural Bridge is about four hours from Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

We visited the bridge from Lynchburg, an easy drive of about 45 minutes. Lynchburg was our pick thanks to the cost savings we enjoyed there over Roanoke or Richmond, but you may have other plans for your Virginia trip.

READ MORE: Planning a longer road trip? Check out my road trip guide to the American South.

Things to Do at Natural Bridge State Park

You came for the bridge, and there’s certainly that. Let’s dive into all of the things to do at Natural Bridge including but not limited to staring up at the thing.

The Visitor Center

Pay your fee here at the very least if you don’t want to navigate the QR code situation outside.

The Visitor Center is where you’ll get extra information on trails within the park, any special events happening during your visit, and access to the gift shop.

The Visitor Center is open daily, but with hours that may change by the season and weather. Check hours online before you head out so you don’t miss out on those tchotchkes.

Cedar Creek Trail

The Cedar Creek Trail is a relatively easy 1.6-mile out-and-back trail that takes you underneath the bridge for fantastic views from below.

Note: I call this one relatively easy because you do need to climb down — and up — about 130 steps to get to the creekside. Take it slow if you’re not made for stairs and you should do just fine.

You may notice groups of people heading back once they’ve traveled underneath the bridge, but I urge you to keep going.

The trail is flat and breezy once you’ve tackled those stairs, and if you make it to the end, you’ll get beautiful viewpoints along the creek and a few additional points of interest.

Continue walking along the creek and you’ll come upon a recreation of a Monacan Indian Village.This is where the more accessible Cedar Creek Trail ends and rougher terrain begins, so you’ll want to turn the strollers around at this point.

The site, only open seasonally, was shut down when we visited.

If you’re here in the spring and summer, you can wander in and learn more about how the Monacan people used the land when they were the only inhabitants.

Additional seasonal living history programs are also all the rage in the warmer months.

A short distance ahead you’ll come across Saltpeter Cave. You can’t go inside, but who would want to, really? Bats live in caves.

Fun fact: This cave was once leased out by Thomas Jefferson for the excavation of potassium nitrate, a component in gunpowder at the time. That component came from the bird and bat droppings who called the cave home. You’re welcome.

You’ll pass by a fairly underwhelming sign for the Lost River, a glimpse of which you can see from the edge of the trail, followed by the real payoff, Lace Falls. We decided to take a few family photos here, despite the protests from Kimmy to start.

The 30-foot falls aren’t gushers as you’d expect in a place like Yosemite, but they were certainly more impressive than the San Diego waterfalls we’d become used to.

This is as far as you can go on this trail, so you’ll turn back here to return from whence you came, taking one last long look at the natural bridge as you pass underneath.

Other Natural Bridge State Park Hiking Trails

If Cedar Creek puts you in the mood for more hiking near Natural Bridge, there are three more trails available at easy to moderate levels of difficulty:

• Buck Hill Trail: This moderate 1.8-mile trail gives you access to the Natural Bridge Caverns. The caves’ tour times are seasonal, but keep on reading if you’re interested in facing your bat fears.
• Blue Ridge Trail: At 3.3 miles, this is the longest trail in the park, rated moderate by the parks system. The trail offers good wildlife viewing and passes by the Red Knob Overlook.
• Skyline Trail: This easy 0.6-mile trail takes you around Jefferson Point, where some of the park’s stargazing events are held throughout the year.

The Caverns at Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge Caverns have been open to the public since 1977. Head more than 24 stories below the surface to see features like the Colossal Dome Room, Mirror Lake, and the Well Room.

Try to notice the differences between the stalactites and stalagmites hanging (or standing?) throughout.

Truly, I don’t know the difference.

Note: The caves may have limited hours when you visit. They’re open more regularly from March through November, and then on weekends only from December through February. You need to book a guided 45-minute tour to visit, so you’ll see whether tours are available during your time there when you check times online.

It’s important to note here that these are privately owned. While it may sound like it, they don’t have an affiliate with Natural Bridge State Park.

Natural Bridge State Park Events

The park system puts on several events throughout the year to impress you even further, like Skyline Stargazing at  Jefferson Point during major astrological and lunar events.

You can get to Jefferson Point by hiking the easy Skyline Trail I’ve already mentioned here.

The new moon is a regularly scheduled stargazing event for the park if you’d like to time your visit around then. I’m sure you can Google when that happens up there…meaning up in the sky.

If you visit around the winter holidays, expect Luminary Nights, a festival put on by the Friends of Natural Bridge State Park. You’ll see the bridge lit up in festive colors and the Cedar Creek Trail illuminated to show off its stuff.

If you’re walking the trail, you may be sharing it with a carriage, another festive element to the whole thing.

Guided ranger hikes are common throughout the year at the park. If you’re a lover of trees, rangers frequently take hikers on treks along the Buck Hill Trail to discuss the flora they may encounter there. Visit the park’s website for more information on guided hikes.

Things to Do Near Natural Bridge State Park

The fun doesn’t have to stop there. The park is an excellent starting point for Rockbridge area tourism and several additional nearby Virginia attractions.

In addition to exploring the nearby towns of Roanoke and Lexington, take your outdoor adventuring to these natural wonders:

• Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area: Rustic and peaceful, explore the Blue Ridge Mountains from April 1 through October 31 at this spot in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
• The Upper James River Water Trail: Paddlers and anyone seeking quality time out on the water won’t want to miss this one. The river winds its way from Rockbridge County into the Shenandoah Valley, all the way to the Chesapeake Bay.
• Blue Ridge Parkway: You’ll be within a half hour of one of the most beautiful drives in America from Natural Bridge State Park. Explore the best Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks, and see why this is a jewel of both Virginia and North Carolina.

READ MORE: Love a scenic road trip? Alaska is known for some epic drives.

Tips for Visiting Natural Bridge State Park

Planning a trip to Natural Bridge is easy enough if you’re already driving through Virginia, but there are a few things for you to know before you go:

• The fee to visit Natural Bridge State Park is $9 per person for anyone 13 and up and $6 for children ages 6-13.
• No, you cannot see Natural Bridge without paying. There’s no way to see it from any road or surrounding trails outside the state park. I’m sure some sneak in, but you should NOT do that, as these places rely on your meager fees to survive.
• You can’t walk across the Natural Bridge. You can’t rappel off of it, either, or climb up the thing. Just enjoy the viewpoints and trail that goes underneath the bridge for a spectacular perspective.
• If you’re thinking about camping near Natural Bridge, that is a thing. It’s not my thing, but you can try Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge for all of your camping needs.
• The Natural Bridge Hotel and Conference Center is a popular suggestion for accommodations in the area, but you have so many cheaper options near the park. This one isn’t affiliated with the park, by the way. It’s a trick.

You don’t need much time at Natural Bridge, but it’s worthwhile time.

We only had the day at Natural Bridge, and it felt like plenty to get to know the place and enjoy the limited hikes it had to offer.

I don’t say that to dissuade you but to let you know that you don’t need an aggressive amount of time here to enjoy it. You could even plan to spend just a few hours walking the main trail and marveling at the arch above as you pass underneath.

It’s definitely one of our favorite places in Virginia and the best among Virginia state parks.