What do you think of when you think of state parks? Most of us just think of a boring picnic spot. I can promise you that since my first visit here during a summer program field trip, this is more than just any old picnic spot.

According to onlyinyourstate.com, Natural Bridge State Park is a 120-acre underrated park in North Adams where visitors can discover the only naturally formed white marble bridge in North America.

This park was once the site of a commercial white marble quarry that operated from 1810 to 1947. To preserve the unique geological features found here, it was declared a state park in 1985.

A short 0.3-mile hike will take you to the natural bridge for which this park is named. There are stairs leading up to it for a more personal, up-close look, but be aware of any temporary closures for repairs, according to Mass.gov.

A little history: Over 13,000 years ago, glacial meltwater eroded 550 million year old marble rock to create this natural bridge, which is considered a wonder of both nature and geology. We’re talking over 15 feet thick here, as this impressive bridge spans 30 feet over Hudson Brook, which is located in a steep 60-foot deep gorge. That’s pretty impressive if you ask me.

In the park, visitors can also tour the abandoned marble quarry and see a man-made dam made of white marble. Like the natural bridge, this dam is the only one of its kind in North America. The perfect summer destination and the best educational location for any summer program.

Information and opening hours of the park can be found here.