Natural Bridge, Kentucky

When many people talk about going on hiking trips, it's often to one of the western states and one of the major National Parks. The eastern portion of the United States often comes in second in the conversations. From my experience thus-far, it should probably be higher on everyone's list, especially if you live in the eastern part of the country anyway.

One of the best kept secrets I've travelled to for hiking trips, be it a day trip or a weekend adventure, is Red River Gorge, or RRG as many shorten it to. RRG is part of the larger Daniel Boone National Forest. Within Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park is one of my favorites. This area is growing in popularity, but is very sparse compared to uber-popular spots such as Hocking Hills in Ohio. It contains a mix of short, but wondrous trails, and more challenging hikes that often have magnificent rock formations at their heart. But the most famous one is where the park gets its name: a massive rock formation that looks like a bridge!

If you haven't yet visited, I highly recommend it. It is located only 45 minutes from Lexington, KY, 2.5 hours from Cincinnati, OH, and close to many other cities in the area.

After visiting several times, here's my open and honest assessment of this area.

Where, Exactly?

Natural Bridge is easy to get to and find. It's located in the small town of Slade, KY, about 40 minutes outside of Lexington. If you're in Lexington, take SR64 East toward Stanton/Campton and you'll eventually run into Slade. Here's a few maps to help.

Trails

There are no shortage of hiking trails in the Natural Bridge area. From short and easy trails that are great for kids to longer and more challenging hikes for more experienced (or daring) hikers, there's something for everyone. If you're an experienced hiker, you probably already know the trails well or are familiar with an app called All Trails. While I love All Trails, this area has proven to be hit-and-miss. Some trails that once were popular are now over-run with vegetation.

The main trail head is located at 613 Skylift Rd., Slade, KY 40376. The parking lot has several sections to it, so if the first area is busy, drive back a little further and you'll probably find space.

Our Favorite Trail

Low Gap to Rock Garden Trail

Based on where we parked (off of Hemlock Lodge Road), this trailhead was the closest. We started on Low Gap and wound our way onto Rock Garden. Parts of this trail make it seem like you've crossed into a combination of Mars on one side, with incredible sandstone rock faces, and a beautiful Earth with foliage and views that will make you glad you came.

Our Not-So-Favorite Trails

Sand Gap Trail

This is an extremely long trail that winds through the forest. It's becomming over-grown. If you're up for a more challenging and longer hike, this is a nice option.

Hoods Branch Trail

This one is listed on All Trails as being one of the best around, however, we found it to be overgrown, washed out, and extremely difficult. There were several times where we weren't even sure we were on a trail anymore. If you're up for what feels like a jungle adventure, this trail is for you! But if you want something a little more scenic and a defined trail, stick to some of the other options I listed here.

Additional Nearby Trails

• Silvermine Arch Trail

• Red River Gorge Ultra

• Koomer Ridge Trail

• Gray's Arch Trail

Cool Landmarks To See

• Natural Bridge (of course!) – You can take a multitude of trails to get here—Rock Garden, Laurel Ridge, Original Trail, etc.—so take your pick and get to hiking!

• The Narrows – If you're ever wanted to squeeze through a tiny space, this is the place for you! This breathtaking spot is not for anyone who's claustrophobic. If you can muster it, this is a fun spot to pass through.

• Balanced Rock – This is a neat rock formation that looks like one rock is balancing on top of another. Neat to see, but also at the same time, not the breath-taking view you can expect of other landmarks. If you're limited on time, in my opinion, you can skip this one. Take the Balanced Rock trail, accessible from the Lake Side trail, from Rock Garden, or others, if you want to see this formation.

• Battleship Rock – This is a pretty cool rock formation that juts out from the foliage like a battleship. Very neat to see. Most days you have a clear view of this from the top of Natural Bridge. But if you're daring, you can take Laurel Ridge Trail or Battleship Rock Trail to get right to the edge.

• Lover's Leap – This is a pretty neat rock formation off the main Lauren Ridge Trail near where it connects with Rock Garden.

If you find yourself exhausted when you get up to the Natural Bridge Arch, you have the option to take the Sky Lift down. Just be warned: it closes at 5pm each day. And by 5pm I mean the employees are riding down the sky lift at 4:45pm so they can be in their cars at the bottom of the hill by 5pm. So get there before 4:45pm or you're definitely hiking back down.

Photos above (left to right, top to bottom): The Narrows, Balanced Rock, Battleship Rock, and Lover's Leap.

Other Activities

When you're in the great outdoors, there's never a shortage of activities. Here's a few more:

• Kentucky Reptile Zoo

• Thrillsville Adventure Golf

Kayaking an Abandoned Mine

Yes, it's as cool as it sounds. Just minutes from the entrance to some of the area's best hiking trails lay one of the hidden gems of Red River Gorge: An abandoned, flooded mine that you can kayak in.

Although there are a few companies that operate here, I booked with Gorge Underground. We took glass-bottom kayaks on our tour. We were able to pick the color of the lights on each kayak, which added a nice touch for our kids. Even in the summer the mine is cold inside, so dress accordingly. Our guides were awesome, the kayaks seemed brand-new, and the experience will never be forgotten.

Cabins

One of the great things about this area is that there is no shortage of cabins within a 30-45 minute drive of Natural Bridge. Be sure to check your favorite online platform, such as Vrbo, to find a good rental.

One of my family's favorites so far is called The Wilds. It isn't the closest to the action, but the cabins are clean and the grounds well-kept.

Campsites & R.V. Parks

Just like the cabins, there's no shortage of campsites near Natural Bridge. If you're looking to stay as close to the trails as possible, then you may want to stay at the

Food

By far the best food, coffee, and other drinks was at Daniel Boone Coffee Shop. The shop doesn't look like much on the outside, but the inside evokes plenty of country charm. You walk into a warm orange glow of soft wood, dim lights, and a calm country store that meets a relaxing cafe. The food here was second-to-none, and the coffee and lattes good enough to rival any major chain.

Another great contender for food in the area if you are looking for options like pizza, burgers, fries, and beer (obviously not coffee and breakfast sandwiches), is Miguel's Pizza. Although not the best pizza you'll ever have, it was still tasty. I recommend eating here instead of taking back to your cabin.