Rockbridge State Nature Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockbridge State Nature Preserve |
|
|---|---|
The natural bridge at Rockbridge State Nature Preserve
|
|
 Rockbridge State Nature Preserve
Location in Ohio
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Rockbridge, Hocking County, Ohio, United States |
| Area | 182 acres (74 ha) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Governing body | Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Rockbridge State Nature Preserve |
Rockbridge State Nature Preserve is a special place in Ohio, United States. It's a nature reserve, which means it's protected to keep its natural beauty safe. This preserve is famous for its amazing natural bridge. A natural bridge is like a giant stone archway, made by nature over many years.
The preserve is located in a small community called Rockbridge, Ohio, within Hocking County, Ohio. It's part of the beautiful Hocking Hills area. The natural bridge here is made from a type of rock called sandstone. This sandstone formed a bit differently from the rocks in other parts of Hocking Hills.
Exploring Rockbridge Preserve
This nature preserve covers about 182 acres of land. That's like 138 football fields! It sits right next to the Hocking River. A small path connects the main road to the start of the trails.
The park has about 2.75 miles of trails for you to explore. There are two main loop trails. One of these trails takes you right past the incredible natural bridge. The other trail leads to a cool rock shelter. Both of these natural wonders are found close to the Hocking River, along smaller streams. The state of Ohio bought this land and made it a preserve in 1978.
The Amazing Natural Bridge
The natural bridge at Rockbridge is the biggest of its kind in Ohio. It's truly a sight to see! This giant rock arch is about 100 feet long. That's longer than three school buses lined up! It's also between 10 and 20 feet wide. The top of the bridge is about 3 feet thick.
So, how did this natural bridge form? It happened because water slowly wore away the softer layers of rock underneath. Over thousands of years, water from streams and rain carved out the rock. This left the harder rock on top as a bridge. The rock it's made from is called Black Hand sandstone. The nearby town of Rockbridge, Ohio even got its name from this famous natural rock formation!
Images for kids
-
The natural bridge at Rockbridge State Nature Preserve
-
Farm fields near the trail
