Natural Bridge State Park VA 24578

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Bolana Schofield

One of my favorite state parks I've been to! You can access most trails etc for free. $9/person to walk the trail to natural bridge. Very worth it - the trail is easy and well maintained, and you also get to see a cave, hidden river, and waterfall. Nice gift shop and they sell some coffee drinks as well.

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Sarah Craft

Skyline trail was a great loop hike with beautiful panoramic views and quiet solitude. We visited on Valentine’s Day and had the whole place to ourselves. Dogs on leash allowed in all areas of the park. We walked down from the visitors center to the natural bridge and that was cool too- caverns were closed due to renovations/safety upgrades. We had a wonderful day here and would happily come back and try more of the free trails!

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Clayton & Cindy Putnam

January 7, 2026 - Mix Outdoors fun Exercise & History. . . Visit The Natural Bridge ! Use “Natural Bridge” you get: *Refers to a town in VA *Refers to VA State Park *Refers to Historic landmark *Refers to Monocan Tribe holy site *Refers to a tourist destination *Refers to a large hotel in Park —————————————————— It’s been years since I visited this tourist spot with my Dad, back in the 1960’s! Beautiful sunny day, my wife and I stopped for a hike along Cedar Creek Trail , to see the actual limestone 215 ft. Natural Bridge! Tickets cost $9 each for ages 13 up ! ( kids age 3 to 12 costs $6 each) Wasn’t busy in January, but spring thru October brings families & school bus trips! Big Visitors Center closed today for “ training” ?! There’s a small visitors store ( at the bottom of the entrance steps) with limited merchandise, some snacks, ice cream, and drinks. There’s a staff road around the steps , for folks with mobility challenges. Your entrance ticket gets you on a pathway to the following “ exhibits”: 1. Walk to The Natural Bridge 2. Walk to Saltpeter cave 3. Walk by “ The Lost River” ( small hole in the rock wall, hear the water 4. Walk to end of path, LACE Falls Over-all the easy walking is .8 of a mile out to LACE Falls. ( fairly flat) There are a few historic plaques to read about the sites & history ! ?? There are other trails, nearby this Cedar Creek Trail, to hike. We stopped to check these trails, looked good with trailhead map for distance & difficulty levels! ($5 per car expected in the “ pay box” next to Trailhead marker!) Fun Facts - The Natural Bridge ? * Monocan Indians lived here, called this “ The Bridge of God” *1742 -John Howard early explorer *1750 -G. Washington surveyed area *1767 - T. Jefferson visited area *1774 - T. J. purchased 157 acres here *1817 - T.J. Hired Patrick Henry ( freed slave) as caretaker on this land *1833 - Natural Bridge property sold to private investors, from T.J. estate *1880’s - Col. Henry Parsons owned Natural Bridge property *1906 - Large Natural Bridge Hotel *1925- Ownership to Natural Bridge of Virginia group *1927 - Lighting of bridge at night by Samuel Stephens Westinghouse Co. *1964 - Natural Bridge Hotel burned down, hotel rebuilt *1998 - National Historic Landmark *2004 - Added “Foamhedge” *2013 - VA Conservation Legacy Fund gains ownership of Natural Bridge *2016 - VA established Natural Bridge State Park *2017 - “Foamhedge relocated to Centreville ** Thomas Jefferson considered The Natural Bridge an iconic American site of natural beauty equal to Niagara Falls!