Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky was established as a state park in 1926. However, the area was originally founded as a tourist attraction by the Lexington and Eastern Railroad in 1895. For well over a century, visitors have gotten a thrill walking across the landmark 30-foot wide natural sandstone arch.
The park currently contains approximately 2,300 acres and is surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest. The natural sandstone arch that is the key point of this KY state park spans an impressive 78 feet and is over 65 feet high. There are also over 20 miles of hiking trails throughout the park, including trails to White’s Branch Arch and the 7+ mile Sand Gap Trail.
If you don’t want to hike the 0.75-mile trail to the top of the arch, you can take the Sky Lift (similar to a ski lift). This “shortcut” is an 11-minute, one-mile journey up the steep terrain surrounding the bridge. After reaching the top, you can walk atop this miraculous 30-foot wide “sidewalk” in the sky. The round-trip time for the Sky Lift is 22 minutes and costs $13 for adults and $10 for kids. The lift is open daily from 10 am - 6 pm from the first weekend in April until the last Sunday in October.
While we’re certainly biased to rent a cabin near Natural Bridge State Resort Park here in Kentucky, you can also camp in the area at Middle Fork Campground or Whittleton Campground. Middle Fork camping site offers both standard electric/back-in (35 spaces) and primitive/tent (11 spaces) site types. Whittleton also offers standard electric/back-in (17 spaces) and primitive/tent (23 spaces) site types. Both camping sites are pet-friendly, so bring Fido along to enjoy the great outdoors with you!
Most visitors to Natural Bridge in Kentucky rent a cabin during their vacation. Many of these vacation rentals in the area are owned by private individuals (think VRBO) while others are professionally run by property management companies.
Some well-known options for cabin rentals near Natural Bridge are:
When choosing a cabin, consider your group size and the amenities that you’ll need/want. Most cabin rentals in our area are smaller, offering up to 4 bedrooms. We saw a need for large group cabin rental options, so we built two expansive luxury cabins on our property that can each sleep at least 48 people. The Cliffview Lakeside cabin has 12 bedrooms and can sleep 50 individuals and the Cliffview Retreat offers 11 bedrooms and can sleep up to 48 guests.
For those days when you want a break from hiking, we recommend that you check out some of the other fun things to do near Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Our favorite activity is the Red River Gorge Zipline that’s right on the Cliffview Resort property. Where else can you fly over the Gorge at 55 MPH and more than 300 feet in the air? Tours last two to three hours and are an excellent way to see more of the natural splendor of the Red River Gorge.
Another great destination that’s nearby is the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, a non-profit facility that's number one goal is to provide venom for anti-venom and biomedical research. That’s right, these guys are all about venomous snakes like vipers and rattlesnakes! They're open for tours every day Memorial Day through Labor Day, from 11 am – 6 pm.
What is a trip to Natural Bridge State Park without hiking? Thankfully, there are a wide range of hiking options to choose from. One of the most popular trails is the Rock Bridge Trail #207. An approximately 1.5-mile round-trip hike, this well-traveled trail is easy with relatively few steep sections and is ideal for families with younger kids, who are sure to love the waterfall and pond. To get to Rock Bridge Trail, just turn down Rock Bridge Road and follow the signs to the trailhead.
Another popular hiking trail in Slade, Kentucky is Auxier Ridge Trail #204. Along this route, you’ll be treated to numerous beautiful views. This trail is on the more challenging side though and takes about four hours to complete. We don’t recommend this trail for families, only avid (and in shape) hikers. To get to the Auxier Ridge Trailhead, go down Tunnel Ridge Road. From there, just follow the signs.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) in Natural Bridge State Park to paddle around Mill Creek Lake (a great place for fishing and beginner paddlers).
Boat rentals are provided through Red River Adventure (formerly Paddle Adventure) for fairly affordable rates. As of the 2024 season, boat rental rates were as follows:
Please note, Red River Adventure only supplies kayak rentals to Mill Creek Lake on weekends and holidays. For more information, please call Red River Adventure at 606-618-0299
