Natural Bridge, the geologic wonder for which Rockbridge County gets its name, is to the centerpiece of Virginia’s 37th and newest state park, which officially opened in 2016.
Establishing Natural Bridge as a state park represented the culmination of a difficult and lengthy process to safeguard the bridge and assure its continued public access in perpetuity. A complex financial transaction involving a gift, a purchase and loans from several state agencies allowed the bridge and much of the lands surrounding it to become a state park.
Once owned by Thomas Jefferson and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 215-foot tall Natural Bridge spans a limestone gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. However, the newest Virginia State Park is more than just the bridge. Situated on over 1500 acres of beautiful forests, and open, rolling meadows, the park showcases the area’s karst terrain; and vistas of surrounding mountains and the James River valley display nature’s splendor. Six miles of hiking trails open this varied terrain to visitors, and includes the accessible Cedar Creek Trail that leads from the bridge to the Monacan Indian Village and Lace Falls with its 30-foot cascade. Living history programs connect you to the past and cover how people once used the area’s resources for survival and inspiration. Start at the visitor center where you will find exhibits and a gift shop.
Admission per person is $6 for ages 6-12 and $9 for those 13 and older. Natural Bridge State Park is on US Route 11, and easily accessed from either Exit 175 or 180 off I-81. Park hours are from 8 am to dusk.
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