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Original Trail/Balanced Rock Trail/Laurel Ridge Trail Loop to Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Red River Gorge, Kentucky

Natural Bridge State Resort Park, located within the Daniel Boone National Forest, is home to a magnificent rock arch known as Natural Bridge—the massive sandstone span measures 65 feet tall and 78 feet long. Several trails lead to the arch, but the 0.5-mile Original Trail is the easiest route to the top of the ridge—where Natural Bridge is located.

For a leisurely loop hike of approximately 2.0 miles in length, combine the 0.5-mile Original Trail with the 0.75-mile Laurel Ridge Trail and the 0.75-mile Balanced Rock Trail—we hiked up the Original Trail, traversed the ridge along the Laurel Ridge Trail, and then descended via the Balanced Rock Trail.

The Original Trail begins at the end of the upper parking lot behind the Hemlock Lodge—the wide, heavily used path of sand and gravel then climbs steeply from the lodge to the base of Natural Bridge. The final climb to the arch skirts along towering sandstone cliffs before rounding a corner for the first, and very impressive, view of Natural Bridge—explore the base of the arch and then make your way to the top of the span through the narrow passageway known as Fat Man’s Misery. This tight squeeze, the product of a natural fracture, is located on the left side of the arch where it leads upwards via several steps until reaching the top of the arch—a dizzying 1,280 feet above the ground. Once on top of the arch, cross to the other side by walking the length of the span—the top of the arch is a long, thirty foot wide pathway similar to an airport runway, the exception being the 1,000-foot drop on either side.

Continue hiking along the dirt path towards the Skylift and the Laurel Ridge Trail—a short spur trail that ends at Lookout Point with a view of Natural Bridge across the valley. While hiking the Laurel Ridge Trail, we noticed some movement in the brush along the side of the trail that turned out to be a black widow spider devouring a cicada—an excellent discovery!

After taking in the view of Natural Bridge, we had the choice of descending from the ridge along the Balanced Rock Trail, the Original Trail, or the Skylift—most of our group opted to hike the steep, but highly scenic Balanced Rock Trail back down to the parking lot—all except for Pathfinder who glided down to the valley on the chairlift. While riding the Skylift, Pathfinder spotted a snake sunning itself on a rock that turned out to be a timber rattlesnake—yet another wicked discovery.

Descending via the Balanced Rock Trail, a much better choice than climbing up the wooden stairways that consist of nearly five hundred steps, takes the hiker past several scenic wonders—including a recess cave, huge fern covered boulders, and Balanced Rock. Balanced Rock is a tremendous sandstone boulder perched atop a foundation that is slowly eroding away—a highlight not to be missed.

 

 

 
 
 
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