Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah is a hidden gem with three spectacular natural bridges, including the longest natural arch in the world, Landscape Arch, and Sipapu Bridge. The park is located at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon and is part of the Colorado River drainage. The trail can take a few minutes or all day, and visitors can start at either bridge trailhead. Sipapu Bridge, the largest natural bridge in the park and the second largest in the United States, has a 4.8 star rating from 392 reviews. The park is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from June to mid-October, and Thursday through Sunday. Pets must be on a leash at all times, and the visitor center is open Thursday through Monday. The park is also home to mountain lions and coyotes. Starting in April 2024, entrance and camping fees will only accept mobile or electronic payments.
Natural Bridges National Monument in San Juan County and the Bears Ears area is home to over 200 pueblo ruins, some accessible from a distance and others that can only be seen from a distance. Horse Collar Ruin is one of the latter, located in a canyon alcove nearly 30 feet off the canyon floor. The park offers a scenic drive with aerial views of some of the largest natural bridges in the world, named Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu.
The park’s visitor center features large campsites with tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, costing $15 per night. Visitors can also explore the largest limestone arch in North America, a mountain stream ecosystem, a cave carved through the power of water, and more.
The park sits high on Cedar Mesa, 6,500 feet above sea level, and features three massive natural bridges in sandstone formed from what was once the shore of an ancient sea. The trail to the bridges is only 0.25-miles on an unpaved bridge trail, well signposted. There are other hikes available in the park, including the Sipapu and Kachina bridges, which are considered some of nature’s finest work.
While there isn’t much to do at Natural Bridges National Monument, there is a lot of history with the Indian ruins, making it an underrated spot in Utah.
📹 Complete Natural Bridges National Monument Guide (4K)
The ultimate Utah park, Natural Bridges features fewer crowds, three amazing stone arches (bridges), and crystal clear night skies …
How to visit Natural Bridge?
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. Visitor Center: Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Natural Bridge: 137 steps. If you need help, please call 291-1326 or ask a ranger at the Visitor Center. This content is more important than other information on this page. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk, weather permitting. The Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Trail Store is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. The Base Camp exhibits area is open Fridays-Sundays through Labor Day. Food service is closed for the season, but reopens in the spring. Accessing the Natural Bridge requires navigating a stairway of 137 steps. If you need help, please ask a ranger at the Visitor Center or call 291-1326.
Can you walk on the Natural Bridge?
The natural bridge is a 51-foot cliff of rhyolite rock cut by Bridge Creek. The trail goes through the forest for 0.7 miles. It joins a service road and goes west for 0.4 miles to the Natural Bridge. The short, steep trail to the top of the bridge starts in front of the exhibit. The top of the bridge is closed to hiking and biking to protect the resource. After the bridge, the trail crosses a creek and continues along the cliff before joining the road. Watch out for slippery rocks along the creek bed. Safety notes: The trail is closed in early summer while bears feed on trout in Bridge Creek. Ask at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center for opening dates and other closures. The bike trail to Natural Bridge starts just south of the marina off Grand Loop Road.
Trailheads: Bridge Bay Marina parking lot near the campground entrance.
Is Natural Bridge free?
Natural Bridge State Park entrance fees are $9 for adults and $6 for children aged 6-12. Children under 6 are free. Natural Bridge State Park is a unique Virginia state park with lots to do and see. There are many attractions to explore at Natural Bridge, from nature trails to caverns. Read our Vacation Guide for more things to do and see. This free guide has local tips on what to see at Natural Bridge, VA.
Everything you need to know about Natural Bridge State Park.
Can you go on top of Natural Bridge?
Hike or take the SkyLift. Take the SkyLift. If you don’t want to hike, take the skylift to the top of Natural Bridge. The skylift is open April-November, 9:30-5:30. In 2022, tickets cost $17 for a round trip. You can buy tickets at the gift shop, which has a separate parking lot. Call 606-663-2922 or visit their website to verify.
Visit Red River Gorge for more epic hikes. Don’t miss Red River Gorge! You’ll also see beautiful fall colors. Don’t miss Indian Staircase. For more info, visit Red River Gorge. We stayed two nights at Hemlock Lodge at Natural Bridge State Resort. I picked it because it’s near the hiking trails. The room was clean and had all the usual amenities (coffee maker, fridge, Wi-Fi, etc.) except for a microwave. Outside the window, we had a balcony with chairs, a table, and a view of the woods. The lodge offered a free breakfast on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Why does the lodge close the restaurant two days a week? The breakfast was good, with choices of breakfast sandwich, yogurt, cereal, muffins, pastries, and beverages. But Dave said the donut was dry, so try the other pastries. The lodge was convenient and met our needs.
Is Natural Bridge worth visiting?
Natural Bridge Caverns are a popular attraction! People from near and far come to see these amazing natural wonders. The caverns were discovered just before the 20th century and first opened to the public in 1977. They are open seasonally. The Natural Bridge Cavern tours go down more than 34 stories deep into the Earth to show one of the best natural underground displays on the East Coast.
How much is it to walk the Natural Bridge?
Natural Bridge State Park. The park store is open daily from 9 am to dusk, while the visitor center is open from 10 am to 6 pm, weather permitting. Admission is $9 for people 13 and older, $6 for people 6-12, and free for people under 6. Is Natural Bridge worth it? We think it’s worth it, but you be the judge! George Washington left his initials on several rocks and the bridge before becoming president. The natural beauty of the gorge, the uniqueness of the bridge, and the surrounding beauty of Virginia are hard to pass up on! How long is the Natural Bridge hike? The Natural Bridge hike is easy and only one mile. There are three other trails in the park: the Blue Ridge Trail (3 mi.), Buck Hill Trail (2 mi.), and the Skyline Trail (.6 mi.).
How long does it take to see Natural Bridge?
Most visitors spend at least two to three hours at Natural Bridges. Stop at the visitor center and take the paved, one-way Bridge View Drive (9 miles/14.5 km) with overlooks of all three bridges. There are several short hiking trails to explore the formations, while longer trails connect all three.
There is limited parking at each overlook and trailhead. If you are towing a trailer, leave it in the visitor center parking lot.
Hours, seasons, fees, weather, pets, goods & services, special use permits.
Is the Natural Bridge free?
It is also a National Historic Landmark, a Virginia Historic Landmark, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Bridge tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for kids aged 6-12. Kids 5 and under are free. Gates are open from 8 a.m. to dusk. Looking for the best things to do in Natural Bridge, VA? Natural Bridge is home to two major tourist attractions in Virginia. Caverns at Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge State Park. This region has great things to do in Virginia. Enjoy lodging at the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and take advantage of all the things to do in Natural Bridge, VA, and the surrounding Virginia Shenandoah Valley. Learn more about Virginia getaways to Natural Bridge, including vacation packages, craft beer festivals, history, and outdoor excursions. Virginia’s Rockbridge County is a great place to shop small, with antiques and unique boutiques in downtown Lexington. Visitors also enjoy good food at The Colonial Dining Room and The Red Fox Tavern. Tastings at local vineyards and breweries are a must. Nearby favorites include Great Valley Farm Brewery, Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery and Tap Room, and Rockbridge Vineyards. Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors, including mountains, waterways, and arts and local history.
Click below to get our free Vacation Guide to Natural Bridge, VA with local tips on the best places to go, things to do, and must-see attractions.
How many steps to Natural Bridge?
The Natural Bridge has 137 steps. This content is more important than other information on this page. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk, weather permitting. The Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Trail Store is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. The Base Camp exhibits area is open Fridays-Sundays through Labor Day. Food service is closed for the season, but reopens in the spring. Accessing the Natural Bridge requires navigating a stairway of 137 steps. If you need help, please ask a ranger at the Visitor Center or call 291-1326.
Is Natural Bridge a hard hike?
Hike is a mile downhill. It’s a moderate hike with some uneven ground.
Can you see Natural Bridge without hiking?
Parking lot viewpoints. You can see the Natural Bridge from four parking lot viewpoints without hiking.
Visitor Center/Park Store. The Tonto Natural Bridge Visitor Center inside Goodfellow Lodge has information and a park store. Groups can reserve the Goodfellow Lodge. We sell books about the region and the area. We also sell snacks, water, soda, walking sticks, and T-shirts. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museum and Exhibits. The lodge has exhibits about Tonto Natural Bridge, travertine, prehistoric people, and the historic Tonto Lodge. Visitors can also see photos and a painting of the bridge with a slideshow.
📹 Natural Bridges National Monument | Great place for a one day visit
Natural Bridges National Monument is a great place to spend a day, and a night if you are interested in star gazing. It features …
I suggest doing one of the shorter loop hikes while visiting: Either the Sipapu to Kachina loop OR the Owachombo to Kachina loop. (Exiting at Kachina allows one to walk DOWNHILL within the canyons, and descending from the road to Sipapu allows one to climb DOWN the ladders instead of up them. If you are doing the long loop, you will DEFINITELY want to enter at Sipapu and exit at Owachomo–NOT the other way around–not only because you will want to walk down the Sipapu trail ladders rather than up them, but also because the hike up to the road from Owachomo bridge is VERY easy with only 180 feet of elevation gain.) The reason the loop hikes are so desirable is that the most scenic part of the park is actually NOT the bridges themselves–although they certainly are breathtaking–but rather the glorious canyons between them. Fantastic rock formations, emerald-green cottonwood trees, and beautiful cacti await the lucky few who venture into their depths. And as far as those 73,000+ yearly visitors is concerned, rest assured that the OVERWHELMING majority of them just go to the overlooks along the nine-mile drive, and NEVER hike down INTO the canyons. Those who do will find a new level of solitude and beauty that makes NBNM a great alternative to the crowds at Zion, Bryce, and Arches. A couple more tips on doing the loop hikes: Go in the early morning when it is cool, bring at least 2 liters of water per person for the short loops (3 liters for the long loop), and–assuming you have only one vehicle–park your car at the top of the bridge trail that you will be EXITING the loop at, and hike on top to your entrance trailhead FIRST.
If I can add anything, I understand we don’t have the stunning mountain views or the ocean backdrop but I beg you don’t forget about the Midwest. We have some great parks even if not national parks. I encourage everybody to go see Tallgrass National Preserve in Kansas and Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa. Both are small but exceptional places.