Breaks Interstate Park – “Grand Canyon of the South”, was created in 1954 by joint action of the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures encompassing 4,500 acres of green woodlands and sky scraping mountain scenery.  Outdoor recreation abounds within the park – swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, unusual geological formations, hidden springs, caves, horseback riding, lodge, fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, wildlife & bird viewing and much more. For more information about the Appalachian Plateau, click here.

Coal Heritage Trail – winds its way through Buchanan County, one of Virginia’s leading coal counties.  Provides the self-guided visitor a view of this vital industry.  Has active and worked-out mines of various types: golf course on reclaimed strip mine, coal coking plant, coal preparation plants and coal-hauling railroad.  Passes through communities of Whitewood, Compton Mountain, Patterson, Dismal River, Vansant, Grundy, Slate Creek, Roseann, Hurley, Big Rock, Harman and the Breaks then moves on to other counties. The route is 325 miles and was designated by the Virginia General Assembly in 2007 as an official Virginia Byway.

Grundy – mural that portrays the area’s history of hunting, farming, timbering, coalmining, natural gas production, recreation and more from pioneer days to the present.  Mural is located on the exterior of a food store at Vansant and is visible from US 460.

Buchanan County hosts three sites with six adjoining sites in neighboring Dickenson County. The trails are a part of the 340 sites that make up the Mountain Area of the state's SW Virginia trail system. The trails in Buchanan County consist of Compton Mtn./Horn Mtn., Poplar Gap/Sunset Hollow and the Breaks Interstate Park which is shared with Dickenson County - Pine Loop. Compton Mountain, Poplar Gap Park and Breaks Interstate Park are prime areas for bird watching.  Buchanan County has 170 species or birds that can be found in its forested mountains or grassed over strip mines.  The county also has black bear, coyote, deer, bobcat, fox, a variety of other small mammals and a variety of snakes and reptiles.

Leading birdwatchers in the Breaks Interstate Park and Horn Mountain.

Poplar Gap Park/Fairgrounds – located on reclaimed mountaintop property.  Offers an unusual children’s playground with a large pirate’s ship, Noah’s ark, train, tractor, jeep, castle, airplane and life-size playhouse.  Gym, horse ring, athletic fields, picnic shelters and office/concession stand.  Horse shows and county fair are held here. 

Verner Blankenship Park – Hurley.  Community center, covered stage, playground, picnic shelters, community gym and athletic fields.

Keen Mountain Park – Rt. 801 on Keen Mountain.  Accessed by both Dismal River and Levisa River.  Covered stage, restrooms, golf driving range, baseball field, women’s softball field, playground and picnic shelters.

Enochs Branch Recreation Field – Off Rt. 83 mountaintop.  Athletic fields, large picnic shelters, restrooms, playground equipment.

Lonesome Pine Trail Riders ATV Club

Whitewater Kayaking and Rafting – Class II-V rapids on Russell Fork.  Russell Fork is a mountain stream rising in Buchanan County and gathering the waters from two other rivers before flowing through Breaks Canyon.  Waters are released seasonally from Flannagan Reservoir to flow into Russell Fork creating the world class whitewater rapids each October that draws enthusiasts from all over the country.

Coalfield Motorcycle Riders – non-profit group enjoys recreational rides and poker runs to raise money for various charities.

ABATE Motocycle Club - (276) 935-5812.

Hunting

(fall) whitetail deer, black bear, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and dove.  (spring) gobbler turkey season.

Clubs:

• Big Buchanan Hunting Club (276) 498-4966
• Dismal River Hunt Club (276) 259-6073
• Knox Creek Hunt Club (276) 566-8209
• Wild Turkey Federation (276) 498-4524.

Fishing

Dismal River rates as Buchanan’s top trout stream.  Levisa River produces trophy size small bass and the Russell Fork rates as a good small bass stream.  These streams can be waded or floated in small boats.  Bass boats and jet skis can be used on nearby Flannagan Reservoir. Click here for more information.

Biking

Grundy: 3 mile hike and bike trail.  Breaks Interstate Park:  12 mile well groomed, single track mountain bike trail. Jewell Valley:  6 mile hike and bike trail.  Coast-to-Coast:  Trans America Bike Route follows Hwy 80.

Club: Appalachian Cycling Association (276) 935-5352.

For more information on biking and mountain biking trails, click here.

Hiking

Numerous places to hike in Buchanan County.  There are several parks in Grundy with walking & hiking trails.  Breaks Interstate Park has 16 hiking trails that cover over 25 miles of terrain with varying degrees of difficulty. For more information about hiking trails, click here.

Homecooked meals, fresh salad, homemade pies. Catering, banquet room. Open 7 days a week 6 am - 10:30 pm.

Espresso, coffee, pastries, and much more.

Pizza, Subs, salads, and dinners.

Lodging and dining room.

Clean hotel offers in-room coffee makers, full size irons and ironing boards, clock radios, hair dryers, refrigerators and microwaves and 25-inch remote control televisions with cable and free HBO.

16 single/double units available. Gift shop and sporting shop adjacent to motel. Numerous restaurants nearby.

This festival is a celebration of life in the coalfields of Southwest VA. There will be driving tours along the Coal Heritage Trail, storytelling at the local library, quilting, arts & crafts, music, birding, owling, agriculture and mining related displays and classes, wood carving, herbs, flower walks, local farm products, a blacksmith, foods and much more. Information, maps, and many events will be centered on the Appalachian School of Law campus in Grundy.

Crosses up to eight mountains with both a 100-mile route and a 60-mile route.