Birding and Wildlife Trails in Buchanan County- 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. These sites are part of the Lonesome Pine Loop. Each site provides mountaintop birding year round as well as Spring and Fall Migrants. These sites and the area between each are prime locations for migrating warblers as well as many other species.
Grundy, VA 24614 (276) 935-6500 or 259-7636
DICKENSON
Birch Knob Tower
P.O. Box 1990, Birch Knob Drive, Clintwood, VA 24228 (276) 926-6074
Sitting on a rock outcrop at the highest summit of Pine Mountain, the view from up there can allow one to see Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. On a clear day, it is also possible to see Ohio. The area provides access to Pine Mountain Trail.
Cumberland Mountain View Drive - This 19-mile back roads excursion begins five miles south of the Breaks Interstate Park. The drive connects the park to the town of Clintwood, VA. The drive offers attractions like Blowing Rock, a farm, a wildlife farm, caving, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, whitewater rafting and primitive camping. VA 80, Breaks, VA 24607 (276) 865-4413.
CITY OF NORTON
Flag Rock Recreation Area - From the City of Norton, Flag Rock can be seen as a rock outcrop capped with an American Flag, thus the name "Flag Rock". The recreation site sits over 1,000 feet above the City's elevation of 2,350 ft. The site offers twenty-five acres of recreation area with spectacular views, hiking trails, a fishing area, playground equipment and 18 camping slots. Bath houses have hot and cold water. Two large shelters and several smaller ones are available for picnicking. There are over 50 picnic tables with grills. Primitive camping is also available.
618 Virginia Ave., Norton, VA 24273 (276) 679-0754
Legion Park - This park is on the site of the old American Legion Hall. It features a picnic shelter and access to a 30 yard interpretive trail with kiosks, giving information on local history and various regional tourist attractions. The park also contains picnic tables and grills and a water fountain. The shelter at the park is available by reservations only for groups. Legion Park is designated as a offical Birding Trail site. Rt. 619 - High Knob Road, Norton, VA 24273. (276) 679-0754.
RUSSELL
Oxbow Lake - This fishing lake is for non-motorized boats(Only)and is equipped with one boat ramp. Beautiful scenery and wildlife viewing for all ages.
16345 Bush Drive, St. Paul, VA 24283 (276) 762-5297
Trans-America Bike Route - This bike route follows Rt. 80 through Dickenson and Russell Counties. Route 80 can be accessed from Saltville (Smyth County) or at Elk Garden off US Hwy. 19. Lebanon, KY 24266 (276) 762-0011
TAZEWELL
Burke's Garden Rt 624, Tazewell, VA 24651
Sometimes referred to as "God's Thumbprint" because of its view from the air, this mountain-ringed bowl is 10 miles in diameter and filled with some of the most fertile farmland in the state. The area, which is the highest mountain valley in Virginia, was designated a National and Virginia Rural Historical District. The community can be viewed from the Appalachian Trail or by car from state route 623. Visitors can buy baked goods and vegetables, bike on area roads, hike and hunt in nearby Jefferson National Forest. First discovered in the 1740's by James Burke while hunting in the area. The name "Burke's Garden" was given to the valley as a joke in 1748 after Burke planted potato peelings by the campfire of a 1748 surveying party. (800) 588-9401
Sandy Head Ostrich Farm - Rt 61, Tazewell, VA 24651
(276) 988-9090
Features ratites (ostrich and emus), birds, and llamas where you can tour and purchase ostrich leather products, ostrich oil soap, and ostrich meat to take home. Also, offers u-pick flowers and vegetables and picnic facilities.
Thistle Cove Farm 261 Cove Road, Tazewell, VA 24651
(276) 988-4121
an official VA Birding & Wildlife Trail site. Golden eagles, goldfinches, red-wing blackburds, bluebirds, indigo buntings, black bear, coyote, deer & many other forms of wildlife have been spotted in our valley. The Cove is a beloved location of hikers, bicyclists, birders & lovers of scenic vistas. ~Lassie~ was filmed here & the 7th & 8th generations of the original Anglo settlers still farm original land grant farms.
WISE
Bark Camp Lake Trails & Recreation Area
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (540) 328-2931
Lake Shore Trail is 3.25 miles and Kitchen Rock Trail is 0.5 mile located in the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest. The camp offers 25 camping units with tent pad, picnic table and parking spur near 60 acre warm water lake which provides opportunities for fishing and boating (electric motors only). Paved boat launching ramp, hiking trails and picnic units with tables and grills are also features of the site.The lake was constructed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and is stocked with northern pike, bass, blue gill, rainbow trout and catfish.
Bullitt Park
103 Shawnee Ave., Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
(276) 523-0115
Bullitt Park is the largest of nine community parks operated by the Big Stone Gap Department of Parks and Recreation. The park includes a football field, tennis courts, fitness and biking trails, large playground, picnic areas, pavilions and a track. Serving as a park since 1935, it is the site for many community activities such as singing conventions, band festivals and craft shows.
Chief Benge Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
18.7 mile trail for seasoned hikers through beautiful Jefferson National Forest lands.
Counts Cabin Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (540) 328-2931
The Counts Cabin trail, located in Dickenson County, is an 1.8 miles long trail in the Jefferson National Forest.
Dan Hall Mountain Country Club
5560 Dan Hall Mountain Road, Coeburn, VA 24230 (276) 395-2487
Located in the Mountains of Southwest Virginia, this 10 bedroom lodge offers breathtaking views. Enjoy a 1-3 hour guided scenic horseback ride or play the 9-hole golf course
Devil's Bathtub & Waterfall
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
Hikers can see the stream racing down a rock chute, swirl through the tub and race downstream.
George Washington & Jefferson National Forest: Clinch Ranger District
Rt 646, 9416 Darden Drive, Wise VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
Multple trails available throughout the forest. Contact them for detailed information.
Guest River Gorge Trail 9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
Rails to trails project that follows an old railroad right of way paralleling the Guest River, a Virginia Scenic River. Trout fishing is permitted in the river, as well as kayacking and canoeing. The history of the Gorge shows that millions of years ago the Guest River eroded a passage through Stone Mountain on its way to join the Clinch River. Cutting through massive rock, it opened a deep rock corridor that is a scenic wonder.
Hanging Rock Picnic Area
9419 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (540) 328-2931
The Little Stony National Recreation Trail, also in the area, is a lovely 2.8 mile hike.Hanging Rock Picnic area is located beside Little Stony Creek in a hardwood forest with rhododendron and hemlocks. Huge rock cliffs along the creek and the sound of rushing water add to the natural beauty of the area.
Heart of Appalachia Bike Route & Scenic Drive
Jefferson National Forest, Clinch Ranger District, Wise, VA 24293 (540) 328-2931
This 125 mile (with 40 miles of side trails) backroad and back country biking excursion. This route offers backroads, rails to trails, single track, historic sites, a natural preserve area, wilderness area, Amish general store, a pub, a swinging bridge, three scenic rivers, farms and coal country, and gorgeous views in Virginia's least crowded, friendliest region, the far southwestern counties of Tazewell, Bland, Russell, and Wise.
High Knob Lake Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
1.3-mile trail leads to High Knob Lake at the recreation area.
High Knob Observation Tower 9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931. High Knob Observation Tower, at an elevation of 4,162 feet, offers a spectacular panoramic view of the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina. The octagonal tower, built in a clearing atop the mountain, has a fieldstone base level and two wooden levels circled by observation decks. Mountain ranges in the distance are visible for miles. Two trails are marked with yellow paint at the tower entrance. A 1.3 mile trail leads to High Knob Lake at the Recreation Area. Or for the more adventuresome, a 19.2 mile trail leads Hanging Rock Recreational area on the Mountain Fork Trail.
Lake Keokee
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
This 92 Acre lake, surrounded by a lovely wooded area, may be used for fishing or boating. The lake features a paved boat launching ramp, four picnic units with tables and grills, and a 3.7 mile lakeshore loop trail that provides access for shore fishing and wildlife walking. The lake is home to bass, sunfish, tiger, catfish, muskie and a variety of other fish and wildlife. Lake Keokee Loop Trail is a 3.7 mile trail around the 92 acre lake can be used for hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching.
North Fork of Pound Reservoir
Rt 1, Pound, VA 24279 (276) 796-5775
Most of the developed recreation sites are managed by the Jefferson National Forest. Fish population in the lake includes, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish. The lake is stocked by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Cane Patch campground is the center of the recreation activity on the lake. It has 33 camping sites with restrooms, showers and playground equipment. The Laurel Fork campgrounds provide a more primitive atmosphere for campers and is only accessible by boat.
Phillips Creek Loop Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
There are stops on the trail, the first in a wildlife clearing for deer, turkey, and other wild game. Next you will pass an old homestead, traces of the house may still be found. There is a White Pine stand that was planted in the 1950s. At the next stop there is a very pretty waterfall along a high snadstone cliff.
Pound Boat Launch at North Fork Pound Lake
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
Picnicking nearby at the overlook.
Red Fox Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
This historical trail is an interpretive hike back to 1892, when a massacre at the site left several people dead.
Straight Fork Ridge Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
Accessed via the Devil's Bathtub Loop Trail, this 2-mile trail has many scenic vistas overlooking the mountain.
Wallen Ridge Trail
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293 (276) 328-2931
6.9 miles which run along top of Wallen Ridge from Lovelady Gap to an area just West of Mountain Empire Community College.
WMTH CORPORATION PO BOX 51153 BOWLING GREEN, KY 42102 PHONE (270) 792-5300 FAX 721-0004
