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    Keen Mountain Park

    4.0 (1 review)

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    9 years ago

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    Natural Tunnel State Park - Cave signage

    Natural Tunnel State Park

    4.7(23 reviews)
    56.1 mi

    We were on a long road trip and looking for spots to stop, stretch our legs, and give the kids a…read morebreak from the car. This was the perfect stop! We loved riding the chair lift down to the tunnel and, wow, what an impressive sight! The river was beautiful and our kids loved wading in just a bit to cool off before heading back up the lift. The ranger service was wonderful with lots of tips and activities for the kids to do on small, manageable hikes. The kids also enjoyed playing on the train engine displayed near the parking lot. Definitely a great spot to visit even just to ride the lift down to the tunnel and back up!

    Clearly, this place is marketed to resemble Natural Bridge, Virginia's better known (and frankly,…read moremore impressive) attraction. The park here is set up with a number of camping facilities and trails that have a separate entrance, while the attraction itself is accessible by parking at a visitor center and either walking down a fairly steep trail or taking a (seasonal) chairlift. On the dreary day I visited, there was barely a soul in sight, but the park seemed to be setting up for a winter lights festival. The tunnel itself is used for a railroad line, and a viewing platform allows you to go to the edge of the tunnel but you can't actually go through it, which is disappointing. The trail downstream through the gorge is pleasant and worth a brief jaunt but it terminates quickly. Those seeking more of a hike will find the ridge trail that heads upwards worthwhile, and the views of the tunnel from above are probably at least as good as what you'd get walking up close to it. The local Lover's Leap is majestic (and horrifying, if you think about it). I did not think it one of the more impressive state parks in either Virginia or in the the confluence of states in this region, but there are some nice things to see.

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    Natural Tunnel State Park - View from the chairlift.

    View from the chairlift.

    Natural Tunnel State Park - Natural Tunnel

    Natural Tunnel

    Natural Tunnel State Park - Bolling Cave

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    Bolling Cave

    Breaks Interstate Park - The rushing waters of Russell Fork

    Breaks Interstate Park

    3.9(31 reviews)
    19.5 mi

    All my life, my family has been coming here for a special treat. So, when I returned to SW Virginia…read moreafter being away for a few decades, I certainly had to take my family for a visit. The mountains are just as beautiful as they have always been. Maybe a little worn down over the ages (ok, sometimes I just feel old). The overlooks are pretty fantastic. We went to the tunnel overlook. We went the "long" way. You can go to the second parking lot from the Visitor center for a much quicker hike, but it wasn't an epic journey through tunnels of mountain laurel and rhododendrons. Your choice for the jungle experience or the straight run. Once there, the views of the tower and tunnel were spectacular. We also stopped at the Lodge Restaurant for lunch. It was just an awesome, calming time. I really wish we had spent days instead of an afternoon. Maybe when I retire, we will stay longer in the fall. I had the club sandwich which was really good. The fries in it were just the way I like them: crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Waitress was good & prompt which checks all the boxes for me. DEFINITELY recommend this for a visit. Whatever your outdoor criteria is, this place will meet it.

    Wow, what a beautiful place!! Even the drive in is impressive! Stop by the Towers Overlook for an…read moreamazing view of the Breaks! The trails are well marked and well maintained. Believe them when they say they are strenuous, though! The Bottom of the Breaks Trail is stunning, but it's quite a trek! The lodge is set up hotel style, and the Dogwood Lodge is pet friendly! I saw an elk and so many deer! Hit all the overlooks, hike the trails, eat at the restaurant, and stay somewhere in this gorgeous park! There's a lake and nearby rivers if you are a boater or a paddler!

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    Breaks Interstate Park
    Breaks Interstate Park - Sunset at the Stateline Overlook

    Sunset at the Stateline Overlook

    Breaks Interstate Park

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    Grayson Highlands State Park - Friendly horse coming in for a sniff

    Grayson Highlands State Park

    4.7(38 reviews)
    47.5 mi

    We needed some time in the mountains. I had visited here before but mostly for shorter trails. This…read moretime we needed some Appalachian Trail in our lives. We did a couple of short trails but the monster was the Appalachian Trail to Mount Rogers Loop. It's logged at 14.3 miles but we ended up logging around 15.2 miles with various trips off trail to check out. The first part of this trail is fine. You walk through areas where some of the wild ponies hangout. Sometimes you can catch wild cattle too(which we did, but not until we were on our way out). The off trail to Mount Rogers is also fairly easy. If you're coming down from Mount Rogers and taking the loop around the mountain, make sure you have plenty of water and maybe some kind of snack for energy. There is a little section from mile 8-12 that almost put me down. It reminded me of a dehydration episode I had in Montana a few years ago. This time I had all the water I needed, but I'm so glad I had food for energy. There's a little section where you gain so much elevation in such a short amount of time... those types of sections always make my legs want to give up. I powered through with some breaks, but it'd help if that section were at the beginning instead of near the end. If I ever do that loop again, I'll take it counter-clockwise. Grayson Highlands is an amazing place that stands on its own in the area. The AT runs through it, but the ponies and cattle and any other animal you might run into make the place magical. Being at the top is also nice. You can see mountains and landscape for miles. It's also a decent place to camp in my opinion since it's so wide open. It can be a bit windy at the top, though. On our trail, there was a fair bit of downed trees, so be aware that you might have to climb, walk around, or whack your way through portions if any storms have rolled through. Watch the weather because it can change fast, but honestly, just prepare for it. You're going to have a unique experience, whether you have to battle fog early in the morning or once the sun comes out. We also hit a patch of drizzly rain, but it didn't last long. We were able to see it coming and adjust our speed to let it pass. Grayson is a state park, so it doesn't have all the amenities that a national park has, but it does connect to some national forests/parks, and it's a beautiful/well-maintained place. Good job Virginia for keeping this place pristine. I realize that not everyone seeks out the long trails. The good thing about Grayson is that there are various trails. You can find 2-5 mile trails, 5-9 mile trails, 10-15 mile trails, and I think there are 1 or 2 that are even longer! There's something for everyone here.

    What an incredible experience! I won't even comment on the pics because they speak for themselves!…read moreThis park has several hiking trails, some more challenging than others, mainly due to all the loose rock and gravel, but it made for a great workout on a gorgeous day! They also host overnight camping and are part of the Appalachian Trail as well. $10 to park isn't bad, but there wasn't an attendant when we first got there. I doubled back after we did the first trail so I wouldn't get fined or anything. We heard parking fills up fast so we got there early, but there were actually still plenty of spots by the time we were ready to leave in the early afternoon (we arrived at like 8am).

    Photos
    Grayson Highlands State Park - 2 horses kissing

    2 horses kissing

    Grayson Highlands State Park - Flowers!

    Flowers!

    Grayson Highlands State Park

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    Keen Mountain Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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