Blue Ridge Trail, Natural Bridge State Park

The Blue Ridge Trail within Natural Bridge State Park can be divided into five sections:

1. The first is a mowed path through meadows along the wood line. (~.4 Mile)
2. The second is through the woods high above Cedar Creek before dropping down to a smaller feeder stream. (~1.6 Miles)
3. The third section is a long climb to the crest of Red Knob. (~2.2 Miles)
4. The fourth section is a long descent to a meadow. (~3.3 Miles)
5. The last section passes through the meadow and a leisurely stroll back to the parking area.

The park asks that you leave no trace; pack out everything you carry with you, collect your pet's waste, keep pets on a lease, be aware of bears and leave only footprints.

4 MILES

DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

HIKE TIME: 2.5-3 HOURS

DISTANCE: 4 MILES (LOOP)

USAGE: HIKE, CYCLE

VIEWS: WILD

DRIVE TIME*: 20 MINS

* from Lexington Visitor Center, 106 E. Washington St.

TAILHEAD + PARKING

Large, level, gravel parking area, portable toilet, numerous picnic tables, and grills. Visitors may use the self-service Pay Box in the parking area to pay the $5 Parking Fee.

DESCRIPTION

Large, level, gravel parking area, portable toilet, numerous picnic tables, and grills. Visitors may use the self-service Pay Box in the parking area to pay the $5 Parking Fee.From the parking area, bear right following the trail signs to begin a short climb to the top of an earthen dam. This is the beginning of the loop.

– This description is in a clockwise direction.

There is a sign for the Blue Ridge Trail, and it is marked with blue blazes. The trail begins as a mowed path through a large meadow. This region was at one time going to be a golf course for the hotel. This section also parallels the Thistle Ridge Disk Golf Trail.

The Blue Ridge Trail begins several easy descents and climbs through the meadow. The meadow is to the left. Several species of wildflowers flourish in the tall grasses of the meadow including milkweed. It is a favorite of the Monarch butterfly, In the fall, they can sometimes be seen flitting from one plant to plant to another. A thicket of Virgina pine and Eastern red cedar line the right side of the trail.

At 0.65 miles there is a signpost for a trail junction. Turn right and continue to follow the trail. The Blue Ridge Trail comes to another junction at 0.7 miles. Continuing straight leads to the Natural Bridge Hotel. The distance to the hotel is 0.4 miles.

To continue on the Blue Ridge Trail, take the right fork. This begins the second section of the trail. It continues to follow an old logging road with an easy climb and bending to the right as it enters the Cedar Creek watershed. The distance is 1.0 mile. Cedar Creek can be heard downhill on the left. The forest is composed of early successional hardwoods after having been logged around the turn of the century. The trail makes a long bend to the right and begins a long descent as it leaves Cedar Creek behind and enters a smaller unnamed creek drainage. At 1.5 miles There is a bench overlooking this small creek. There is a hard right bend at 1.6 miles as the trail begins to climb toward Red Knob.

The complexion of the Blue Ridge Trail changes again. The trail leaves the logging road behind and begins to climb. Initially, it is a moderate climb. This gives way to a more gradual ascent as the trail contours and climbs toward Red Knob. The forest is mostly young poplar and oak. It begins to follow a logging road again at 1.9 miles. The summit of Red Knob is attained at 2.2 miles. The elevation is just over 1,440 feet. Red Knob gets its name from the red clay found on the summit. Several big oaks dominate the summit. Two benches provide a great view of Thunder Ridge and the Thunder Ridge Wilderness.

Once on the summit, the trail begins its fourth phase, the descent. It drops gradually off the summit. At 2.75 miles there is a right switchback and begins to parallel the park boundary. Several large oak trees line the boundary. It crosses a small hollow at 3.2 miles before reaching a meadow at 3.3 miles.

The trail’s completion changes again. It continues its descent on a mowed path. The Blue Ridge Trail reenters the woods at 3.6 miles and begins to parallel a small stream. The stream turns into a small pond at 3.8 miles. The pond marks the beginning of a short climb to the top of the earthen dam. Turn to the left and follow the same path across the dam you came in on to get back to the parking area. The distance is 4.0 miles.

NATURAL BRIDGE STATE PARK ACTIVITIES

7 miles of trails

Children's Discovery Area

Kids in Park TRACK Trail: Skyline Trail

International Dark Sky Park

LOVEworks

DETAILS: Click Website Link below for trail details, photos, and maps.