Exploring Natural Bridge State Park – Virginia’s 215-Foot Limestone Arch

Exploring Natural Bridge State Park – Virginia’s 215-Foot Limestone Arch

By a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

Dear Henry,

About an hour from Roanoke, tucked into the quiet hills near Lexington, there’s an extraordinary geological landmark called Natural Bridge. Let me tell you all about it.

Natural Bridge is a staggering 215-foot-tall, 90-foot-wide limestone arch that spans Cedar Creek, a remnant of a once-massive cave system. The science behind it is surprisingly fascinating. The rock itself belongs to the Beekmantown Group, formed when the Sauk Sea covered this region over 450 million years ago, depositing the thick layers of limestone we see today. Then, somewhere between 500,000 and a million years ago, Cedar Creek carved a tunnel through the stone. When the cave roof collapsed, a single portion remained standing. That survivor, weathered, monumental, and improbable, is what we now call Natural Bridge.

Before colonial settlement, the area was home to the Monacan people, who lived throughout the region long before Europeans arrived. Despite the Treaty of 1677, which was intended to protect their land rights, the Monacan Nation was steadily pushed out as English settlers expanded westward. Many families moved north, while others stayed in the region and adapted as best they could. Today, efforts are being made to preserve and retell their history, and the park features a recreated Monacan village that helps visitors imagine life along Cedar Creek before the arrival of colonials.

In 1774, Thomas Jefferson purchased the gorge, arch, and all from King George III. Jefferson was fascinated by natural wonders and immediately turned the land into a kind of early American “national treasure,” hiring a freedman named Patrick Henry (not the Patrick Henry of historical fame, but named after him) to serve as caretaker and guide. Colonial artists flocked to the site, sketching and painting it from every possible angle. Natural Bridge quickly became one of the most frequently depicted geological features in early American art, long before photography was introduced.

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
- Aristotle.

Fortunately, this fascination helped protect it. Instead of being quarried or developed, Natural Bridge passed through a series of private owners who recognized its value. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988 and finally became the 37th Virginia State Park in 2016, securing full public protection.

There are seven miles of trails in the park, but we stuck to the classic 1.8-mile out-and-back walk along Cedar Creek. From the moment you descend the steep, winding staircase into the gorge, the rock walls rise around you like an enormous cathedral. The sound of the creek, the filtered light, and the sudden reveal of the arch combine into something both dramatic and peaceful.

Past the bridge, the trail winds along the water, passing several small caves in the limestone bluffs and the recreated Monacan settlement. The guides weren’t present during our visit, but the exhibit itself is well done and worth a return trip. The trail ends at Lace Falls, a delicate 30-foot cascade tucked among mossy stone and rhododendron.

It’s a beautiful hike, but it’s not without challenges, the staircase down into the gorge is long and steep, and what goes down must, unfortunately, come back up. Anyone with mobility issues may find the descent (and especially the climb out) difficult.

The park is open from 9 a.m. to dusk, with an entry fee of $6 per person, which is well worth the price for seeing such a grand natural feature.

Natural Bridge is one of those places that reminds you how ancient and powerful the landscape truly is. It’s not just a rock arch; it’s the remnant of a world long gone, shaped by water, time, and many layers of human history.

xoxo,
a.d. elliott

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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