Blue Ridge Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of natural beauty starting at the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains south to Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina. Access to the Parkway is just 8 miles from Natural Bridge Jellystone Park. The Parkway, with numerous overlooks to enjoy the stunning views, is maintained under the National Park Service. Besides the spectacular scenery, their are points of historic interest along the Parkway. At the James River Visitor Center, near Natural Bridge, there is a trail leading to a restored 19th century lock from the Kanawha Canal.

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the entire length of Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is a geological formation carved by Cedar Creek (a small tributary of the James River) when it flowed through the local limestone and wore it away to leave just the roof of a tunnel 215 feet in the air. It is  a National Historic Landmark. 

Natural Bridge Hiking Trails

Belfast trail to Devil's Marbleyard
Balcony Falls Trail
Chessie Nature Trail
Apple Orchard Falls
Johnson Farm
Sharp Top and Flat Top 

Maps are available in the office. See trails here.

Peaks of Otter

The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are along the Blue Ridge Parkway and have multiple hiking trails for various fitness levels.

Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2181 mile long marked hiking trail running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. In Virginia, it passes close to Jellystone Park in Natural Bridge.

Natural Bridge Caverns

Descend more than 34 stories underground to explore the natural beauty of the Natural Bridge Caverns. You can take a 45 minute guided walking tour.

Jefferson National Forest

The Jefferson National Forest is a great place for every kind of outdoor activity you can imagine: hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, mountain biking and much more.

The Natural Bridge Wax Museum

There are more than 150 life sized statues in the Wax Museum of historical figures from the American Revolution and the Confederate Army.

Toy Museum

The Toy Museum in Natural Bridge displays  more than 45,000 different toys. There are two dolls that date back to 1740. There are toy train displays, action figures (including 1st edition GI Joes), mechanical toys and new toy robots.

Natural Bridge Zoo

The Natural Bridge Zoo has the most complete collection of exotic zoo animals and birds in the state of Virginia. It is also a  breeding and rescue zoo for rare and endangered species. You can take a ride on an elephant, or have your picture taken with a baby tiger.

Safari Park

You can drive through the Safari Park on a 3 mile long road and see and feed a large variety of exotic animals from 6 continents. Or you can walk through the petting zoo area and feed baby llamas, goats and even giraffes right out of your hand.

Historic Lexington Virginia

Natural Bridge is about 15 miles from Lexington, Virginia. The carefully preserved downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Stonewall Jackson's house is there, as well as VMI, Washington and Lee University, and the Museum of Military Memorabilia. 

Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden

Boxerwood Gardens in Lexington Virginia, is a nature center and woodland garden. It features self-guided tours, explorations, and special events. Boxerwood is also a fantastic stop for the kids. The Play Trail is a natural playground designed especially for children, giving them the chance to learn about nature while playing in it!

Virginia Military Institute

Located less than 20 minutes from Natural Bridge, VMI is a small, highly respected military college. On several occasions, cadets from VMI, ranging in age from 14 to 22,  were called into service during the Civil War. It is sometimes called the West Point of the South.

Rockbridge Vineyards

In nearby Raphine, VA, Rockbridge Vineyards hosts daily wine tastings of their award winning wines.

Vista Links Golf Course

The Vista Links is an 18-hole, par-72 public golf course located in Buena Vista, Virginia.

Theater at Lime Kiln

This is an outdoor theater in Lexington, VA which hosts classic theater, concerts and other live entertainment. It features original music and plays based on Southern Appalachian history and culture.

National D-Day Memorial

Located in Bedford, Virginia, the town suffering the highest per capita D-Day losses in the nation, this Memorial honors the Allied forces that participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 during World War II. 

Wade's Mill

Wade's Mill is a working, historic flour mill, dating from about 1750. The 21 foot mill wheel is powered by a nearby stream

Virginia Horse Center

This 600-acre facility in Lexington includes a 4000-seat indoor arena, eight barns that can accommodate 1200 horses, nineteen show rings, two additional indoor arenas, an internationally rated cross-country and combined driving course.It hosts over 100 events each year.

Hull's Drive In Theater

Hull's is the nation's first community owned, non-profit, outdoor movie theater, located in Lexington.

Lexington Antique Mall

The Lexington Antique Mall houses over 40,000 square feet of quality antiques and crafts.