The Natural Tunnel is more than 850 feet long and ten stories high. It was formed naturally through a limestone ridge over thousands of years. This striking geological feature stands alongside hiking trails, historic sites and musical traditions, offering different ways to explore Scott County.
Scenery and Hiking Trails
If you choose a hike based on its route, you can compare two clearly described trails: the Devil’s Fork Trail is a 6.9-mile loop that leads to the geological formation Devil’s Bathtub. The left fork of the loop reaches the destination via 13 creek crossings. The Little Stony Trail, by contrast, is described as a six-mile out-and-back hike. Its waterfall is three miles from the trailhead and 24 feet high. The trail is designated a National Recreation Trail, in part for its scenic significance and ease of access.
At Bear Rock, you can also distinguish between the trail and the viewpoint: the Bear Rock Trail is a short hike with sweeping views over Little Stony Creek Gorge. The Bear Rock viewpoint sits on a steep rock edge with no railing or signs. If you are considering a multi-day trip, the Chief Benge Scout Trail offers the option of backpacking with overnight stays or hiking a section of the trail.
Other landscape features offer different highlights. Glady Fork Wetland includes open meadows, marshland, swampy shrubland, ponds and deciduous forests, and is maintained by beavers. Bark Camp Recreation Area is located on a 45-acre lake that is regularly stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, several species of sunfish and channel catfish. In northern Scott County, Jefferson National Forest covers most of High Knob and extends north from there.
History, Places and Collections
The Gate City Historic District is a five-block downtown area in the county seat of Scott County. Since the 19th century, it has developed into an important trading center for the surrounding countryside. The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail offers a broader historical perspective: established in 1775, it ran from Long Island of the Holston in present-day Kingsport, Tennessee, through Scott and Lee Counties and Cumberland Gap in Virginia, and on to Kentucky.
The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center is located just before Kane Gap, one of the last undeveloped sections of the Wilderness Road. The center includes a museum, a library, a conference room, a gift shop and an outdoor classroom. Interactive exhibits include hands-on activities such as making a spark with flint and steel and trying on period clothing. The history of Kilgore Fort House reaches back to a series of twelve forts that stretched from Castlewood, Virginia, to Cumberland Gap and offered early settlers refuge in the late 18th century. Built by Robert Kilgore, the house is the last surviving structure in the series.
The Fannon Railroad Museum collection includes a restored, authentic N&W railroad service car, a Blue Diamond Coal Company diesel locomotive from Scotia, Kentucky, and an ETW&NC tender car known as the Tweetsie Line. The museum also includes a depot that was used as a prop in the film “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Another technical highlight is Bush Mill: this restored, working, water-powered gristmill has a metal wheel 30 feet in diameter and 4 feet wide. At maximum operating capacity, it produces about 30 horsepower.
Music, Events and Other Interests
Only acoustic instruments are used at the Saturday concerts at the Carter Family Fold; electric instruments are not permitted. The Carter Fold Snack Bar serves homemade snacks. As a regional connection, The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, is a driving route through Appalachia that links the Carter Family Fold with other regional heritage venues.
Bush Mill Day in October includes grinding corn for sale by the Nickelsville Ruritan Club and making apple butter. Check the event date before your trip. Animal lovers can see rare animals up close at Creation Kingdom Zoo; the zoo also serves as a breeding facility for rare and endangered species. For a drive through small towns, long stretches of scenic roads and lush, growing forests, take the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail loop. Scott County Golf Course is a challenging nine-hole course with sweeping views of the Scott County landscape.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Duffield, Halifax, Portsmouth, Greene County, Dinwiddie County, Mecklenburg County, Middlesex County, Buckingham County.
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