It’s so hard to put into words and even photographs the grandeur and beauty of Natural Bridge Virginia. That feeling you get when you stand against the giant backdrop of the limestone gorge just sets your mind to wonder. It truly is a work of art and breathtaking to take in. The Natural Bridge State Park has much to offer for a great day of enjoying the outdoors. Let’s break down all there is do and see here!

Where is Natural Bridge State Park?

Natural Bridge State Park is in Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, just off 81. The town it is located in is actually called – Natural Bridge! The land was once owned by Thomas Jefferson and is a National Historic landmark. There is all sorts of history and lore about George Washington visiting here (more on that below). We were driving in from NC and it was a great final stop for our epic Southwest Virginia Day Trip! One thing we loved about this visit is how accessible this beautiful historic and natural wonder is to our East Coast people. You might not have the time or money right now to visit some of the well known parks out west…but Natural Bridge is a great place to experience something similar (and right in your backyard!)

What Details Do I Need to Know Before Going?

There are a few details to know before you go! There is a fee per person to enter the State Park, $6 for ages 6-12 and $8 for 13 and up. The park is open from 8am – 9pm! The late open time really makes it a great final stop along our Southwest Virginia Day Trip plan. You have plenty of time to get there and do everything the park offers. Also, there is a nightly light show you can view at 9:30pm called The Drama of Creation. Check on dates and times as this show seems to come and go throughout the seasons! There are several places to stay nearby if you are planning on doing an overnight trip and also campground sites available. It is also a very quick drive to Lexington which is a great place to visit as well with tons of shops and places to eat!

What to do at Natural Bridge State Park

Upon arriving you are greeted by a huge welcome center with plenty of people onsite to help with any questions you might have! There is a cafe, huge store and little museum to check out. Make sure you pay the entrance fee in the visitors center as they will check your receipt down the trail! The trail to the Natural Bridge is a pleasant and beautiful downhill walk along Cedar Creek. We were surprised by how quickly we arrived at the Natural Bridge viewing area! Take time to sit, walk around and gaze at this breathtaking site.

After spending time at the Natural Bridge site the trail continues on to a living history Monacan Indian Village exhibit. This exhibit closes at 5pm daily. There is a lot to do here so make sure that you take the time to check it out. You can walk in and out of the different types of Native American shelters and gain an understanding of how people lived in the valley 300 years ago. You can learn about hide tanning, basket weaving, hunting, farming, tool-making and food prep. We absolutely loved speaking with the pottery makers here so make sure you take some time to actually talk with the friendly and knowledgable people on site.

Finally the trail will lead you to a small cavern to check out (which is amazingly cool on a hot day) and then to Lace Falls – a 30 food cascade. You aren’t able to get close to the falls, its more of a viewing area but still nice! The trail is not terribly difficult, but it does have a slight incline heading to the waterfall. It was a hot and humid day when we went which made it a little more tough. As with all hikes, bring some water!

A good point to note is that this trail is not a loop so you will have to walk there and back. There are stairs leading down to the Natural Bridge so on your back you will have to climb them! If you are out of gas, they offer a free shuttle to get you back to the gift shop!

Legend Has it…

One of the interesting aspects of Natural Bridge are the legends about George Washington that surround it. As history/legend goes George Washington came to this site when he was 18 years old and threw a rock from the bottom of the creek to the top of the bridge – 215 feet up. Most impressive if you ask me! I love a good George Washington legend. It was also known that George Washington was a surveyor and in 1927 a stone was uncovered that was carved with the initials G.W. and an official surveyors cross. Did George Washington scale these magnificent stone walls and carve his initials there for all of us to view today? Who knows? But it is sure fun to imagine! Make sure you take some time hunting down the iconic GW initials and imagining him throwing a rock over this impressive bridge!

Around Town

Besides visiting the park there are many other little stops around and along the way. We spent some time checking out the nearby downtown of Lexington, VA. There are more historical sites here and a lot of beautiful homes to see. There is also a zoo nearby which we heard was a lot of fun! Natural Bridge has a lot to offer! You could easily spend all day here and even make this a weekend trip! Or, do what we did and make a day trip out of it! Options are good.

This is one of those places that after considering our time here we would definitely come back one day! Its worth a trip to see it, especially if you are within a days driving distance! Have you ever been to Natural Bridge? What are some of your favorite and unexpected natural landmarks you have visited?