Natural Bridge State Park Campground in Kentucky on map
Natural Bridge State Park Campground
The Natural Bridge is only the beginning of many natural and man-made attractions here.
This state park's centerpiece, Natural Bridge, is the start of many sights to see. Other activities include hiking, nature study, and swimming. Come here to check out the unusual rock formations, ride the skylift, and fish. Whatever you do, stay busy, because the campground is not a destination in and of itself. In fact, it's very average, but the superlative beauty of the park makes up for it. Lucky for tent campers, each of the two camping areas contains primitive sites designed for them. And that certainly makes the campground much more bearable.
The first campground, Middle Fork, lies along the banks of the Middle Fork Red River. Pass the entrance station to arrive at a packed, open area with too few trees, too much pavement, and too many RVs. The sites in this loop do have water and electricity, though. A road spurs off this loop and leads over a hill away from RV central. A sign by the road states "Tents Only." The road drops down and runs along the banks of Middle Fork into a different camping world. These are the preferred sites at Middle Fork Campground. The n primitive sites are large and mostly shaded, but an understory of grass cuts down on privacy. The gurgling river is your front yard, and a wooded hill backs the streamside-camping flat. The bathhouse is back at the RVarea. One site lies at the end of the auto turnaround. Tent campers will enjoy these sites most.
A mile away from Middle Fork, the Whittleton Camping Area is also a mix of terrible RV sites and tolerable tent sites. Pass the entrance booth, and turn right on a little bridge over Whittleton Creek. The 20 tent sites here, situated in a mix of sun and shade, loop around a bathhouse that is as close as the Middle Fork Campground bathhouse is distant. These sites are a little on the small side. Some of the best sites are directly along Whittleton Creek, though privacy and spaciousness are limited. A dead-end road continuing up Whittleton Creek has several pull-in campsites with water and electricity; these are decent if you prefer a larger site. Neither campground fills often, save for summer holidays. In the unlikely event that you can't get a site, just stay at the Hemlock Lodge, where good meals are served.
The natural attributes of the land, namely Natural Arch, are the reasons this park is here in the first place. Natural Arch can be reached on one of the many miles of trails that course through the park. The Original Trail reaches the arch after 0.75 mile and connects to other paths passing such features as Balanced Rock, Battleship Rock, Devils Gulch, Needles Eye, and Lookout Point. Pick up a good map at the campground entrance booths. If you don't feel like walking, take a skylift to within 200 yards of Natural Arch. (Of course, you'll have to walk those last 200 yards.) On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Sand Gap Trail, which makes a 7.5-mile loop around the park.
The Daniel Boone National Forest surrounds this state park. Whittleton Campground is at the edge of the national forest. From here, the Whittleton Trail follows an old railroad grade to Whittleton Arch, a mile distant at the base of a sandstone cliff. If none of these trails are long enough, the Sheltowee Trace makes part of its trek from Tennessee to northern Kentucky directly through the park.
An activities and nature center focuses on the natural aspect of the park and offers daily programs for kids and adults alike. Folks can head to Hoedown Island Lake to paddle around in small boats or see the weekly square dancing held on the lake's island. Families can play miniature golf, swim in a big pool, or fish Middle Fork and Mill Creek Lake. So accept the fact that, though the campgrounds aren't the world's greatest, they'll do when you consider the surroundings.
Key Information about Natural Bridge State Park Campground
ADDRESS: 2135 Natural Bridge Rd., Slade,KY 40376
OPERATED BY: Kentucky State Parks
CONTACT: 606-663-2214, parks . ky . gov; reservations: 877-444-6777, reserveamerica . com
OPEN: April-mid-November
SITES: 11 primitive, 20 electric, 55 water and electric
SITE AMENITIES: Picnic table, fire ring, lantern post (primitive sites); other sites have water and electricity
ASSIGNMENT: First come, first served and by reservation
REGISTRATION: At campground entrance booth
FACILITIES: Hot showers, flush toilets, pay phone, laundry
PARKING: At campsites only
FEE: $15-$19 primitive sites, $25-$29 electric sites, $26-$30 water-and-electric sites
ELEVATION: 850 feet
RESTRICTIONS in Natural Bridge State Park Campground
¦ Pets: On 6-foot leash only
¦ Fires: In fire rings only
¦ Alcohol: At campsites only
¦ Vehicles: No more than 2 per site
¦ Other: Maximum 8 campers per site
Getting to Natural Bridge State Park Campground
From Exit 33 on the Bert Combs Mountain Parkway near Slade, head south on KY 11 3 miles to the state park.
GPS COORDINATES N37° 46.822' W83° 40.446'
