Nature Preserve Natural Bridge State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Nature Preserve Natural Bridge State Park is a popular destination in Kentucky, known for its stunning natural beauty and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities.
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Summary
The park is home to a natural bridge made of sandstone, which is a major attraction and draws visitors from all over the world.
There are several good reasons to visit the park, including hiking, camping, picnicking, and rock climbing. Visitors can explore over 20 miles of hiking trails that wind through the park's rugged terrain and offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The park also offers camping facilities, with over 80 campsites and several cabins available for rent.
Some of the specific points of interest to see in the park include the Natural Bridge, the Henson's Cave, and the Sky Lift, which offers visitors a bird's-eye view of the park from atop the Natural Bridge. The park is also home to several unique species of plants and animals, including the rare Virginia big-eared bat.
Interesting facts about the area include that the Natural Bridge is over 65 feet tall and 78 feet long, and it was formed by erosion over millions of years. The park was also once home to Native American tribes, who used the area for hunting and gathering.
The best time of year to visit the park is during the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round and offers different activities and events depending on the season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Natural Bridge State Park
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Koomer Ridge Campground
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Koomer Ridge Rec Area
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Tunnel Ridge Road
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Red River Gorge Geological Area
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Callies
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Nature Preserve Natural Bridge State Park
Wilderness Clifty
Ashland Wildlife Management Area