Natural Bridge Park Douglas, Wyoming

July 14, 2009

Douglas, Wyoming and Ayres Natural Bridge Park

We are staying in the FREE city campground in Douglas. No utilities but they do have fresh water and a dump station. It is located off I-25 exit 140--- turn east into Douglas go across the North Platte River and take the first left. The park & campground is located on the northeast corner of the North Platte River Bridge and the highway leading into town.

To find the Natural Bridge Park turn south on I-25 exit 151 which is CR-13. You should find Natural Bridge Park about 5-miles down CR-13 just follow the signs.

Conglomerate, visible in road cut on our way to Ayers Natural Bridge Park

Ayres Natural Bridge is in a canyon. We saw this conglomerate (rounded water worn fragments of older rock imbedded in sand. Cobblestones such as these are commonly found in old river beds. So in this road cut we are seeing where there once was an ancient river bed.

Look for it on CR-13 (Natural Bridge Road) as the road cut takes you into the canyon....(Ayers Natural Bridge is in a small canyon) it is easy to spot if you are looking for the conglomerate in the road cut.

Red Sandstone as we enter Ayers Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

This is sedimentary rock also but it is not thinly layered like the last picture. This red sandstone is 40' thick in places.

View from Ayers Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

This picture shows a caprock on top of the red sandstone.

Large exposure of red sandstone near entrance to Ayers Natural Bridge Park Douglas, Wyoming

This is a large exposure of that red sandstone.

Ayers Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

This is view of the Natural Bridge.

Cliff Swallows at Ayres Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

Cliff swallows were nesting on the underside of that natural bridge in Ayres Natural Bridge Park.

Ayres Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

This picture taken of the Natural Bridge was taken directly under it.

Red sandstone cliff that surround Ayers Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

This is another picture of the red sandstone cliffs that surround Ayres Natural Bridge Park.

Flowing water in Ayers Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming

This is the stream as it passes by the sheer red sandstone cliff in Ayres Natural Bridge Park.

Red sandstone canyon of Ayers Natural Bridge Park

Another picture of the stream and red sandstone cliff in Ayres Natural Bridge Park near Douglas, Wyoming.

Cliff swallows nesting on a cliff face in Ayers Natural Bridge Park Douglas, Wyoming

Hundreds if not thousands of cliff swallows were nesting on the cliffs in Ayers Natural Bridge Park.