Surprising Beauty of Natural Bridge State Park
Discover the Surprising Beauty of Natural Bridge State Park for yourself. Natural Bridge State Park is an unexpectedly awe inspiring adventure located in North Adams, Massachusetts. This 44 acre park is off the beaten path and will delight you with its 60 foot gorge, marble dam and its one of a kind marble arch. The woodland walks and gorgeous abandoned quarry are so incredibly picturesque, you can spend all day exploring this state park. The park gates are only open daily May through October, so put this Massachusetts state park on your bucket list this summer!
History of the Park
The story of the Natural Bridge State Park begins 13,000 years ago after the last ice age. The natural bridge is made up of bedrock marble, so as water from glacial runoff began eroding the marble it became the natural arch and chasm you see today. The site of the state park was operated as a quarry from 1810 to 1947 and brought great prosperity to the town of North Adams as well as the surrounding area. From 1950 – 1983 the site was a privately owned tourist attraction and finally became a state park in 1985. Today the state park has a wonderful visitors center offering tours with a park ranger, beautiful nature trails, picnic areas and the only man made white marble dam in North America!
What to expect when you visit
When you wind your way up to the parking area at the visitor center you will drive past the beautiful quarry mill site on Hudson Brook, the blast rock and the stunning white marble cliff of the original quarry. The parking area is easily accessible at the top of the quarry and the area nearby is perfect for a picnic. The woodland walking trails begin at the visitors center and are considered easy terrain so they are perfect for kids of all ages. You can enjoy the forest and scenery to stretch your legs before adventuring towards the more technical terrain of the chasm and natural bridge area.
The Marble Dam
From the visitor center and parking area, a crushed stone path leads to a tranquil pond on the Hudson Brook. As you get closer to the chasm you get your first glimpse of the stunning marble dam built in 1838. The tranquil pond becomes a fierce cascade of water streaming over the edge of the dam, along the brook and down into the 60 foot fissure in the rock. The white marble of the dam glistens in the sunshine and the temperature of the air gets cooler as you continue along the path. There is a small bridge over the brook that offers the perfect view of the dam on one side and the beginning of the chasm on the other.
The Marble Arch
The area above the natural bridge and chasm is rocky and uneven with staircases and overlooks that dazzle you with views of the marble arch and brook way down below. The cracks, crevices and glacial potholes are on display from multiple viewing overlooks at the top of the chasm. Don’t miss taking the staircase down to the marble arch viewing platform! The unique marble arch is weathered smooth with moss and lichen growing in the crevices. The air flowing through the arch and up from the gorge is cool and refreshing if you visit on a hot day.
At the top of the stairs there is an area to view the crescent shaped quarry site from above, but if you continue down the stairs to the base of the quarry site it brings you to the blast rock. This solitary rock was used to shelter the quarrymen when they set off explosives to extract the marble from the hillside. It transports you back in time to stand behind this rock and imagine the quarrymen seeing the blasted shards of marble flying by them after the explosive charges were detonated.
The Blasting Rock
To the right of the blast rock is a walkway extending out to a view point beneath the walls of the gorge giving you a glimpse of the chasm from below. As you stand at the end of this walkway looking up at the beautiful cliffs above, with the sound of the brook flowing beneath you and the caress of the invigorating air wafting through the chasm it is easy to see why visitors have marveled at this majesty of mother nature for over seven decades.
The Quarry Mill
To finish off your tour of the Natural Bridge State Park, don’t miss seeing the remains of the quarry mill site where the marble was sorted and processed. If you wander farther along the brook you will find the remnants of the mill and the lower dams built to run the mill. It is very peaceful and picturesque in this lower section of the park in a woodland forest setting.
Natural Bridge State Park is a geological wonder and a unique piece of history. The aesthetic beauty of this hidden gem is a diamond in the rough and should not be overlooked. Discover the astounding scenery and the history of this religion for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
Articles you may also like:
Explore The Bay Of Fundy – New Brunswick Canada
Stunning Walks Of Southern Vermont In Autumn
