We used our State Park Sticker to visit Natural Bridge State Park near North Freedom, WI.
Our family loved this park. It is relatively close to our home (41 miles, according to Googlemaps), and was easy to find. We were able to start right up the path to the Natural Bridge and came around it from the ‘backside.’ This way we had a good hike in before we saw the main attraction. At first we saw a nice cliff and an enclosure where people have camped over the past several millennia. Only when we were right under it, did we see the magnificent bridge. You can’t walk on or under the bridge, for safety reasons, but you can get pretty close to it. It is easy to picture ancient native peoples setting up camp under the safety of the huge rock.
The paths are a bit hilly. On the day we visited, there were quite a few felled trees to scramble over. It is NOT a stroller friendly excursion. But you could make do with a child carrier. There are numerous informative trail signs describing the medicinal value of trees and flowers surrounding you on the pathways. These signs were quite educational and added an unexpected learning experience to our hike!
For more experienced hikers, there are longer trails looping around the park. But we didn’t explore them on this trip. One more reason to go back!
Our only warning to you is to be patient when you turn off Highway 12 onto CTY HWY C headed for the Park. The last eleven miles took longer than we would have thought—it is one of the most windy stretches of roads we have seen in Wisconsin. But chill out and relax- you haven’t driven past it.
A trip to Natural Bridge is definitely worth it. It’s a great way to spend all or part of a day.
There are no services once you are on the pathways. If you need a restroom be sure to take care of that at the entry! There is a nice stretch of lawn for a picnic at the entrance but no picnic table. There is ample parking and it is a dog friendly park!
Tip: Consider a visit with Dr. Evermor on your way home.