Surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, Natural Bridge State Park offers a unique blend of beauty and history. The park is home to the iconic 200-foot-tall Natural Bridge, which has captivated travelers for centuries, once surveyed by George Washington and owned by Thomas Jefferson.

While many visitors come to the park to see the Bridge for themselves, they quickly learn that this 1,635-acre park has much more to offer, from Dark-Sky programs to hikes with stunning mountain views.

If you’re ready to start planning your visit to Natural Bridge State Park, here are five must-do activities to get the most out of your trip to this one-of-a-kind park.

1. Visit the Natural Bridge.

The Natural Bridge

The park’s namesake, the Natural Bridge, is a 200-foot-tall limestone arch that once mesmerized figures like Thomas Jefferson, who called it “the most sublime of Nature’s works.”

Formed over thousands of years by Cedar Creek, this geological marvel is an awe-inspiring sight and the highlight of any trip to the park. Watch this video to learn more.

To get to it, you’ll hop on Cedar Creek Trail. The 1-mile trail includes 137 steps and takes you right under the Bridge. Continue past the Bridge to see Saltpeter Cave, the Lost River and the 50-foot cascading Lace Falls.

If you need help navigating the steps, stop by the visitor center to arrange a shuttle down to the start of Cedar Creek Trail.

2. Explore the other trails.

The view of the mountains from Skyline Trail

The park has roughly 10 miles (PDF) of hiking trails, so after conquering Cedar Creek Trail, head to a different area of the park for more adventure.

If you’re looking for a hike that’s a little more challenging, try Blue Ridge Trail. It’s 4 miles long, and you’ll be rewarded with mountain views at Red Knob Overlook.

There’s also Skyline Trail. This 1.3-mile moderate hike has panoramic views from Jeffersons Point, which is also where the park’s EnChroma-adapted colorblind viewfinder is located.

These trails are especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves transform into beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow.

3. Play disc golf.

Thistle Ridge Disc Golf Trail

Virginia State Parks is home to two disc golf courses, and one of them is at Natural Bridge State Park.

Thistle Ridge Disc Golf Trail is an 18-hole course that features extensive views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is designed for players of all skill levels.

The mix of fields and woods also serves as a learning opportunity for players and hikers. Years ago, the landowners cleared the area to build a golf course but abandoned their plans. Today, the whole course is an example of secondary forest succession, and educational signs will be placed throughout the trail to help visitors understand how a forest comes back to life.

Other course highlights include environmentally friendly tee pads that consist of 100,000 crushed glass bottles and a managed pollinator habitat. Additionally, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids in Parks program designed scorecards that double as field guides, providing players with identification information for some of the more common bird and tree species that can be found along the course.

Thistle Ridge starts at the Blue Ridge Trailhead. State park parking rates apply.

4. Stay for the stars.

The night sky at Natural Bridge State Park

Natural Bridge is designated as an International Dark Sky Park. This title, granted by DarkSky International, recognizes the park's efforts to minimize light pollution and preserve its natural nightscape, making it an ideal location for stargazing.

The park offers expansive views of the night sky, revealing thousands of stars, planets and constellations often hidden by city lights.

Throughout the year, you can attend a range of Dark-Sky programs, including meteor shower watch parties and ranger-led observation sessions with telescopes.

To find an upcoming Dark-Sky event, click here.

5. Camp at Blue Hollow.

Blue Hollow Campground

Complete your visit to Natural Bridge by staying at the secluded Blue Hollow Campground. It’s open year-round and has three primitive group campsites. Each site has three tent pads, a private picnic shelter, fire pit and costs $70 per night.

As a primitive campground, there are no electric or water hookups, but port-a-johns are available. RVs and trailers are not allowed at Blue Hollow.

To make a reservation, click here.

---

As you can see, there’s something for everyone at Natural Bridge State Park, whether you want to camp under the stars or hike under the majestic limestone arch.

The park is open year-round, with each season offering its own unique charm, so start planning your adventure today at virginiastateparks.gov/natural-bridge.