Natural Bridge State Park (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a Kentucky
state park
located in Powell
and Wolfe
Counties along the Middle Fork of the Red River, adjacent to the Red River Gorge
Geologic Area and surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest
. Its namesake natural bridge
is the centerpiece of the park. The natural sandstone
arch spans 78 ft (24 m) and is 65 ft (20 m) high. The natural process of weathering formed the arch over millions of years. The park is approximately 2300 acres (9 km²) of which approximately 1200 acres (5 km²) is dedicated by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission
as a nature preserve. In 1981 this land was dedicated into the nature preserves system to protect the ecological communities and rare species
habitat. The first federally endangered Virginia big eared bats, Corynorhinus
townsendii virginianus, recorded in Kentucky were found at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in the 1950s.
Natural Bridge has several unique sandstone rock formations, including the original Balanced Rock. This is a huge block of sandstone balanced on the edge of a cliff near the Natural Bridge. The trail to this formation is now off limits to tourists. An even more spectacular formation, also called the "Balanced Rock", is located on Trail #2, not far above Hemlock Lodge. In the early days of the Park, it was called the Sphinx because, when viewed from the correct angle, it crudely resembles the Sphinx in Egypt. Although it is now called the Balanced Rock, it is in fact a pedestal rock - a single piece of stone that has weathered in such a fashion that its mid-section is narrower than its cap or its base. This formation is one of the biggest and most perfectly formed examples of a pedestal rock east of the Rocky Mountains.
Center for Outdoor Ethics, and offers guided backpacking trips and natural history educational programs. Annual events open to the public include Herpetology Weekend each May, Natural Arches Weekend each February, and the Kentucky Native Plant Society's Wildflower Weekend each April.
The State Park is also famous for hosting traditional Appalachian square dances each weekend in the summer. For 44 years Richard Jett, former Wolfe County Superindentent of Schools and Mayor of Campton, called these weekly dances until his death in 2006.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in Powell
Powell County, Kentucky
Powell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 13,237. Its county seat is Stanton. The county was formed January 7, 1852, by Kentucky Governor Lazarus W. Powell...
and Wolfe
Wolfe County, Kentucky
Wolfe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 7,065. Its county seat is Campton. The county is named for Nathaniel Wolfe.- Geography :...
Counties along the Middle Fork of the Red River, adjacent to the Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge
The Red River Gorge is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky. Geologically, it is part of the Pottsville Escarpment.Much of the Gorge is located inside the Daniel Boone National Forest and has been subsequently reserved as the Red River Gorge Geological Area, an area of around...
Geologic Area and surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest is the only national forest completely within the boundary of Kentucky. Established in 1937, it was originally named the Cumberland National Forest, after the core region called the Cumberland Purchase Unit...
. Its namesake natural bridge
Natural Bridge
Natural bridge or Natural Bridge can refer to several things:*Natural arch, a land formation sometimes referred to as a natural bridge*Natural Bridge, Alabama*Natural Bridge, New York...
is the centerpiece of the park. The natural sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
arch spans 78 ft (24 m) and is 65 ft (20 m) high. The natural process of weathering formed the arch over millions of years. The park is approximately 2300 acres (9 km²) of which approximately 1200 acres (5 km²) is dedicated by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission
Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission
The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission is an agency of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States dedicated to the protection of Kentucky's natural heritage...
as a nature preserve. In 1981 this land was dedicated into the nature preserves system to protect the ecological communities and rare species
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
habitat. The first federally endangered Virginia big eared bats, Corynorhinus
Corynorhinus
The genus Corynorhinus consists of the lump-nosed bats, or American long-eared bats. Only three species occur in the genus, all occurring in North America. Members of this group were previously in the genus Plecotus. Populations of these species are generally uncommon and declining. Two...
townsendii virginianus, recorded in Kentucky were found at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in the 1950s.
History and trails
The park was founded as a private tourist attraction in 1896 by the Lexington and Eastern Railroad. It became one of Kentucky's original four state parks when that system was established in 1925. There are over 20 miles (32.2 km) of trails over uneven terrain from moderate to strenuous difficulty, including trails to White's Branch Arch, Henson's Cave Arch, and other scenic areas. Some of the most famous sites are the arch itself then Lovers Leap, and also Fat Man Squeeze The park's 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) "Original Trail" to the natural bridge dates from the 1890s. Other trails include the 7.5 miles (12.1 km) Sand Gap Trail and the 0.75 miles (1.21 km) Balanced Rock Trail. Five miles (8 km) of the 270 miles (435 km) Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail run through the park, including the Whittleton Trail which connects the park to the Red River Gorge Geologic Area. Please note that activities such as hiking off-trails, disturbing wildlife, or collecting plants are not legal in any Kentucky State Park. In addition, pets are not allowed at Natural Bridge State Park. To get down to the bottom of the arch you can go through Fat Man's Squeeze, a narrow passage in the rock formation.Natural Bridge has several unique sandstone rock formations, including the original Balanced Rock. This is a huge block of sandstone balanced on the edge of a cliff near the Natural Bridge. The trail to this formation is now off limits to tourists. An even more spectacular formation, also called the "Balanced Rock", is located on Trail #2, not far above Hemlock Lodge. In the early days of the Park, it was called the Sphinx because, when viewed from the correct angle, it crudely resembles the Sphinx in Egypt. Although it is now called the Balanced Rock, it is in fact a pedestal rock - a single piece of stone that has weathered in such a fashion that its mid-section is narrower than its cap or its base. This formation is one of the biggest and most perfectly formed examples of a pedestal rock east of the Rocky Mountains.
Annual events
Natural Bridge State Park is a member of the Leave No TraceLeave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
Center for Outdoor Ethics, and offers guided backpacking trips and natural history educational programs. Annual events open to the public include Herpetology Weekend each May, Natural Arches Weekend each February, and the Kentucky Native Plant Society's Wildflower Weekend each April.
The State Park is also famous for hosting traditional Appalachian square dances each weekend in the summer. For 44 years Richard Jett, former Wolfe County Superindentent of Schools and Mayor of Campton, called these weekly dances until his death in 2006.
External links
- Natural Bridge at Kentucky State Nature Preserves
- Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Kentucky State Parks
- Natural Bridge State Resort Park at American Byways
- Leave No Trace