Natural Bridge Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

The 1.1-mile trail follows an old road-bed now reserved for hikers and bikers. It leads to an interesting natural stone bridge over Bridge Creek, yet another unusual wonder of Yellowstone. It makes for a wonderful morning or evening stroll for campers at the Bridge Bay Campground.

The trail begins at a turnout on the Lake to West Thumb Road, just south of the highway bridge over Bridge Bay (you can see the marina from this bridge). It ends at the foot of a 30-foot natural stone bridge.

The trail is flat and makes for an easy outing. At the 1/2-mile mark a spur trail leading from Bridge Bay Campground joins from the right. At the 1.1-mile mark a road turnaround is reached. The trail continues to the right a few more yards and ends with a great view of Natural Bridge.

The bridge, made of volcanic rhyolite rock, is 30 feet across and rises 10 feet above the creek. Many people confuse arches with natural bridges. Both are natural occurrences in nature, but to be a considered a natural “bridge” there must be a watercourse that flows through it.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.