Natural Bridge of Virginia

Had a great time. Came In February so we pretty much had the park to ourselves. Even though It was winter there was still plenty of green, mostly from the moss and lichen. The trail to Lace falls is an easy 1 mile walk, and they do offer to shuttle you back up to the main lobby so you don’t have to walk back up the 137 flights of stairs if you don’t want to.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary. It’s a must do activity and worth the trip since it’s one of the natural wonders of the world. However, don’t expect too much. It’s definitely a tourist attraction and I was expecting a lot more. Crabtree Falls was 10 times more beautiful and impressive so just make sure you have a few other attractions on your to do list.

Ehh, not that impressed. Sure, the bridge itself is nice and definitely cool, but that’s it. The «waterfall» is a very liberal term for what is more a stream. The Indian «village» is unmemorable and small, but that’s also not my thing. The price is outrageous for what you get: $ 20/​per person to look at a bridge created by Mother Nature is appalling.

A five star experience that easily could’ve been four star if we had to pay full retail. By staying at the hotel, we got 20% off our tickets.
The walk down to the bridge is amazingly short but beautiful. It’s along the cedar creek trail. You’ll see the natural bridge almost immediately which is gratifying, but the real payoff is seeing it on the return trip after continuing on to the end of the trail, enjoying the historic Native American village, salt peters cave and lace falls.
There’s an extremely overpriced summerhouse right before the bend to the natural bridge that serves fast food and beer. Also a free shuttle back up the hill for those who don’t want to make the deceptively steep 137 steps back up.
We accidentally caught the first half of the drama of creation show. Not being religious, it was an OK light show but we got bored and hungry and left half way.
The natural bridge itself is an awe-​inspiring natural wonder. I could easily imagine myself spending hours under its arch, immersing myself in its beauty and gigantism. Incidentally, route 11 runs on it so it turns out we actually drove on it on our way to it!

This was a really neat attraction but a bit pricey. We took our dog and it was a great walk to see the bridge, Indian village and waterfalls. Plenty of places to sit and relax along the way if you want a leisurely stroll through the woods. Staff is amazing and very helpful. Definitely recommend if you are in the area!

Meh, the bridge was fine. Facilities were fine too. But $ 20 for an adult «ticket» was a joke. Waaaaaay too expensive for what you get. Such a ripoff.
Do yourself a favor and save the 20 bucks by looking at a postcard. Its basically the same experience.

Absolutely beautiful! The ticket is good for 48 hours and is definitely worth the $ 20! The people who work there were very informative and helpful. I suggest eating beforehand because the food is quite expensive for mediocre quality. Still a sight to see! Pictures just don’t do it justice!

The bridge was cool but not worth the price, $ 25 for the caves and the natural bridge. Want to see Indians? The hippies living in the woods… Not so fun. Save your time and skip the ‘water fall’ at the end. Except for the bridge there is no real attraction here. The price, ouch! The walk thru the woods was nice but if your expecting a cool site, you’ll be let down at the end.

We enjoyed perfect spring weather and hiked all the way to the falls, which is quite a way past the bridge. There is a shuttle that gets you close to the natural bridge, if you can’t walk far. The indian village is small but interesting. Rumor mill says that Virginia State Parks may take this site over soon. Can’t comment on the caverns and other stuff.

Horrible experience here today! I specifically called and checked the website to find out the times of Drama of Creation. I was told by the phone operator when I called that the tickets go on sale at 6 and it also states this on their website. We arrive at 615 only to be told that the tickets go on sale at 730 and not a second sooner and if I wanted to go in any sooner it would be full price and not 9.00 per person! I even proved to the cashier and showed her where it states this on my phone. She didn’t care and was extremely rude! Won’t be going back!

I felt ripped off.
Natural Bridge aside, everything about this «attraction» made me feel like I was being taken for.
We paid $ 45 for a family of 4 on 3÷30÷15. The Indian Living Exhibit was closed. The butterfly exhibit was closed. The wax museum was closed. And none of the podiums along the trail had any information on them except the Lost River, so there was no educational value taken from this attraction either. When we got back we asked about our ticket prices because all the exhibits were closed and they said «that is the winter price». Are you kidding me? $ 45 for a family of 4 to walk down ~137 steps to turn a corner and see the bridge!!! This should be the summer price, with all the other features in full swing! For the price we paid, this place should be well maintained — it isn’t.
The falls at the end are nothing special (Black Water Falls in WV is way better and FREE!), The coolest part of the walk, after passing the bridge, was reading about the Lost River. Miners heard the water under the rock and blasted it open to free the water.
We also drove up Shafer LN and caught the view from up there. Luckily the trees weren’t leafed out yet so we got a good view. But being under the bridge is the way to go.
While you are there, go see Foamhenge. It is about a mile up Route 11 from the Natural Bridge. You can see it from the road. We had to hop the fence but others were doing the same thing.
Luckily we were already in Lexington for other things like the Safari Zoo (AWESOME) and touring some historical sites. Otherwise this would have been a waste of time.

It was my third trip… One Day I will make it to stay for the Drama of Creation (light show at night). This trip, I took my family including kids (9, 11) and my mother who requires a wheelchair.
I am pleased to report it was a hit! It was expensive, and we were kind of pushed for time, which was the major downside. Also, they didn’t have a restaurant open (although during the summer, I believe they do, and they did offer picnic boxed lunches we could buy and take with us).
Since most people don’t focus on this… I will: The wheelchair aspect.
YES, I recommend this for people with disabilities.
You purchase your tickets inside a building which is wheelchair accessible. My mom did not bring a wheelchair with her, and she walks slowly. For people like that, it’s a long walk to the bathrooms or to meander around the building. But in a chair, or if you do not have disabilities it’s a breeze.
The wheelchair accessible shuttle bus picks up out front and has a lift on it. It drives you down to the main path. (If you’re able and interested, there are stairs, which I have always used in the past… it’s a LOT of stairs, but I like it.)
The shuttle drops you off at the bottom and the driver will provide a wheelchair for you upon request. (Note: I think there is only one chair available to borrow, so hopefully there’s no one else in need when you’re there). The chair they have is a basic chair (not transport, so it has the big wheels in the back and the little wheels in the front), and is fairly wide (though not the largest I’ve seen). It did the trick for us. Too bad it wasn’t a «4 wheelin» type, but as I said… it did the trick for us.
The ENTIRE trail is accessible… it’s super duper easy to get to the Natural Bridge, and even to the 1^st exhibit (Indian Village). But the terrain does get rougher, and I probably could not have managed my mother in the chair without hubby’s help… but together, we pulled it off and my mother got to go the entire length of the trail — all the way to the water falls, and back.
Let’s face it ~ there aren’t many nature trails that are truly handicapped/​wheelchair accessible so I was very grateful for that.
If you are dealing with other mobility issues, but NOT requiring a chair, be advised: It’s a fairly long trek, and is a bit rocky. There are a few inclines but they aren’t too bad. Personally, I recommend bringing a chair if you have one.
I gave this place 5 stars largely for the fact my mother could enjoy it. If you’re not dealing with such disabilities, it might be a 4. It’s super cool, but once you’ve seen it, it’s just a nice place to chillax and meander along the side of a river… and there are other cool places to do that. It’s also EXPENSIVE, and there are a ton of other trails out there that are free or cheap and very interesting to tour.
Personally, this was my 3^rd trip and I do want to go back… just one more time… to take in the drama of creation show.

We took our students on a social studies field trip to Natural Bridge of Virginia. It is a very cool, historical spot. It is a pretty lengthy drive though for children. The Pawhatan village was one of the highlights of the trip. The guides did a great job explaining all about the history. The bridge is just incredible and definitely a must see if you’re in the area.

I drive up and down nearby I-​81 every year and for 21 years I’ve always seen the sign for Natural Bridge and never stopped until 2014 when I had the opportunity during a casual vacation. This was my first stop.
The cost is a little steep but it is a tourist attraction and ever attraction I know of charges a similar price. And if you are a AAA member, they will give you a small discount on your ticket.
To get to the bridge there are stairs down to the main trail… lots of stairs. But if you cannot do stairs, there is a shuttle that will take you down and back up.
The first thing you see on the trail is the Natural Bridge and just like the many pictures I’ve seen it is a glorious natural wonder. Can you imagine how many thousands of years it took to make this?
Continue on the trail and you’ll come to a Native American settlement, a cave, a «lost» river (more like lost stream) and a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail.
I think this place is worth seeing at least once in your life. Yes, it is pricey but as it is privately owned and there are costs to maintaining the trails and the buildings that serve as the ticket sales area and the gift shop.
My biggest complaint is while the trails were well kept, the buildings needed some work. The bathrooms were in poor condition — no A/​C and nothing worked correctly.

To start with — this place is privately owned! And they will charge you about $ 18 for admission! CRAZY!
What it is – it’s this beautiful Natural Bridge and a very short trail to walk. And that’s it! $ 18 for something that should belong to the public!!! A JOKE!
And don’t spend the money for the additional cavern tour — it’s also a big joke. Go to the caverns in Luray instead.
I am shocked about this kind of rip off.

Natural Bridge is a breathtaking beauty worth visiting, especially if you enjoy photography. Personally, i would rate the experience 4 stars but the photography lovers in my group absolutely loved it and had a field day with their cameras and got some amazing shots.
Getting there:
Enter through the front entrance of the Visitor’s Center to purchase your tickets and depart out of the back entrance of the Visitor’s Center, where you will descend 137steps, turn right and happen upon the majestic Natural Bridge. There are benches on both sides of Natural Bridge in case you arrive at dusk in time to view the Dream of Creation, which is a nighttime display of lights and music starring the Natural Bridge. I would have loved to witness the show and also participate in a guided tour, but the timing did not work out for us.
Physical ability:
If you only intend to view the bridge, it doesn’t require much physical ability since there is a shuttle in front of the Visitor’s Center that will take you directly to the bridge. If you do not opt for the shuttle service, you will have to walk down 137 stairs to the bridge and then back up the same stairs to return to the Visitor’s Center. It was not as brutal as it sounds. I was out of breath once I reached the top of the stairs but I quickly recovered and I am not particularly athletic. If you intend to walk the Cedar Creek Trail to the Monacan Indian Exhibit or to the Cascade Falls, you should wear walking shoes (not flip flops)
Planning:
Cascade Falls is approximately .25 miles from the Natural Bridge. Unfortunately we ran out of time and were only able to see the Monacan Indian Exhibit. We regret not having more time to explore. Give yourself several hours so you can walk at a relaxed pace and so you can see all there is to offer. If you do not plan to arrive in the evening for the Dream of Creation, then you might as well try to arrive earlier in the day so there will be less glare in any photographs you may take. We arrived at 6 pm and the glare was quite drastic.
Tips:
1) There is a café available near the bridge, but it was not open on a Friday @ 6pm in July.
2) Make sure to bring water with you.
3) There are public restrooms in the Visitor’s Center and porta potties located on the trail.
4) Tickets are approximately $ 18 per adult and $ 2 off with AAA membership or Military ID.
5) Wear walking shoes.
6) There is a shuttle available if you cannot walk up and down the 137 step staircase.
7) Bring your camera!

If you survive the parking lot all the way to the gift shop to pay $ 18/​person to hike down a paved path past a restaurant and walk another 500 feet, you’ll have completed the long expedition to the natural bridge.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cool natural structure; it’s just so Disneyfied on the entrance that it takes away the sense of any adventure.
If you have small kids or elderly or disabled folks with you, the path is a good thing.
Just don’t know that I’d pay $ 18 to a private landowner ever again to see this.

How have I lived in Virginia my whole life, driven countless times on I-​81, and never visited Natural Bridge? *face smack* THAT is embarrassing.
Admission is $ 18/​person (steep!) but there are significant discounts for students, military members, AAA members, and senior citizens — just show your ID!
To get to the Bridge, you need to walk down several flights of stairs but there’s a shuttle that will take you straight to the Bridge, if that’s your preference.
The bridge itself is spectacular and there is plenty of seating below to enjoy the views and soak in the nature surrounding you. Cedar Creek Trail leads to Lace Falls — a flat, short, and easy hike for families, kids, and dogs! There’s also an exhibit of a American Indian village where you watch weapon-​making, enter a hut, and try corn cakes — super fun for kids!
If you’re hungry, there’s a snack stand that you will pass before you reach the Bridge; I’d love to bring a picnic the next time I’m here. I highly recommend visiting this site — it’s incredibly unique and is a little piece of Virginian history.

I wish we had left more time to walk around and explore. A cool, beautiful, fall day is perfect for this! Next time I think I’ll bring a picnic basket and just head off down the trail by the river.
The bridge sneaks up on you quickly and is amazing! Especially since Rte 11 still runs over the top of it. From underneath or on the road itself, you’d never know it!
The Monocan Indian Village mock up is interesting, but not exciting. The saltpeter cave further along is more interesting, but usually closed up. I could see how it would be a great place to live until Europeans come in and run everyone off.
We bought the tickets just for the bridge walk, but it also included the butterfly garden and the Wax Museum. We skipped the butterfly garden, and Wax Museums creep me out, but we went through and it was funny/​odd.
I agree with Stephanie M. as we thought the same… $ 20 per and they don’t even keep up the signs or pathways.
There is only the Natural Bridge Village Hotel that is affordable, but has seen better days. There was a b&b down the road (Herring Hall), but it was crazy expensive. There is nothing else right around here for eating or lodging.
You’d be better off staying in nearby Lexington, VA and then taking the short drive into Natural Bridge as you’re heading in or out.
I’d definitely go again, but I might try to find a back way in. $ 20 is ridiculous. The 3 stars is for the actual sight of the bridge, not anything else.

Bridge is pretty mind-​blowing. You cannot get the grandiosity if it from the pictures. It makes you feel small and ponder the forces of nature.
Short walk to tiny waterfall is relaxing, make sure to stop by indian village along the way, and find lost river a bit further on a trail.
Commercialization of such a beautiful natural wonder is a downside for me. All those concert benches, sandwich shops.
Butterfly garden on trail was disappointment. They need a better gardener.
Butterfly room inside the center was pretty cool, altho difficult to stay in for too long due to sauna-​like settings.