Thomas Jefferson once owned this 215-foot limestone gorge, and by most accounts, he loved it enough to buy the land specifically to protect it from development. Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley centers on exactly that geological formation, carved over millennia by Cedar Creek, and it’s been drawing visitors since long before it became a state park in 2016. The bridge itself is the headline, but getting to it involves a real physical commitment: 137 steps down, and the same number back up.
Here’s what to know about fees, trails, and access before you plan a 2026 visit.
Natural Bridge State Park Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Location | 6477 South Lee Highway, Natural Bridge, VA 24578 |
| Park hours | 8 a.m. to dusk daily |
| Visitor Center hours | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., March through November |
| Admission fee | $9 per person (13+); $6 per person (ages 6–12); under 6 free |
| Natural Bridge height | 215 feet |
| Historic designation | National Register of Historic Places since 1997 |
| Cedar Creek Trail | 1.6 miles out and back, includes 137 steps down to the trailhead |
| Blue Ridge Trail | 3.3-mile loop |
| Buck Hill Trail | 1.8-mile loop, near Natural Bridge Caverns |
| Skyline Trail | 0.6 miles to Jefferson Point |
| Trail parking (Blue Ridge, Buck Hill, Skyline) | $5 per car at self-pay kiosks |
| Nearby lodging note | Natural Bridge Hotel is privately owned, not affiliated with the state park |
What the Admission Fee Gets You
Natural Bridge charges a straightforward per-person entrance fee: $9 for anyone 13 and older, $6 for children ages 6 to 12, and free entry for kids under 6. This fee covers access to the Cedar Creek Trail, the signature route that takes you beneath the bridge itself, along with the Visitor Center’s exhibits on the area’s natural and cultural history. If you’re planning to visit other Virginia state parks during your trip, an annual Virginia State Parks pass is worth considering, since it covers admission across the system rather than requiring a separate fee at each stop.
One quirk worth knowing: the three other trails at the park, Blue Ridge, Buck Hill, and Skyline, have their own dedicated parking lots with a separate $5 per car fee collected at self-pay kiosks, distinct from the main Cedar Creek Trail admission. If your visit includes more than just the bridge itself, budget for both fees depending on which trails you plan to hike.
The 137 Steps: What to Expect on Cedar Creek Trail
This is the detail that catches visitors off guard most often. Reaching the Natural Bridge and the start of the Cedar Creek Trail requires descending a stairway of 137 steps from the Visitor Center, and naturally, the same climb awaits on the way back. The trail itself, once you’re down, is a relatively easy 1.6-mile out-and-back route, paved and suitable for most fitness levels, but the stairway means strollers aren’t recommended, and visitors with mobility concerns should call ahead to the Visitor Center for accommodation options.
Once past the stairs, the trail passes directly beneath the towering limestone arch, continues to a recreated Monacan Indian Village illustrating the region’s indigenous history, and terminates at Lace Falls, a 30-foot cascading waterfall that makes a satisfying turnaround point even on an overcast day.
Choosing Among the Park’s Four Trails
Beyond Cedar Creek, three additional trails give visitors more ways to experience the park’s forests and karst terrain without necessarily tackling the stairs. The Blue Ridge Trail, at 3.3 miles, offers the longest loop and the most substantial hiking commitment in the park, with views across the surrounding mountains. The Buck Hill Trail runs a more moderate 1.8 miles and provides easy access to Natural Bridge Caverns for visitors interested in combining a hike with a cave visit. The shortest option, the 0.6-mile Skyline Trail, leads to Jefferson Point, a fitting nod to the park’s namesake owner, and suits visitors with limited time or mobility looking for a quick scenic payoff.
Each of these three trails has its own parking area and access point separate from the main Visitor Center, so plan your route ahead of time rather than assuming all trailheads connect from a single lot.
The Hotel Next Door Isn’t Part of the Park
A detail worth flagging clearly: the Natural Bridge Hotel and Conference Center sits adjacent to the park but is privately owned and entirely separate from Virginia State Parks. Booking a stay there doesn’t include park admission, and staff at the hotel aren’t the same as park rangers for questions about trail conditions or park-specific policies. If you’re planning an overnight stay near the park, know that reservations, amenities, and customer service run through a different entity than the state park system itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is Cedar Creek Trail accessible for visitors who can’t manage 137 steps?
Accommodations can be arranged by calling the Visitor Center at (540) 291-1326 ahead of your visit. Strollers aren’t recommended given the stair count, and visitors with significant mobility limitations should reach out in advance to discuss options rather than assuming standard trail access will work.
Q2. Do I need to pay separate fees for each trail, or does one ticket cover everything?
The Cedar Creek Trail admission ($9/$6 per person) is separate from the $5 per car parking fee at the Blue Ridge, Buck Hill, and Skyline trailheads. If your visit includes multiple trails, budget for both charges rather than assuming a single payment covers the whole park.
Q3. Can I camp at Natural Bridge State Park?
Overnight options are limited directly within the park; check current park listings for primitive camping availability, since options here are more limited than at many other Virginia state parks. Several privately-owned campgrounds operate a short drive from the park entrance as an alternative.
Q4. Is the Natural Bridge Hotel part of my park admission if I book a room there?
No. The hotel is privately owned and operates independently from the state park. Staying there doesn’t include park admission, and you’ll still need to pay the standard entrance fee to access the Cedar Creek Trail and the bridge itself.
