Best Weekend Getaways in Southwest Virginia
Waterfalls, Boulders, Canyons, Music: A Friday-to-Sunday Adventure Through Russell County in the Heart of Appalachia
| At a Glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | Friday to Sunday. Arrive Thursday night to add a Friday morning on Main Street. |
| Base | Lebanon, Russell County |
| Counties | Russell County for the main route. Optional evening music in Wise County (Coeburn) and Scott County (Hiltons). |
| Pace | Friday easy, Saturday the big hike, Sunday easy again |
| Highlights | Downtown Lebanon, Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, The Channels Natural Area Preserve, Tank Hollow Falls, the Cleveland swinging bridge, and live music |
| Best for | Active travelers looking for rugged outdoor adventure |
| Best time | Spring, summer, and fall |
| Drive times | Honaker about 20 minutes and Carter Family Fold about 45 minutes from Lebanon |
| Stay | Holiday Inn Express in Lebanon, or browse the Stay page. Camp at Cleveland RiverBend. |
If you’re searching for the best weekend getaways in Southwest Virginia, start here. This Friday-to-Sunday itinerary in the Heart of Appalachia packs in hikes, waterfalls, live music, and good food, so you spend less time driving and more time exploring. Arrive Thursday night or early Friday to shop downtown Lebanon first, or come Friday afternoon and head straight to the trail. Lodging ranges from hotels and Virginia State Park cabins to Airbnbs, campgrounds, and RV parks. We will add new getaways over time.
Shopping, Hiking, Live Music
Day One, Friday: Lebanon, Russell County
Morning: Main Street, Lebanon
Arriving Thursday night or early Friday? Spend the morning on Main Street. Downtown Lebanon’s independent shops are small and close together, so this is an hour or two, not a day, and your dollars stay in town.
- Wicks by Wendy: a shop that showcases the work of local artisans.
- Multiplicity: a downtown clothing and footwear boutique.
- Be My Honey Bee: natural and infused honeys, plus soaps, lotions, and other gifts.
- The LOVEwork sign: stop for a photo with the mountains behind you. The sign is decorated for each season.
Several downtown shops keep Tuesday-through-Saturday hours, which makes Friday a good shopping day. Hours change, so check before you go. Hotel rooms are usually ready in mid-afternoon, so if you arrive early, shop first and check in before you head to the trail.
Afternoon: Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve
When your room is ready, check into the Holiday Inn Express in Lebanon, or choose another of the lodging options on our Stay page. The Holiday Inn Express rewards you with panoramic views overlooking the town of Lebanon and the majestic Clinch Mountain range, a beautiful welcome to the Heart of Appalachia.
After settling in, head to Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, one of Southwest Virginia’s hidden gems. This remarkable preserve features crystal-clear streams, towering hardwood forests, two picturesque waterfalls, and a peaceful creekside trail. If temperatures are warm, cool your feet in the mountain stream before beginning your hike toward Copper Ridge.
The Big Cedar Creek Trail is an easy hike of about 3.1 miles round trip and takes 2 to 2.5 hours. Stop at Big Falls and it is about 2.4 miles round trip. The Copper Ridge spur is steep and adds an overlook. The trailhead is less than six miles from Lebanon, so you can hike after check-in and still make dinner. In fall, start early enough to finish before dark. There is ample parking, restroom facilities at the trailhead and expect cellular service to vary by carrier.
The trail rewards hikers with spectacular views overlooking the Clinch River Valley, offering one of the area’s most scenic mountain vistas.
Evening: Dinner and Live Music
After your afternoon adventure, return to Lebanon for dinner at the legendary Bonanza Restaurant, a longtime regional favorite known for generous portions and Appalachian hospitality. Most days the owner, Mr. Tim Fields will be onsite to greet you. Be prepared for great steaks, perfectly prepared.
Cap off your evening with live entertainment. Check the schedule at the beautifully restored Russell Theatre, located just minutes from your hotel, or make the short drive to Lays Hardware Center for the Arts in nearby Coeburn, where Friday nights bring an authentic Appalachian cakewalk and traditional mountain music. You’re in for an unforgettable evening.
Hiking, Boulders, Views
Day Two: The Channels Natural Area Preserve
Morning: Coffee, Trail Lunch, and an Early Start
Start your morning early. Today’s destination is one of Virginia’s most extraordinary geological wonders: The Channels Natural Area Preserve.
Pick up a coffee at the Blooms and Brews drive-through at First Impression Flowers & Gifts in Lebanon. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, fill your water bottles, pack a trail lunch (Food City in Lebanon has sandwiches, snacks, and water, and shopping Friday evening gets you out the door sooner), and prepare for one of Southwest Virginia’s most rewarding hikes.
The Main Event: The Channels
| Detail | Channels Trail |
|---|---|
| Starts at | A small gravel lot on Route 80 at the Russell and Washington County line |
| Distance to The Channels | About 3.5 miles each way, roughly 7 miles round trip |
| Difficulty | Moderate. Uphill most of the way, steep in places, rocky and uneven. |
| Trail markers | Silver and black arrows |
| Parking | 10 vehicles and there is no overflow. No parking allowed along Highway 80, and violators are ticketed. |
| Cellular service | Varys by carrier |
| Restroom facility | No facilities at the trailhead. |
The approximately 7-mile round-trip journey via Middle Knob climbs nearly 3,000 feet in elevation before reaching the summit. Along the way, hikers pass mature forests and scenic overlooks before arriving at the historic fire tower. The tower is closed to climbing, so enjoy it from the ground. From here, breathtaking views stretch in every direction.
Take time to enjoy lunch among the rock formations or return to the nearby overlooks for one last panoramic view before hiking back down the mountain.
A note from Heart of Appalachia on protecting The Channels:
The Channels is a state natural area preserve managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Its sandstone crevices, rock outcrops, and rare plants and lichens are fragile, and they are the reason the preserve exists. Please help us keep it that way. Stay on marked trails and behind barriers, because going off trail causes erosion and damages rare plants. Pack out everything you bring in, and leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them. Keep dogs on a leash. If the parking lot is full, the preserve is at capacity. Come back another time.
Alternative if Route 80 parking is full:
Head back down the mountain enroute to Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Area, located just outside Lebanon, and explore the scenic Brumley Mountain Trail. This 14-mile out and back hike lets you choose your own distance!
Insider Tip: Watch for rock outcropping side trails. These hidden scenic overlooks are along this trail. Some informal paths aren’t officially mapped, so use caution and see if you can find one of these amazing views.
After your hike, head back into town for dinner and some live music!
Photo Credit: J. Bowser
Photo Credit: ATL
Photo Credit: Candy Pritt
Know before you go
- Hunting is permitted in the state forest. In hunting season, wear blaze orange or blaze pink.
- Climbing the fire tower is prohibited and counts as criminal trespass.
- Bring water and food, and download an offline map before you go. DCR publishes a map for use in the Avenza Maps app.
- Sites can close for management work. Check current conditions before you leave.
Evening: Dinner and Music
After a well-earned shower at your hotel, treat yourself to dinner on the rooftop at The New Pioneer Restaurant in Lebanon, where mountain views pair perfectly with locally inspired cuisine.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday, you have several outstanding entertainment options for the evening:
- Return to the Russell Theatre for another performance.
- Or make the scenic 45-minute drive to the legendary Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, where traditional Appalachian music and dancing have welcomed visitors for generations.
No matter which venue you choose, you’ll experience the authentic music heritage that defines Southwest Virginia.
Waterfalls, River, Easy Walk
Day Three: Waterfalls and the Clinch River
Morning: Breakfast in Lebanon
Before heading home, spend one final morning enjoying the peaceful beauty of the Clinch River and the river town of Cleveland. We have a super quick hike and swinging bridge you should experience.
Start with a diner breakfast at Pat’s Kountry Diner in Lebanon, or eat at your hotel.
Cleveland: Falls, Bridge, and River
Make the short drive to Tank Hollow Falls near Cleveland. This easy, family-friendly, ADA-accessible trail leads visitors to one of the region’s most beautiful waterfalls. You can even see the falls from the parking lot, and parking is free but limited. The gentle walk makes it an ideal way to relax after the previous day’s mountain adventure.
The falls drop about 60 feet inside the Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve, which is open sunrise to sunset. One navigation tip: Google Maps may show Tank Hollow Road as Hall Street, so follow the preserve signs.
After visiting the falls, continue across the nearby swinging bridge spanning the Clinch River, recognized by biologists as one of the most biodiverse freshwater rivers in North America. Take time to stroll the riverside trail toward RiverBend Campground, where quiet riverbanks invite visitors to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding them. A half-mile walking trail and boardwalk link the town park to the campground by way of the suspension bridge.
Slip off your hiking boots, soak your feet in the cool waters of the Clinch River, watch for kingfishers and great blue herons, and reflect on a weekend filled with mountain adventures, waterfalls, music, and unforgettable scenery.
It’s the perfect ending to one of the best weekend getaways in Southwest Virginia.
Plan Ahead
Before You Hit the Road
A little planning makes the weekend better.
On the Drive Home
Travel Tips for Your Weekend Getaway
Looking to customize your adventure? Here are a few ideas to make the most of your weekend getaway in Southwest Virginia.
No matter which direction you travel, every road leaving the Heart of Appalachia offers one more opportunity to discover why this region is home to some of the best weekend getaways in Southwest Virginia. Check in periodically. We will add getaways featuring every community in the Heart of Appalachia region.
