# Creelsboro Natural Bridge

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Natural bridge in southwestern Russell County, Kentucky, United States

Creelsboro Natural Bridge Map of Kentucky Location Russell County, Kentucky Nearest city Creelsboro Coordinates 36°53′05.97″N 85°14′11.13″W / 36.8849917°N 85.2364250°W / 36.8849917; -85.2364250 U.S. National Natural Landmark Designated 1987

**Creelsboro Natural Bridge** (more commonly referred to as **Rock House** or **the Rockhouse**) is a [natural bridge](/source/Natural_arch) in southwestern [Russell County, Kentucky](/source/Russell_County%2C_Kentucky), United States. It is located near the community of [Creelsboro](/source/Creelsboro%2C_Kentucky), approximately 11 miles (18 km) downstream from [Wolf Creek Dam](/source/Wolf_Creek_Dam), which impounds [Lake Cumberland](/source/Lake_Cumberland). The Rockhouse is classified as a *[meander](/source/Meander)* natural bridge because it was created by river erosion of a cliff on the outer side of a sharp meander in the river. Jim Creek, an intermittent stream, runs through it before flowing into the [Cumberland River](/source/Cumberland_River). With a span of 104 feet (32 m), it is the seventh largest natural bridge in the United States and the largest in the Eastern U.S.

## History

The Creelsboro Natural Bridge consists of Upper [Ordovician Period](/source/Ordovician) [silty](/source/Silt) [dolomite](/source/Dolomite_(rock)) of the [Cumberland Formation](/source/Cumberland_Formation_(Kentucky)). Unlike most natural bridges it is made of [dolomite](/source/Dolomite_(rock)) rather than [sandstone](/source/Sandstone), which generally comes from later geologic ages. First discovered in 1770 by a group of [hunters](/source/Hunting), Rockhouse is a popular site for [camping](/source/Camping). It was designated a [National Natural Landmark](/source/National_Natural_Landmark) by the [U.S.](/source/United_States) [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service) in 1987.[1] It remains privately owned but is accessible by a short walk from KY 379. Immediately across the river in Clinton County is the private Rockhouse Trace subdivision.

## See also

inside view of Creelsboro Bridge Natural arch

- [Kentucky Geological Survey](/source/Kentucky_Geological_Survey)

- [Rock shelter](/source/Rock_shelter) – Shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Creelsboro Natural Bridge"](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nnlandmarks/site.htm?Site=CREE-KY). *nps.gov*. National Park Service. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130305064603/http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/site.cfm?Site=CREE-KY) from the original on 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-11.

## External links

- [Creelsboro Natural Bridge](http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-KY-Creelsboro.htm)

- [Kentucky Geological Survey GQMAPS, S36](https://web.archive.org/web/20061019045143/http://kymartian.ky.gov/gqmaps/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Creelsboro Natural Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creelsboro_Natural_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creelsboro_Natural_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.