Natural Bridge Original Trail and Laurel Ridge Loop Hiking Guide
Natural Bridge is the sandstone span that gives Natural Bridge State Resort Park its name, and the Original Trail is the oldest way up to it. From the Hemlock Lodge area you climb past old CCC shelters and hemlocks to the arch, cross over its top, then follow Laurel Ridge along the cliff rim for the view back at the whole span. It is a short hike with a real climb, and it sits a few minutes from the Red River Gorge proper.
How Far and How Steep
Kentucky State Parks lists the Original Trail at half a mile one way, rated moderate, with a 500-foot elevation change, some gravel and short runs of steps. Laurel Ridge adds 0.75 mile of easy, mostly level walking from the top of the bridge. AllTrails maps the popular combination as a 1.8-mile loop with 515 feet of gain, taking most people about an hour, and it closes the circuit by dropping down through Devil's Gulch. Reviewers there flag a couple of steep pitches and mud after rain.
On Top of the Bridge
The park gives the arch as 78 feet long and 65 feet high. From the top of the span, Laurel Ridge heads along the cliff line past the skylift to a sandy lookout where the entire length of the bridge is in view. Keep going and you reach the top of the Devil's Gulch stairway; beyond that, Needle's Eye stairway, built by the CCC in 1934, drops to the Battleship Rock Trail, and Laurel Ridge itself dead-ends at Lover's Leap above the canyon.
The Skylift Option
If someone in your group can't do the climb, the skylift starts about half a mile inside the park entrance and lets riders off within 600 feet of the arch. It operates daily from the first weekend of April through the last weekend of October and is ticketed separately; the park lists only a phone number, (606) 663-2922, for prices. A common plan is for walkers and riders to meet on top and hike Laurel Ridge together.
Dogs Stay Home Here
Most of the park's trails lie inside a dedicated Kentucky State Nature Preserve, and pets are not allowed on them, the Original Trail and Laurel Ridge included. The park's exceptions are the Whittleton Trail and the Henson Arch Trail. If you are traveling with a dog, the national forest trails a few miles up KY 15 allow them.
Parking, Hours and Getting There
Park in the Hemlock Lodge area; the trail starts nearby. There is no admission charge to enter the park. Trails are open sunrise to sunset under the state's trail guidelines, and trail maps are handed out at Hemlock Lodge. The park is near Slade and the Mountain Parkway, so it pairs easily with a Red River Gorge hike the same day. The park office number is 606-663-2214.
Hiking tips for Natural Bridge Original Trail and Laurel Ridge Loop
- Expect company; AllTrails calls this a very popular route, so start early for a quieter arch.
- Wear shoes with grip; the steps and gravel are slick after rain.
- Take the Devil's Gulch stairway slowly on the way down.
- Leave the dog at home or plan on the Whittleton Trail instead.
- Finish by sunset; park trails close at dark.
Nearby trails to explore
- Whittleton Arch Trail
- Gray's Arch Trail
- Auxier Ridge Trail to Courthouse Rock
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Natural Bridge is an easy first group hike: a short climb, a big payoff and a skylift for anyone who wants it. Use TrailMates to find hikers heading to the Red River Gorge and set up a meetup with a group chat for the event. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.