On a recent trip to Sewanee, Tennessee (more on the University of the South later), Sweetums and I detoured to the Sewanee Natural Bridge. It is located not far from the campus in South Cumberland State Park in Monteagle.
The 25-foot high sandstone formation spans 50 feet. With no guardrails, it was nerve-wracking watching other people’s children skip across the narrow ledge.
According to TN.gov, it is called Sewanee Natural Bridge because the university once owned it. It is now owned by the State of Tennessee.
“There is a wet weather spring associated with a rock house located behind the natural bridge. The spring probably contributed to the formation of the arch,” TN.gov says. It overlooks Lost Cove, which is “a large karst formation on the dissected section of the Cumberland Plateau. It is essentially a giant sinkhole.”
A local who was at the site pointed out to us that there are messages etched into the stones surrounding the bridge. I’m not sure who made the etchings but one was dated 1908.
The bridge is much smaller than the one in Natural Bridge, Alabama, but visitors to that site can no longer walk across it. The address for the Sewanee brudge is 11745 U.S. Highway 41 in Monteagle. For information, call 931-924-2980.
To get there, take Alternate Highway 41. In Sewanee, turn south on Highway 56 and go 2.5 miles to Natural Bridge Road. Turn left onto Natural Bridge Road and proceed one half mile to the parking area. The bridge is visible from the parking area. If you take children, please be safe. It’s a long drop.
KellyKazek.com 