Natural Bridge State Park

It’s worth noting that the Cedar Creek Trail to Lace Falls, under the Natural Bridge, is only one of five trails on the property. Natural Bridge State Park encompasses roughly 1,500 acres. There are areas for camping and even a children’s discovery area with musical play equipment and tunnels. For this review, our focus is the Cedar Creek Trail.

The main trail beneath the Bridge is relatively easy and follows a wide, well-maintained path along Cedar Creek. Once you’re at the bottom, most visitors should have little difficulty exploring the area. The challenge is getting there and back again.

The route begins with a significant descent, which actually starts inside the gift shop. It can feel deceptively easy on the way down, but what goes down has to go back up.

The stairs present an obvious challenge for strollers and many mobility devices. However, park staff advised us that visitors who need accommodations may be able to drive their personal vehicle down to the Trail Store area. Check with park staff before your visit for current accessibility options. The paved path ends a bit after the Bridge; from there the remainder is a gravel path that is largely well-packed and could be traversed with a good off-road stroller.

The walk to Lace Falls is a mile one way. We didn’t make it that far. Our Littlest Wayfinder ran out of fuel and needed to be carried back to the nearest refueling station, where he enjoyed chips and hydration. Once consumed, his energy levels returned to the sort of boundless toddler power that should probably be studied by NASA.

The return climb reminded me of every skipped leg day. Once sufficiently shamed by the elderly hikers passing me (and my husband carrying the entire fitness burden of the family), I regained my breath and climbed the final four flights of stairs, sadly without the accompaniment of Eye of the Tiger.

The trail itself offers plenty to see. The Bridge boasts markers where George Washington allegedly surveyed it and made his historical mark. There’s a natural formation in the Bridge that has been described as a natural Buddha. Beyond the Bridge is a feature known as the Lost River, which is at varying stages of dryness depending on conditions. We didn’t make it far enough to determine its current state, but local lore says that while the property was privately owned, dye was introduced into the water in an attempt to determine where it emerged. Despite those efforts, geologists were unable to conclusively trace the river’s underground route. There’s also a rumored Tolkien stone. We were unable to verify its location, but the rumor is that the stone contains a quote by J. R. R. Tolkien: “The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began.” There’s also a Salt Peter Cave, so named for mining of the mineral at some point.

The ladies’ room had both hot and cold water; the men’s restroom only had hot. On a hot summer day, cold water was a necessity. It doesn’t get five stars exactly, but as Meatloaf would say, four out of five ain’t bad.

Wayward Restroom Rating: ★★★★ Clean Stop

WE GOT OUT ALIVE! Natural Bridge offers one of the larger gift shop experiences we’ve encountered at a Virginia state park. When the Bridge was under private ownership it was said to be the largest gift shop in Virginia. That claim is now disputed, but the building is still a massive shop of the typical shirts, sweatshirts, and souvenirs, as well as products by local artisans and crafters, and prints by local artists.

Toward the far end is a large children’s section. (You know you are in the children’s area the moment you see two life-sized black bear displays.) The children’s area can be avoided. However, when we purchased our tickets, a small stand boasting toy binoculars was observed by my eagle-eyed Littlest Wayfinder; a subsequent purchase was made.

The Trail Store has limited souvenirs, but it’s mostly a stop for refreshments.

Gift Shop Verdict: Worth browsing, especially if you’re looking for some local flair to bring home. But if you’re trying to avoid a bear-sized hole in your wallet, enter the kid zone with caution.

Cell service was readily available during our visit, though, as always in the mountains, your experience may vary depending on carrier and exact location. We had no major issues accessing maps, photos, or basic communication.