Description

Top Five Things to Do

1. Hike the scenic trail to Natural Bridge or ride the skylift.
2. Explore the Red River Gorge area.
3. Enjoy the Historic Nature Center.
4. Hike Henson’s Arch or tour Natural Bridge Cave.
5. Reserve a private cottage or lodge room to view fall foliage.

Lodging & Camping
Delight in the mountainside beauty of Natural Bridge State Resort Park. The Hemlock Lodge has 35 rooms with private balconies overlooking the surrounding woodlands. The park also has 11 one-bedroom and two-bedroom cottages available for your overnight needs. Both the Hemlock Lodge and Cottages are open year-round. Rooms and cottages are available by late afternoon. Lodge room check-out by 11 a.m., local time with the cottage check-out by 10 a.m., local time. We are now pet friendly. No more than two pets are allowed per room/cottage. The park also has two campgrounds with both improved and primitive sites and two service buildings with showers and restrooms.

Sandstone Arches Restaurant
Enjoy gorgeous scenery while dining in the restaurant. As a supporter of the Kentucky Proud program, we use local meats and produce when available and now serve Kentucky wine and spirits in the restaurant and Trails End Tavern.
Restaurant Hours 
Sunday-Saturday Continental Breakfast For Lodge and Cottage Guests 7am-10am
Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 4 – 8 p.m.
Monday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 4 – 8 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 4 – 8 p.m.
Wednesday Closed Closed Closed
Thursday Closed Closed Closed
Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 4 – 8 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 4 – 8 p.m.

Trails End Tavern
Friday 4 – 9 p.m.
Saturday 2 – 9 p.m.
Sunday 2 – 9 p.m.
Monday 4 – 9 p.m.
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed


Meetings
Host a meeting in one of three locations on the park that offer a modern meeting and banquet facilities surrounded by beautiful woodlands. For more information about hosting a group or wedding CLICK HERE.

Things to Do
Birding
The best time to bird watch is in May and June when the woodland warblers (and other neotropical birds) return and are most vocal and active. The Fall migration is also good, in late September. Winter bird watching at the park can be fun because many of the leaves have dropped, making it easier to view various species of woodpeckers, kinglets, nuthatches, wrens, and sparrows. Year-round residents include northern cardinal, American goldfinch, indigo bunting, song sparrow, belted kingfisher, American crow, great blue heron, wild turkey, pileated woodpecker, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, and Carolina wren. Best places to spot our feathered friends: Hood’s Branch Trail, Rock Garden Trail, Whittleton Branch Trail, Lakeside Trail, Mill Creek Lake, Picnic Shelter 3 & 4 area.

Canoeing
Canoes are available for rental Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Fishing
Mill Creek Lake is a small peaceful lake surrounded by beautiful forest and towering sandstone cliffs. Bass, bluegill, black crappie, longear sunfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout, channel catfish and black bullhead are found here. The lake is also perfect for paddling canoes and kayaks and a launch ramp is available for fishing boats (only electric trolling motors may be operated). A Kentucky Fishing License is required. Click here to purchase a license online at KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Don't have a fishing pole? No problem! Ask at the park about their fishing loaner program where you can check out FREE equipment. Plan your fishing trip and improve your success with the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources fishing forecast. Click here to view.

Click here for a map of Mill Creek Lake. Special fishing regulations for Mill Creek Lake include: 

• Large Mouth Bass – 15” minimum size limit, 3 fish daily creel
• No trotlines, jug lines, or limb lines
• Use of shad as bait is prohibited

Gift Shop
For the perfect memento of your visit, browse the lodge gift shop featuring a large selection of Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs.

Hiking
The ten hiking trails range from one-half mile to seven-and-one-half miles. Trail maps are available at the Hemlock Lodge. Due to its Nature Preserve status, dogs are not allowed on hiking trails at this park except for the Whittleton Trail (managed by the U.S. Forest Service). It is pet friendly and can be accessed via the Park’s Whittleton Campground.

Kayaking
Kayak rentals available Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Miniature Golf
Adults and children can enjoy playing 18 holes of mini golf located at picnic shelter #2 near the skylift parking area. Mini golf balls and putters can be rented at the Mini Golf Snack Bar. Cost is $5.00 per person with children under 4 play for free. Open seasonally.

Pedal Boating
Pedal boats are no longer available until further notice.

Picnicking
Four picnic shelters with rest rooms, tables, grills, and a playground are located throughout the park. Shelters available for rental up to one year in advance. Fee charged for shelter rental.

Sky Lift
For a more relaxing climb to natural bridge, enjoy a ride on the sky lift. The ascent begins one-half mile from the park entrance and ends within 600 feet of Natural Bridge. Open daily first weekend of April through the last weekend in October. For pricing call: (606) 663-2922.

Swimming - 
The pool complex is tucked between the lake and the cliff beneath Hemlock Lodge. The complex includes a spacious stone bathhouse, and a zero-depth (one can enter pool without steps) pool that holds 80,000 gallons of water. The main pool has a "river" theme with directional water jets and floor bubblers. Next to the main pool is a new fenced wading pool with floor bubbles and fountain.