Natural Bridge

WELCOME TO NATURAL BRIDGE STATE PARK. To make your visit safe and more pleasant, we ask that you observe the following: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Park in designated areas only. There is a per person admission fee for Cedar Creek trail. The park is open from 8 a.m. to dusk. Hikers need to be off the trails by a half hour after sunset. PRESERVE - Help preserve your park. Please don’t cut or mar any plants or trees. Collecting animal or plant life is allowed only for scientific purposes by permit from the Richmond headquarters. Don’t feed any wild animals. No trespassing is allowed on the rock face of Natural Bridge. It is also unlawful to destroy, deface, damage or remove any part of the rock face. ALCOHOL - State law permits alcohol use only in private areas or in areas designated on permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. PETS - Pets are permitted in enclosed areas or on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Please clean up after your pet. Pets must be attended at all times. Pets on a leash are welcome inside the visitor center. DRONES AND OTHER AIRCRAFT - Drones, other unmanned aerial vehicles, including remote control aircraft, and aircraft in general may not be flown in state parks pursuant to 4VAC5-30-400. LITTER - Please help us keep the park clean by placing litter and recyclables in the proper receptacles and recycle centers or carrying out your trash. The releasing of balloons is not allowed. Decorative balloons must be deflated and disposed of as trash. In an effort to reduce the impact on landfills, we encourage the use of Leave No Trace Principles including pack it in - pack it out. FISHING - There are fishing areas for those 15 years and under. People under 16 years may fish without a license. A Virginia freshwater fishing license is required for those 16 and older. PARKING - All vehicles must be parked in designated areas. Lock valuables in your trunk and keep your vehicle locked when unattended. GROUP EVENTS - A special Use Permit is required for all group events that involve amplified sound, catering, equipment rentals and vendor deliveries. PARK ACCESSIBILITY - We strive to make each park as barrier-free as possible. Universally accessible facilities are available throughout Virginia State Parks. Please check the park’s website for details. EMERGENCY - Emergency phone numbers are posted at kiosks, trail heads and other places in the park. For medical or fire emergencies dial 9-1-1. For other assistance dial 800-933-7275: for law enforcement or facility emergencies press 1; to reach the on-duty ranger press 2. INFORMATION - Park information is available at the visitor center or the entrance gate. For more information on Virginia State Parks or to make a cabin or campsite reservation, call 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov. The Natural Bridge Hotel and Conference Center is not part of Natural Bridge State Park. ABOUT NATURAL BRIDGE - At 200 feet tall, the Natural Bridge is the largest limestone arch in North America. It has been a destination for millions who have come to see this geologic marvel. The Bridge was purchased in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson to preserve its natural character. Jefferson hired a freedman named Patrick Henry as caretaker. Henry would act as guide and host many visitors in his home, and after Jefferson’s death a hotel was built nearby to accommodate those from near and far. Jefferson and Henry set the trend for the next 200 years. The Bridge was privately owned as a resort with various hotels until 2016 with the founding of Natural Bridge State Park. GIFT SHOP AND ARTISAN CENTER - Visit our gift shop inside the visitor center. Tickets to see the bridge and caverns can be purchased, as can memorabilia of your visit. The gift shop offers a wide variety of apparel and souvenirs. Our consignment center houses local artisan’s crafts. Paintings, mugs and jewelry are just a sample of the fine crafts offered. NATURE PROGRAMS AND GUIDED HIKES - Check in at the park’s visitor center to find out about special activities during your visit. Special state and national programs are scheduled throughout the year. Pack a lunch or enjoy a meal at the snack bar while you are at the park. GEOLOGY - The bridge itself is one of the oldest geologic features on the East Coast. The limestone base consists of compressed remains of organisms that lived in the seas during the Ordovician period of the Paleozoic era nearly 500 million years ago. As recently as around a million years ago, a sinkhole diverted Cedar Creek and channeled it as an underground river. Eventually, the cave collapsed, leaving only the thickest part of the cave ceiling - the bridge we see today. TRAIL INFORMATION DIFFICULTY SCALE EASY From .5 to 1 mile; grades are short, typically fewer than 100 feet and less than 10 percent of the trail length; easily accomplished by all users, including the elderly and those with physical or mental disabilities, with little risk of injury or fatigue. MODERATE From 1 to 5 miles; steepness and grade lengths vary; at least 60 percent of the length is fairly flat; healthy people can accomplish the trail with little risk of injury or fatigue. DIFFICULT Trail length is greater than 5 miles; more than 70 percent of the trail is on a grade; experienced hikers only or groups of three to five people recommended; there is a risk of overexertion or injury to those not conditioned. BEAR AWARE - Things to remember in bear country: • Keep your dog on a leash at all times. Off-leash dogs are the most common cause of backcountry negative interactions with bears. Consider leaving your dog at home. • If you meet a bear, do not run. Back away slowly while facing the bear. Alert it to your presence by talking and making a bit of noise. • Use extra caution in places where hearing or visibility is limited, such as brushy areas, near streams, where trails round a bend and on windy days. • Reduce your chance of surprising a bear on the trail by making noise, talking or singing. If you encounter a bear, please report the contact to the park office. If you encounter a bear, please report the contact to the park office. Natural Bridge State Park TRAIL GUIDE VIRGINIA STATE PARKS ARE A TONIC FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. Museums, visitor centers and nearby historic sites make state parks cultural treasures. The recreational opportunities in state parks are endless and easy to see – from swimming and boating to horseshoes and hiking, there’s always something to do in a Virginia State Park. 6477 South Lee Highway Natural Bridge, Virginia 24578 540-291-1326 naturalbridge@dcr.virginia.gov WWW.VIRGINIASTATEPARKS.GOV 800-933-PARK Natural Bridge State Park 6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, Virginia 540-291-1326 Go lf u Co Trail Lace Falls Ridg e Tra il C Jefferson Point il ed ar C re ek Blue Tr a ad Ro nd Skyline ou r Trailhead pg Blue Hollow Campground Ce da rC re m Ca Skyline ek d eR rs Trails Children’s Discovery Area Bl ue Lost River rail kyline T S S Lee Hwy da Ce dg e Red Knob Overlook ail r kT ee Blu eR eT rai l il C a ed r ue Natural Bridge ek Th ist le Ri dg e Cascade Falls Caverns Bl fer Blue Ridge Trail Navy Blue 4.0 H Lime Green 2.0 H Cedar Creek Trail Yellow 1.0 H Skyline Trail Red 1.3 H Thistle Ridge Disc Golf Trail Green 2.0 H = Easy = Moderate Difficulty = Difficult a Tr Lodging Parking Picnic Shelter Playground Thistle Ridge Disc Golf Trail Ln il Tra Hill ck rt We T Point of Interest il ge Tra Rid histle Restrooms Trail Store Buck rail Hill T wy rH ne ulk Fa d rR rge Ba ny Fan Bu Private Property dg Ri Tr ail Blue Ridge Trailhead Sha Usage Camping idg e e Cr Milage Buck Hill Trail H = Hiking Tr a il Saltpeter Cave r rC Ri Blaze Rices Hill Rd Viewing Area Visitor Center Waterfall Buck Hill Miles 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Rd