Natural Bridge State Resort Park

     May 16th was another beautiful, fun day!  The sun was shining, the weather was perfect for hiking, and everywhere we went there were butterflies fluttering!

     In the morning we hiked to Natural Bridge which is a natural sandstone arch which spans 78 ft and is 65 ft high.  We started out early doing what we THOUGHT was going to be a quick walk to check out a small lake, but when we crossed the suspension bridge we found that another trail to the Natural Bridge could be started from that location, so we kept on.  It was a beautiful wooded area but almost ALL UPHILL and longer than we expected,  but so peaceful and filled with birdsong.  

With lots of rest stops to catch my breath, we made it up to the large Natural Bridge formed in the rock.

 While taking pictures we noticed a narrow unmarked trail cut through the rock along side it and decided to check it out.  

It took us up to the top and we were able to walk across the “bridge”. 

 

On the other side there was another trail that led along the wooded ridge to an outcropping and overlook where you could look back and see the Natural Bridge.

     As we were walking along, we happened upon the top of the SkyLift (gondolas) and realized we could have taken an easy way up to the Natural Bridge:)  Since you could pay at the top, too, we bought round trip tickets and enjoyed a lovely long ride down and back up again, then hiked back down the way we had come up to get to our camper. 

 

     While we were at the Natural Bridge we talked to a family familiar with the area and they recommended that we drive the Scenic Byway through Red River Gorge and do some hiking there, so that’s how we spent the afternoon.

     We pulled in the side mirrors and squeezed through the long, narrow, one lane Nada Tunnel and then drove the nicely paved, but narrow and winding, two lane road through the forest with glimpses of Red River.  We missed the first trailhead to the footbridge and Chimney Rock, and since there was nowhere to turn around, we continued on.  

     We stopped along the road at the Historical Gladie log cabin and further along, we hiked three different trails: one to the Sky Bridge, one to Whispering Arch, and the last one to Angel Windows. 

 

     It was a lot of hiking and a lot of steps, but we had a great day! 😊