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Stonefinder1 Says: YOU CAN HIKE TO THE BRIDGE OR TAKE THE SKY LIFT, NEXT YOU CAN WATCH YOUR KIDS PLAY IN THE CREEK OR GO SWIMMING IN THE POOL. Friday and Saturday they have entertainment at Hoedown island and THATS ITNice place just to sit and relax thoughPets are not allowed anywhere except...
lynluvs420 Says: We took the sky lift up to the bridge last may (2004) very nice scenery. Bridge view is beautiful on top, no rails though , so becareful not to fall off. Cliffs are eevrywhere in the area, be careful, especially at night! Don't mix hiking in the dark with alcohol, people die...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: The centerpiece of Natural Bridge State Resort Park is Natural Bridge. The impressive sandstone arch stands like a sentinel over this mountain hideaway, Soaring 65-feet high, 78 feet in length and 40-feet thick. You can walk across the bridge along it's 30-foot-wide level...
Middlefork Campground: Natural Bridges best Campground
Stonefinder1 Says: Middle fork was nice but did need some improvements on the campground itself, the spaces were small making some people park in the grass or road, Whittleton campground was awfull we drove by there and its for tents only some people looked like they had been living there a...
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Some of the best food at the best prices you will find anywhere are in the Hemlock Lodge Dining Room at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. The offerings on the menu are varied and very reasonable. However, we find their evening buffet to be the best bargain of all. Get a seat by one of the spacious windows and you will enjoy a feast for your eyes as well as your belly.
Favorite Dish: We recently experienced the Friday evening buffet at the Hemlock Lodge Dining Room and don't see how we could have enjoyed ourselves more. We had a choice of five meats: fried chicken, froglegs, catfish, baked spaghetti, and salmon patties. There were also ample fresh salad and vegetable selections. For desert I tried both the banana pudding and the blackberry cobbler, with ice cream on top. All of this was washed down by several refills of iced tea. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the price was only $11.95 each. No wonder this place is a favorite with locals as well as visitors.
Updated Nov 4, 2004
Address: 2135 Natural Bridge Road, Slade, KY 40376
Phone: 606-325-1710
Website: www.state.ky.us/agencies/parks/natbridg.htm
Chrisanne22 Says: Going to natural bridge and being apart of the hoedowns is my best childhood memorie We spent a few summers in natural bridge so 35 years ago I hold those memories so deep in my heart These where the best times of my life
Hoedown Island: Saturday Night Square Dances
Stephen-KarenConn Says: Every Saturday night an old fashioned square dance is held at the beautiful and spacious outdoor patio on Hoedown Island, down the hill from Hemlock Lodge. Mosey on down for a knee-slappin', toe-tappin', and swinging' your partner good time. You don't even have to know how...
A.B Says: I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE SKY LIFT. What could have been a great time at a beautiful place became a horrible experience for myself and my family. We purchased tickets at the Natural Bridge Sky Lift ($9.00 each) and were told we had 10 minutes to stay at the top. Little did we...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: During our October weekend at Natural Bridge State Resort Park we made two trips to the top of the Natural Bridge - one on foot and the other via the 1/2-mile-long Sky Lift. This is a relaxing and enjoyable ride, far more scenic than your typical ski lift due to the many...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: In a typical year about 40 people fall from cliffs in this area; two die from their injuries and some others are permanently disabled. It often takes several hours to rescue and transport the injured to a hospital. Most victims are young adults who wrecklessly venture too...
Stonefinder1 Says: There is no railings on the Natural bridge or lookout point, They say about 40 people a year fall and at least 2 die each year. Most of the hiking paths have railings and are safe, so just stay on the trails and you will be fine
Helpfulness
About two miles from Natural Bridge State Resort Park is the entrance to Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest. This is an amazing geological area of high cliffs, stone arches, fantastic rock formations and other natural wonders. It is a magnet for rock climbers, kayakers, hikers and sightseers. For more information on this area see our pages on the Red River Gorge under Slade, Kentucky.
Updated Oct 19, 2004
Phone: 606-663-9229
Website: www.redrivergorge.com
Helpfulness
Eleven marked trail of various lengths are in Natural Bridge State Park. They are:
The Original Trail - .75 mile
Balanced Rock Trail - .75 mile
Battleship Rock Trail - .75 mile
Rock Garden Trail - 1.75 miles
Sand Gap Trail - 7.5 miles
Hood's Branch Trail - 3.75 miles
Henson's Arch Trail - .3 mile
Lakeside Trail - .25 mile
Laurel Ridge Trail - .75 mile
Low Gap Trail - .5 mile
Whittleton Trail - 2 miles
All of the trails involve a considerable amount of climbing, so are best enjoyed by those who are fit. Mile markers along the trails show the distance to Natural Bridge. Hikers must stay on designated trails. Off-trail hiking is not permitted and would be very dangerous because of the many high cliffs.
Equipment: A good pair of hiking boots, or at least comfortable non-slip shoes.
Updated Oct 18, 2004
Address: 2135 Natural Bridge Road, Slade, KY 40376
Phone: 606-663-2214
Website: www.state.ky.us/agencies/parks/natbridg.htm
Stephen-KarenConn Says: Just below Balanced Rock hikers will see this the entrance to this interesting feature known simply as "The Cave." When Karen and I were here we encountered a troup of boy scouts emerging, flashlights in hand. They had followed The Cave all the way through from the other end...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: This extraordinary rock formation sits along the side of the .75-mile Balanced Rock Trail. This is the steepest trail in the Park, beginning behind the Hemlock Lodge and leading up to Natural Bridge. From the trailhead hikers are immediately faced with a steep series of...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: Natural Bridge State Resort Park offers numerous ammenities which should be of special interest to families with children. These include self-propelled personal watercraft on Hoedown Island Lake (pictured). Tucked between the lake and the massive cliff beneath Hemlock Lodge,...
Civilian Conservation Corps Shelter
Stephen-KarenConn Says: This shelter along the Original Trail was built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC program was started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to employ young men from the ages of 18-25-years-old. The work included soil erosion projects, planting trees, building...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: From the top of the Sky Lift, it is 1,200-feet by way of the Laurel Ridge Trail to Lookout Point which affords one of the best views of Natural Bridge. When you stand on the Point with Natural Bridge on our right, the exposed rock outcropping across the valley and directly...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: It's been 100 years since the hillsides around Natural Bridge were logged, and the forest has had time to regain much of it's original magnificence.The forest at Natural Bridge is not just a stand of trees, but a community of plants and animals dominated by trees. The Mixed...
Stephen-KarenConn Says: The 1.75 mile Rock Garden Trail starts along the Battleship Rock Trail just above Hemlock Lodge. It follows the ridge out above the lodge and takes the long way around. ending beneath the Natural Bridge. This is an enjoyable walk, just long enough to keep the crowds away,...
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
Karen and I especially enjoy the state parks of Kentucky, and Natural Bridge is our favorite of them all. The Park takes it's name from an imposing natural sandstone arch which spans 78-feet in length...
The Trails are great, They are very steep though. Make sure you have a good walking stick and comfortables shoes, Some stairs on the hike are 10 stories high and very steep. It then Flatens out then...
Here's the web site forNatural Bridge State Park There's a trail map there also. Things to see in the area are the Minor E. Clark Fish Hatcherys at Cave Run north of the Park and Rowan County Rock......
Natural Bridge State Park, Kentucky, USA
Natural Bridge State Park is a must see if you visit the eastern part of the state. Here are some views my wife took when she was there this November.
Build your own Natural Bridge State Park page
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