Trip Ideas & Travel Guides for Southwest Virginia
Not sure where to start? These trip ideas and travel guides cover all eight localities of the Heart of Appalachia: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise Counties, plus the City of Norton.
Chase the seven stops on the HOA Waterfall Trail. Time a sunrise from High Knob Tower, atop the highest point in the Cumberland Mountains at over 4,200 feet. Watch Virginia’s elk herd, now more than 250 strong, at The Breaks at Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure Area. Paddle the Clinch River, the most biodiverse river in North America. Or catch Saturday night fiddle tunes on The Crooked Road.
Whether you have a weekend or a week, these are doable adventures, open to all. The Best of Virginia’s West.
The Heart of Appalachia spans seven Southwest Virginia counties plus the City of Norton, where outdoor adventure, preserved landscapes, and authentic mountain culture come together.
Discover easy hiking trails across Southwest Virginia perfect for beginners and families. From riverside walks to scenic rail trails, these beginner-friendly hikes in the Heart of Appalachia are doable for all fitness levels and ages.
Virginia's most iconic waterfall hike features a crystal-clear swimming pool, scenic creek crossings, and a hidden bonus waterfall. Complete visitor guide to Devil's Bathtub Trail in Scott County with parking, difficulty, and safety information.
From an ADA-accessible cascade to Virginia's most Instagrammed swimming hole, the Heart of Appalachia Waterfall Trail connects the 7 best waterfalls in Southwest Virginia—plus historic mill dams you can photograph without hiking a single step.
Gone for more than 150 years, elk are back in Southwest Virginia—250+ strong. Here's where, when, and how to see Virginia's only wild elk herd, from Breaks Interstate Park to the viewing platforms at The Breaks at Southern Gap.
There are sunsets, and then there is dinner with Virginia's elk herd. The Dine with the Elk sunset tours at Breaks Interstate Park pair a park-prepared boxed dinner with golden-hour views across the Cumberland Mountains—and front-row seats to fall bugling.
Five state parks, one compact region: zipline the Grand Canyon of the South, walk through a limestone tunnel, tour a frontier fort, step into the coal boom era, and paddle North America's most biodiverse river—all in the Heart of Appalachia.
The Crooked Road runs straight through the Heart of Appalachia—Carter Family Fold Saturday nights, the Ralph Stanley Museum, Country Cabin II, and a dozen more stages where mountain music is still played, still shared, and still thriving.
From the five-state views atop High Knob to Birch Knob's 360-degree fire tower, Powell Valley's glowing cliffs, and Flag Rock above Norton - here is where the light meets the land in Southwest Virginia, plus the hidden pull-offs locals love.
The Clinch is the most biodiverse river in North America - 50+ mussel species, hellbenders, eagles overhead - and its Class I-II water makes it perfect for beginners. Here's how to plan your first float, from outfitters to river treasure.
400+ miles of ATV, side-by-side, Jeep, and equestrian trails across seven systems in Southwest Virginia - from family-friendly Mountain View to rugged Coal Canyon in elk country. Trail-by-trail specs, permits, rentals, and riding tips.
