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.

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.

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.

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.

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.