Virginia Coal Heritage Trail - Norton Loop through Wise & Lee Counties

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NORTON LOOP THROUGH WISE & LEE COUNTIES

This 68-mile loop travels from Norton through the communities of Appalachia, Pennington Gap and Big Stone Gap and travels a few backroads past old and new mining camps. The route also takes one past the Stone Face on the Mountain, Southwest Virginia Museum, Harry W. Meador Coal Museum, and numerous coal towns and monuments. Many of the roads are curvy, twisty with just a few hairpin turns . Some of the backroads are not heavily traveled which make this section ideal for motorcycles and those wanting a unique and interesting ride. Within the 68-mile loop, there are over 30 coal-related sites to see.

LEGEND:

Coal

Road Description

Recommendation

Confirmation Signs

Side Trip

PHOTO	COUNTY/TOWN	ROAD NAME	MILE	DIRECT	SIDE	DESCRIPTION
	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	0	West	Both	At the intersection of Hwy 58/23 (also called Norton-Coeburn Rd) and 58 Alt traveling on Hwy 58/23 west into Downtown Norton.
	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	0.1	West	Right	Confirmation sign - headed in right direction.
	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	0.4	West	Right	Stoplight with restaurant on side road to the right that follows railroad track
	Downtown Norton	Hwy 58/23	0.4 - 1.0	West	Both	Historic District with numerous restaurants, commercial buildings, gas station, offices, motel, shops, etc. .7 on the left is the Wise County Chamber of Commerce and a historic marker on Norton noting it as "the center of a butuminous coal region".


Hotel (above)

	Downtown Norton	Hwy 58/23	1.0	West	--	Intersection of 58/23 and turnoff to alternate 58. Recommendation: Need confirmation sign for scenic byway not crossed road indicating one should continue west on 58/23. Very confusing.
	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	1.4	--	--	Coke Bottling on the Left
--	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	1.5	--	--	Shopping mall and restaurant on the right - Kent Junction noted
--	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	1.6	--	Left	Community Hospital on the left
--	City of Norton	Hwy 58/23	1.9	--	Left	Gas station and car wash on left.
--	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	2	--	Right	Crooked Road sign and Scenic Byway signs confirming one is on the right road.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	2.4	--	--	Road description: Curvy 2-lane road with yellow center lane.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	2.7	--	Right	Railroad Bridge on left. Billboard on right.
--	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	3	--	--	Coke Building
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	3.2	--	Right	Appalachian Traditions Village also known as Country Cabin II.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	3.3	--	Left	Turn off to Historic Log House where the music first started before moving to its new location across the road at Appalachian Traditions Village also known as Country Cabin II.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	3.3 - 4.3	West	--	Scenic wooded area on both sides of road.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	4.5	West	Right	Elite Domestic Coal with sign indicating one can purchase coal for their homes at this site. Possible site for interpretative sign.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	4.6	--	Right	Coal Bucket Deli
--	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	4.6 - 5.0	--	--	Stream and railroad following Hwy 58/23
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	5	--	Both	Remains of a coal operation
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	5.5	--	Right	Central Drive-In- Still in operation

	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	--	--	--	Road description: Windy road with woods on both sides as one climbs a mountain.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	6.1	--	Right	Confirmation scenic byway sign
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	6.4	--	Left	Catfish Pond operation on the left. Needs improved signage. Looks like quite an operation. Just past turn off is a beautiful scenic view to one's left.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	6.6	--	Right	Rock outcropping on right as one rounds the mountain.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	7.1	--	--	New bridge crossing over the Powell River
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	7.4	--	--	Road description: Now climbing back down the mountain on a windy, curvy two lane road. Lots of Kudzu on both sides of the road. To the left, the Powell River and a railroad follows Business 23 from Norton all the way to the Town of Appalachia.
--	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	7.9	--	Left	Powell River Lumber Company on left.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	8.3	--	Right	Appalachian Elementary School on right.
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	8.6	--	Right	Coal conveyor across road - Coal operation Recommendation: excellent opportunity for interpretative sign with pull off
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	8.7	--	Left	Scenic View
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	9.3	--	Right	Billboard
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	9.5	--	Right	Billboard
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	9.81	--	Left	Billboard
	Wise	Bus. 23 Kent Junction	10.4	--	Right	Appalachia High School on right
	Wise	Bus.23	10.4	--	--	A vacant historic commercial building on left. If one pulls off side road on the left just after passing building, one has an excellent view of the old depot. Recommendation: Needs noted pull off and photo op at this location.
	Wise	Bus. 23	10.4	--	--	Close up of historic building.
	Wise	Bus. 23	10.4	--	--	Depot
	Wise Appalachia	Main Street Bus. 23	10.5	--	--	Entering the Town of Appalachia, a historic coal town - Welcome Sign on right
	Wise Appalachia	Main Street Bus. 23	10.6	--	--	Cross over "General Kirby?" Bridge a uniquely curved bridge
	Wise Appalachia	Main Street Bus. 23	10.7	--	--	Three way traffic light. Sign for ATV crossing. To the left, the old Town Hall is visible. Continuing forward through the light on Main Street (Hwy 58/23) into the Town of Appalachia.
	Wise Appalachia	Main Street Bus. 23	10.8	--	--	Entering downtown Appalachia, a historic coal town. A number of historic buildings. Chamber of Commerce & Town Hall on the left.
	Wise Appalachia	Main Street Bus. 23	11.2	--	--	Cross railroad bridge. 4-way traffic light.
	Wise Appalachia	Main Street Bus. 23	11.3	--	--	Gas station and Dollar Store and some industry.
--	Wise	HISTORY	--	--	--	History of Area: The Stonega Coke and Coal Company (SC&C) was formed in the late 1800s and nine coal camps were built near the town of Appalachia, VA. They included: Osaka (est. 1902), Imboden (est. 1902), Rod (est. 1903), Arno (est. 1907), Keokee (est. 1910), Exeter (est. 1917), Dunbar (est. 1918), and Derby (est. 1923). Some of these coal camps still exist today and can be seen as one travels this portion of the Virginia Coal Heritage Trail.
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	11.5	--	Turn Right	Turn right at light 68 - byway confirmation sign is there. Recommendation: Need a scenic byway sign saying "Turn Right" before one gets to the intersection to warn them to be ready to turn right.
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	11.6	--	--	Bridge and second confirmation byway sign
	Wise	68 Exeter Road	11.7	--	--	Bridge
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	12	--	Right	Conveyor on the right
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	12.2	--	--	Bridge over railroad. A few homes on both sides of the road.
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	--	--	Right	Railroad following road on the right
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	--	--	--	Road Description: road is two lane, curvy with a few homes. Railroad continues following road.
--	Wise Lower Imboden	68-Exeter Road	12.6	--	Right	Lower Imboden Street - turnoff to old coal town established in 1902. Railroad tracks run along side of community.
--	Wise Imboden	68-Exeter Road	13.3	--	Right	Imboden Road turns off to the right through the community of Imboden. As noted above, it is a part of a coal town estalished in 1902. The road then loops back and reenters Hwy 606.
--	Wise	68-Exeter Road	14.3	--	--	Railroad crossing
--	Wise	68-Exeter Road	14.5	--	Right	Meadow Branch Coal Company sign - turn off to the right. Active Coal site. Recommend: pull off to view
--	Wise	68-Exeter Road	15.4	--	--	Road Description: two lane curvy road with center yellow line
	Wise	68-Exeter Road	16	--	Right	Side Trip: Lick Branch Road to the right takes one down to an old coal camp known as Lower Exeter with many of the row houses still in use today.

	Wise Exeter	68-Exeter Road	--	--	Left	Continuing on 606/68, one comes to the Community of Exeter. Turning on Upper Exeter Road, one travels on a 1 mile loop through Exeter, a coal camp established in 1917 in which the homes are still in use today. The route comes out back on 606/68 about 1 mile down the road.

	Wise	68-Exeter Road	--	--	--	Road description: curvy with woods on both sides. This is a great loop for motorcycles to take.
	Lee	606/68-Keokee Road	18	--	Left	Crossing into Lee County - small green sign to the left. Hwy 68 is also known as Hwy 606.
	Lee	606/68-Keokee Road	18.2	--	Right	Confirmation byway sign to the right.
	Lee	606/68-Keokee Road	--	--	Right	To the right is a turn off to access Keokee Mine - an active mining site. Continue straight on Hwy 68 which is often know and Keokee Road.
	Lee	606/68-Keokee Road	--	--	Right	Road Description: Curvy, winding roads with periodic views of Keokee Mining Operation on the right.
	Lee	606/68-Keokee Road	19.8	--	Side Trip	There is a noted turn off to the left for Keokee Boat Ramp and Wildlife Area which includes port-a-johns and picnic area. Continue straight on Hwy 606/58 towards the community of Keokee for which the road is named.
	Lee	--	20.1	--	Left	Railroad following road on the left.
	Lee Keokee	--	20.2	--	--	Entering the community of Keokee, a historic coal town. Residential area starts.
	Lee Keokee	--	20.8	--	--	Kelly's Convenience Store
	Lee Keokee	--	20.9	--	--	Next door to Kelly's is a large historic rock building which was once a theater attended by many.
	Lee Keokee	--	21	--	Left	Keokee Post Office
	Lee Keokee	--	21.1	--	Left	Keokee Elementary School on the left
	Lee Keokee	--	21.2	--	Left	Old Commissary for the Keokee Coal Camp has now been converted into a gymnasium. Need interpretive sign and possibly a photo what it once looked like years ago.
	Lee Keokee	--	21.7	--	--	Extremely sharp hairpin turn which comes around to an old gas station/convenience store. Older home (green) located across the street. Recommendation: needs to be signage letting people know there is a hairpin turn up ahead.
	Lee	--	--	--	--	Road Description: Road narrows. No centerline. Very curvy with a series of hairpin turns. These too need to be marked with signage to let people know that they are coming up. But this is a great road for motorcycles.
	Lee	--	22.5	--	Both	Missionary church and older homes
	Lee	--	--	--	--	Road Description: Road widens and yellow center line starts
	Lee	--	23.3	--	Right	Turn off to Sigmon Communty nearly covered with vines.
--			23.9			Railroad on left following road.
			24.3			Railroad crosses Hwy 606
			24.4		Right	Entrance to Sigmon Coal Company an active mine site.
	Lee	--	26.6	--	--	Right before hill, there is a byway sign confirmed one is headed the right direction
--	Lee	--	--	--	--	Road description: curvy road. wooded on both sides. Yellow Center line.
	Lee	--	28	--	Right	Robbins Chapel on right
	Lee	--	28.2	--	Right	Vista view at Thomas Hollow
	Lee	--	29.5	--	--	Vista view straight ahead
	Lee	--	29.7-30.4	--	--	A few residential homes here.
	Lee	--	30.5	--	Straight	Vista view straight ahead.
	Lee	--	30.7	--	--	Bridge over North Fork of Powell River
	Lee	--	31	--	Left	Remnants of coal processing
	Lee	--	31.1	--	--	Railroad bridge crosses road
	Lee	--	31.8	--	Right	Scenic view of N. Fork of Powell River with small waterfall - small pull off. Recommendation: Needs wildlife viewing and photo op signs and possible picnic table.
	Lee	--	32.1	--	Right	Church on the right
--	Lee	--	32.3	--	--	Bridge crossing over creek
	Lee	--	33.2	--	Right	Pedestrian foot bridge crossing N. Fork of Powell River
	Lee	--	33.5	--	--	Railroad crossing
	Lee	--	33.6	--	--	Road Description: Road curvy with yellow outline. Railroad follows road on the left.
	Lee	--	33.7	--	--	Railroad bridge over road
	Lee	--	34	--	--	Coal operation now converted into a Recycling Plant. Remains of Turner Coal operation still visible.
	Lee	--	34.4	--	--	Creek flows on the left side of the road and the railroad runs along the right side. A few residences.
	Lee	--	34.5	--	Turn Left	Intersection of Hwy 421. Turn left towards Pennington Gap (right takes one to Harlan Kentucky)
	Lee	--	34.6	--	--	Confirmation byway sign as one turns left. Please note: there is also a confirmation byway sign to one's right leading towards the mining community of St. Charles. This is very confusing to the traveler. Recommendation: it is suggested that a sign be erected prior to the intersection stating main trail goes left with side trip to St. Charles to the right.
	Lee	--	--	0	Side Trip	Turn right on Hwy 421 towards Harlan KY
--	Lee	Hwy 421	--	0.5-1.2	Both	Nice homes - road follows creek
	Lee	Hwy 421	--	1.2	Left	Gas station on the left
	Lee	Hwy 421	--	1.3	--	One crosses a bridge
	Lee	Hwy 421	--	--	Left	Billboard
	Lee	Hwy 421 then turn right on to Hwy 352	--	1.4	Turn Right	The trail takes a sharp right onto Hwy 352/St. Charles Road. A gas station and convenience store is on the corner. Confusion starts here. If one stays straight on Hwy 421, there is a second byway sign just past the 352/421 intersection on the other side of the gas station indicating one should continue straight ahead but after talking with others, this is a future route to connect the VA Coal Heritage Trail to a future KY Coal Heritage Trail creating a three-state trail system. Recommendation: Move this sign to a location before the turnoff to 352 and add a right turn arrow at its base indicating one should get ready to turn right. In its place, one might add "Connector route to future Kentucky Coal Heritage Trail" ending any confusion.
	Lee	Hwy 352	--	--	Right	Upon turning right onto Hwy 352, a sign states St. Charles is 3 miles down the road. There is also byway sign confirming one is headed in the right direction.
	Lee	Hwy 421	--	1.6	Right	Hwy 421 follows creek. There are a few residential homes on the right between 606/421 intersection and Pennington Gap.
	Lee	--	--	--	--	Railroad runs behinds the homes and across the creek.
	Lee	--	--	--	--	Railroad crossing across road and over creek again.
--	Lee	--	--	1.8	--	Residential homes
	Lee	--	--	--	--	Road description: two lane road with yellow center line. Very scenic.
	Lee	--	--	--	--	Wagnor town on left
	Lee	--	--	--	Left	Railroad runds on the left side of the road.
	Lee	--	--	2.1	Right	Entering the town of St. Charles. St. Charles school is on the right. Very small coal mining community.
	Lee St. Charles	--	--	2.6	--	Entering downtown - very small community with only a few businesses remaining including the post office and United Mine Workers' building.
	Lee	--	--	--	Turn Left	Instead of going into downtown, turn left onto Bonny Blue Road and cross over railroad tracks. Recommendation: There needs to be a byway sign directing people to take this road.
	Lee	--	--	3.6	--	Continue driving this route. JAD Coal Company to the left. Recommendation: Needs interpretive sign. On up the hill to the right there appears to be an active mine site noted as JED Inc.
	Lee	--	--	3.8	--	Continue driving this route. A piece of equipment remains from the mine camp. It is still visible on the left. Needs interpretive sign. Blanton Coal Tipple
--	Lee	--	--	4.0	--	Continuing forward on Bonny Blue Road deadends at the gated entrance to ICG. Recommendation: An interpretive sign could be added here. Otherwise one might suggest turning around at the ruins.
--	Lee	Hwy 352 back to 421	--	--	Turn Around	Turn around and drive back across the railroad tracks, turn right at St. Charles getting back on Hwy 352 towards Hwy 421 to the intersection of 421 and 606/68 where one picks back up on the VA Coal Heritage Trail headed towards Pennington Gap.

	When one gets back to Hwy 421, they have two choices: turn left (south) on Hwy 421 towards Pennington Gap or right (north) on Hwy 421 towards Harlan and the Kentucky State Line as noted in the photo.
	Turning north on Hwy 421, there is an immediate confirmation sign that one is still on the Virginia Coal Heritage Trail and there is something to see up ahead. The fact is, this is a route that will one day connect with the West Virginia Coal Heritage Trail.
	It is very scenic albeit a lot of Kudzu in sections.
	A few residential homes.
	Some nice views.
	At the state line there is the 421 market which has been in operation for many many years.
	Recommendation: It shoud be noted at the intersection of Hwys 421 and 352 that this is a "Future" connection to the Kentucky Coal Heritage Trail once it is developed.

Lee	Hwy 421	34.7	--	--	Continuing on Hwy 421 towards Pennington Gap
Lee	Hwy 421	34.9	--	Left	Billboard. View of river on the left.
Lee	Hwy 421	35.1	--	--	Billboard. Road continues to follow river.
Lee	Hwy 421	35.2	--	--	Road description: Curvy scenic drive
Lee	Hwy 421	35.6	--	Left	Stoneface Mart on left. No longer in operation but a great viewing location to stop and take photos of the Stoneface seemingly carved in the mountain. Recommendation: Need sign indicating photo op stop.
Lee	Hwy 421	35.7	--	Right Lookup
Lee	Hwy 421	36	--	--	Residential area of Pennington Gap. Nice homes with large well maintained yards set back from road.
Lee	Hwy 421		--	--	Road description: Two lane with yellow centerline. Road follows the river.
Lee	Hwy 421	36.3	--	Right	Gas station and convenience store (Fasmart) on the right
Lee	Hwy 421	36.4	--	Left	Billboard on the left
		36.5	--	Left	Junk Store
Lee	Hwy 421	36.6	--	Right	Welcome sign to Pennington Gap. Cross over KY Street.
Lee	58A	37.3	--	Turn Left	Light at corner of 421/58. Turn left onto Hwy 58
Lee	58A	37.5	--	Both	Fast food, car dealers, banks, gas, motel, pharmacy, and Riverbend Shopping Center.
Lee	58A	37.6	--		Intersection with light. Turn off to 421 on right.
Lee	58A	37.7	--		Crossbridge staying
Lee	58A	37.8	--	Right	Confirmation Byway sign
Lee	58A	38.1	--	Right	Feed store & billboard.
Lee Pennington Gap	58A	38.3	--	--	Road divides
Lee	58A	38.6	--	Right	On the right is Patio Drive In & some commercial buildings
Lee	58A	40.4	--	Right	Turn off for Cave Springs sign
Lee	58A/Veterans Memorial Hwy	40.6	--	--	Cross Joe Cox Bridge
Lee	58A/Veterans Memorial Hwy	40.8	--	Left	Turn off to the community of Dryden which is located along Old Hwy 58. Consideration might be made to encourage travelers to take the old highway except that, other than a cemetery on the left, there was not very much to see. Consideration for adding an interpretive sign describing this town might encourage more traffic and justification for reopening one of the two convenience stores now closed.
Lee	58A/Veterans Memorial Hwy	40.9	--	Right	Sign noting this section of 58A as being Veterans Memorial Highway
Lee	58A/Veterans Memorial Hwy	43.5	--	--	Cross Dr. Daniel Reasor Bridge - boat ramp access to the Powell River is noted
Lee	58A/Veterans Memorial Hwy	43.7	--	--	Post office for Dryden
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	45	--	--	Scenic Vista. Highway divides with grass median.
Lee	58A/Veterans Memorial Hwy	45.4	--	--	Scenic Vista
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	45.7	--	Right	Byway sign confirming one is still on the VA Coal Heritage Trail
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	45.9	--	Right	Barbara's Gift Shop (may or may not still be open)
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	46.5	--	--	Scenic farmland and vistas
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	47	--	--	Scenic farms and horses
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	48.1	--	Left	Turnoff of Cave Springs and Orlinger
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	49.7	--	--	Scenic Vistas
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	50.3	--	Left	Antique Shop at top of the hill to the left called the country porch. Must pass it and come back the other direction to reach it but well worth the time.
Lee	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	51.5	--	Straight ahead	Road Description: Divided highway with grass median and double lane. Breathtaking vistas.
Lee/Wise	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	52.1	--	--	Lee/Wise County Line - Hwy 58A also known as Pennington Gap Hwy.
Wise	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	52.2	--	--	Scenic byway confirmation sign
Wise	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	52.3	--	--	Road Description: Road tightens to 2 lanes with yellow center line. Noted as Veterans Highway/Wise County Welcome Sign.
Wise	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	53.8	--	--	Two billboards on the right and left
Wise	58A/Pennington Gap Hwy	54.3	--	--	Billboard
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Cumberland Ave W	--	--	--	Road Description: coming into Big Stone Gap, Pennington Gap Hwy (58A) changes names to Cumberland Ave. W then changes its name again to Wood Ave. W as it comes into the downtown area of Big Stone Gap.
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Cumberland Ave. W	54.5	--	Right	Birthplace of Governor Holton
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Cumberland Ave W	54.6	--	Right	Old bank converted to small grocery
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Cumberland Ave W	54.6	--	Right	Jesse's RV Park on the right
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Cumberland Ave W	54.6	--	--	Billboards
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Cumberland Ave W	55.2	--	Both	Gas, restaurant, KFC, car wash, commercial mixed with residential
Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Wood Ave W	55.4	--	Left	Southwest VA Museum Historic State Park - excellent interactive coal display. Also a noted stop on the Crooked Road Music Trail.

--	Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Wood Ave W	--	--	--	Recommendation: after leaving the museum, one should turn left on W1st Street North and loop around the museum through the residential area where there are many beautiful historic homes. A brochure could be created and handed out at the museum. An interpretive sign along the route would provide an oportunity to tell a little on the history and ages of the homes and about the tornado that came through that nearly destroyed many of the homes and uprooted numerous large trees.
	Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Wood Ave W	55.4	--	--	Back on 58A/Wood Ave. in downtown Big Stone Gap, continue heading east through town.
--	Wise Big Stone Gap	58A/Wood Ave W	55.5	--	Both	Residential area
	Wise Big Stone Gap	E. 1st Street N	55.6	--	Turn Left	Turn left onto E. 1st Street N then right (east) on Shawnee Ave.E. The home of John Fox, Jr. writer of the book, "Lonesome Pines' based on past happenings at Big Stone Gap and the basis for the outdoor drama, Trail of the Lonesome Pine.
	Wise Big Stone Gap	Shawnee Ave.	55.7	--	Left	Continue east on Shawnee Ave., to Harry W. Meador Coal Museum on one's left.

--	Wise Big Stone Gap	Shawnee Ave.	55.9	--	Turn Right	Continue east on Shawnee Ave. east two blocks to the stoplight. Turn right onto Business 23, also known as East 5th St.
--	Wise Big Stone Gap	Business 23/E. 5th Street	60	--	Straight	Go up one block on Bus 23/E. 5th Street, through the traffic light, crossing over Wood Ave., E, also known as 58A
	Wise Big Stone Gap	Business 23/E. 5th Street	60.1	--	Right	To the right is a memorial to the Coal Miner
--	Wise Big Stone Gap	Business 23/E. 5th Street	60.3	--	Straight	Continue heading east on Business 23/E. 5th Street
--	Wise Big Stone Gap	Clinton Ave.	60.4	--	Turn Left	Worthwhile Side Trip: At the next street, turn left onto Clinton Ave. East and travel one block.
---	Wise Big Stone Gap	Clinton Ave.	60.4	--	Left	Historical Society and museum is on your left in a white house.
	Wise Big Stone Gap	Clinton Ave.	60.5	--	Right	Just up the road and to your right is the Lonesome Pines Playhouse, longest running outdoor drama in Virginia having performed for over 40 years.
	Wise Big Stone Gap	Clinton Ave.	60.5	--	Right	Next door is June Tolliver's home, museum and gift shop
	Wise	Bus. 23/Gilley Avenue	60.5		Left	Back on E. 5th Street, continue two blocks to traffic light. Turn left onto Gilley Ave. E/Bus 23
	Wise	E. Jerome St.	60.6	--	Right	As one rounds the corner, the old school house is to one's right. Next door is the site of a new tourism facility being built.
	WiseBus. 23/Gilley Avenue	Bus. 23/Gilley Avenue	60.7		Left	Go one block. To the left is the Interstate Railroad Car 101 which serves as a tourist information center for Big Stone Gap.
	Wise	Gilley Ave.	60.7		Left	In front of the Rail Car is a display for the Crooked Road Music Trail
	Wise	Bus. 23/Gilley Avenue	61			Continue east on Gilley Ave.E/Business 23 crossing the south fork of the Powell River
	Wise	Bus. 23/Gilley Avenue	62		Both	Some commerical businesses on both sides of the road.
	Wise	Bus. 23/Gilley Avenue	63		Left	Climb mountain for a short distance on curvy road reaching the intersection of 58A/23. Turn left on 58A/23 headed northeast toward Norton, VA
	Wise	58A/23/Orby Cantrell Highway			Right	Noted as Orby Cantrell Highway
	Wise	58A/23	--	--	Right	Billboard
	Wise	58A/23	64			Scenic Vista
	Wise	58A/23				Scenic Overlook
	Wise	58A/23				Billboard
	City of Norton	58A/23	65.4		Right	Norton City Limit & Billboard
	City of Norton	58A/23	66.3		Right	Exit 1 - Bus 58 takes one to downtown Norton
	City of Norton	58A/Veteran's Hwy	66.5		Right	Sign noting it as Veterans Highway. Need byway sign to let people know to exit to continue the coal trail.
	City of Norton	58A/Veterans Highway	67.5		Turn Right	Exit 2. Hotels, gas station, motels, fast-food, shopping mall. At this point, one has a choice of turning right on Bus 23 through downton Norton or left towards St. Paul. Both directions are part of the Virginia Coal Heritage Trail. Recommendation: have travelers turn off of 58A at exit 1 and take Business 58A at Exit 1 and take Business 58 to Downtown Norton which would enourage people to travel through the downtown area before continuing forward along Business 23 east towards St. Paul.
	Norton			East		Alternative Route through downtown Norton
	Norton	58A/23 Connector Road		East		Alternative Route: Exit Alt. 58 at Exit 1. Connector to Business 23. (Need scenic byway sign directing one to get off at Exit 1)
	Norton	58A/23 Connector Road		East	Left	Turn left onto Business 58 (need scenic byway sign direction one to left)
	City of Norton	Business 23/Main		East	Left	Turn left and cross over bridge which intersections with Business 23
	Norton	Business 23/Main		East	Right	Turn right (east) and go through Downtown Norton (hotels, restaurants, chamber of commerce, historic building)
	City of Norton	Business 23/Main		East	Straight	Continue on Bus. 23 east through downtown Norton and cross under 58A
	City of Norton	58A/Norton-Coeburn Road		East	Straight	Pick up scenic byway at Norton Exit 2 and continue on tour by taking 58A east towards Coeburn

WMTH CORPORATION P.O. BOX 51153 BOWLING GREEN, KY 42102 PHONE (270) 792-5300
WMTH Corporation is a certified DBE.