Natural Bridge Park, Alabama is located in Northwest Alabama. Not far off of Interstate 22, and it is a place you want to check out. It is located just off 278 on County Road 3500. It is located about an hour from Tupelo, MS. It is also just over an hour from Birmingham, AL. The phone number for Natural Bridge Park is 205-486-5330. 
Finding Natural Bridge Park
Natural Bridge Park is a spot you don’t want to miss. You can use your GPS to get a general idea of how to get there… but follow the signs when you start to see them. My GPS led us astray on our first visit, and instead of following the signs when I saw them I ended up on a dirt road and NOT at the park we were looking for. So, maybe when you look for GPS directions you should specify to go to the Natural Bridge Park. Getting directions for Natural Bridge on GPS could take you to the center of their small town… and it just happens to be on an old dirt road next to someone’s house. Natural Bridge Park has done a great job of putting up very large hard to miss signs along 278, trust them over your GPS.
What is Natural Bridge?
Natural Bridge is a sandstone formation that is 60 feet high and 148 feet long. It is the longest natural bridge east of the Rocky Mountains. The formation dates back 200 million years and was formed by erosion.
Natural Bridge Park is more than just the formation that has caught your attention. Sure, its worth stopping to see it. BUT the trails around the park are incredible. There are so many ferns (27 different varieties) and so many beautiful rock faces. It would be worth a stop even without the massive natural bridge.
You can see by how tiny my kids look just how massive the Natural Bridge is.
Hiking at Natural Bridge Park
You are not allowed to walk on top of the Natural Bridge. You will be able to walk inside (under) the bridge/cave area. I have to say I would prefer not to be on top anyway. There is a fantastic walking trail inside the bridge that will then take you around to another cave looking area. It is NOT for all abilities. I did the hike in mid-summer with Chacos, and had to be careful for the poison oak near the trail. I wish I had changed shoes before our hike. Salomon Trail Running shoes are my preferred hiking shoes.
Not the best footwear for this hike. This trail is full of tree roots and rocks and has some complexity to it.
The trails are all shaded and it is noticeably cooler down there. It is also incredibly humid… we had no problems with mosquitoes, but I recommend you come prepared for them… it is Alabama after all. If its a hot day, take a bottle of water. If its a cool day maybe grab a light jacket.
If you are pretty steady on your feet I highly recommend you enjoy the entire trail. Its very clean and a great area to explore. If you are less steady on your feet you won’t be able to hike the entire trail, but there is still plenty of beauty to take in. The part of the trail going through the cave/natural bridge has loads of rocks, large steps, and the tree roots add to the complexity. Its pretty easy to turn around on the trail if you get to an area you aren’t completely comfortable with. Also, if it has rained a lot I am sure the mud puddles will be larger and you may not be able to take the entire trail through the cave/natural bridge without getting muddy. I love my convertible, quick dry, hiking pants.
The trail under the bridge.
Unfortunately its not very wheelchair accessible. The bathrooms, store and a huge portion of the trail includes steps. A wheelchair would likely be able to get to the Natural Bridge and be able to take in the view…. but many of the bridges on down the trail have steps. I don’t want to discourage anyone in a chair away from this experience, but want you to know what t0 expect.
Another amazing rock formation
The trails are large enough that there can be many visitors out there at a time and not even see each other.
There are some beautiful waterfalls at the far end of the trail, totally worth the hike if you are able.
This place is just as peaceful as it looks. This area toward the back of the trail has this waterfall and is probably my favorite part of all of it.
There are picnic tables in beautiful areas of the park. We have been twice and both times I wish we had taken a picnic lunch. If there are any restaurants or stores nearby with food I am not aware. ((Hamilton does have a Walmart and some restaurants.))
My kids had the best time running along the trails and taking in all the beauty.
Admission and Hours for the Park
The park also includes a store with everything from t-shirts to candles and my favorite; post cards. You will need to go into the store to pay for your admission. The current admission as of September 2022 is $3.50 per person to explore the Natural Bridge Park. ((As of 2024, I have been told the admission is now $10. a person.)) The park is open 8am until sunset year round.
Indian Face at Natural Bridge Park
Its such an amazing park and I am so glad it is open to the public. It is privately owned and while it is showing its age with rusting hand rails and an older building I feel like it adds to the beauty of the place. The trails are so well kept its clear that a lot of time and passion is still thrown into the place without turning it into some giant commercial nonsense. It is still very much a peaceful place.
One thing that I was bummed about was NO camping… I would LOVE to come camping here and spend a weekend. BUT I would not even drive down this road with a camper. The drive down has an area that is much too small for campers to come through. And there isn’t a good spot to turn around once you get to that spot. So as one RVer to another, DO NOT drive down to Natural Bridge Park with your camper. Instead take yourself over to Desoto State Park to camp and explore even more waterfalls and trails. Or check out Tombigbee State Park in Tupelo.
