Scott County: Nature, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Scott County combines striking landscapes with traces of regional history and a vibrant musical tradition. Natural Tunnel is an unusual geological formation: the tunnel is more than 850 feet long and ten stories high. Nature shaped it over thousands of years through a limestone ridge. On the Clinch River, Natural Tunnel State Park offers canoe trips—a different way to see the region than on foot along one of its hiking trails.

Landscapes and Hiking Trails

The Devil’s Fork Trail is a 6.9-mile loop to Devil’s Bathtub. The left fork leads to this geological formation via 13 creek crossings. The Little Stony Trail offers a different option for your outing: the out-and-back hike is six miles long and leads to a 24-foot waterfall located three miles from the trailhead. The trail is designated a National Recreation Trail, in part because of its scenic significance and easy accessibility.

The Bear Rock Trail offers a short hike with sweeping views over Little Stony Creek Gorge. The viewpoint, however, is on a steep cliff edge with no railing or warning signs. Those planning a multi-day backpacking trip can choose a different kind of outing on the Chief Benge Scout Trail; both overnight hikes and hikes along a section of the trail are possible.

The landscapes themselves are also varied: Bark Camp Recreation Area is located on a 45-acre lake that is regularly stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, several sunfish species and channel catfish. The Glady Fork Wetland, maintained by beavers, includes open meadows, marshland, swampy scrub, ponds and deciduous forests. Jefferson National Forest covers most of High Knob in northern Scott County and extends northward from there.

Discover the History

The Gate City Historic District comprises five blocks in the downtown area of Scott County’s county seat. Since the 19th century, the district has developed into an important commercial center for the surrounding area. The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center offers another historical perspective. It features a museum, a library, a conference room, a gift shop and an outdoor classroom. Interactive exhibits offer hands-on activities such as making a spark with flint and steel or trying on historically accurate clothing. The center is located just before Kane Gap, one of the last undeveloped sections of the Wilderness Road.

The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail was established in 1775. Its route ran from Long Island of the Holston in what is now Kingsport, Tennessee, through Scott County and Lee County, and through Cumberland Gap in Virginia to Kentucky. Kilgore Fort House tells another part of the story of early settlement: Robert Kilgore built it; today, it is the last surviving structure in a series of twelve forts that stretched from Castlewood, Virginia, to Cumberland Gap and served as a refuge for early settlers in the late 18th century.

Railroad history and individual rail vehicles are at the heart of the collection at Fannon Railroad Museum. They include 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 used as a prop in the film “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” At Bush Mill, technology is brought to life, too: the restored, working grist mill is powered by water. Its metal wheel is 30 feet in diameter and four feet wide; at maximum operating capacity, it generates about 30 horsepower.

Music, Tradition and More Experiences

Only acoustic instruments are used at the Saturday concerts at Carter Family Fold; electric instruments are not allowed. The Carter Fold Snack Bar serves homemade snacks. Carter Family Fold is also connected to The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail: the driving route runs through the Appalachians and links the Fold with other regional cultural heritage venues.

At Bush Mill Day in October, the Nickelsville Ruritan Club grinds corn for sale; activities also include making apple butter. Check the event date before your trip. For a drive filled with natural and scenic highlights, the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail loop passes through small communities, along long stretches of scenic roads and through lush, growing forests.

Other possible destinations include Creation Kingdom Zoo, where visitors can see rare animals up close and which also serves as a breeding facility for rare and endangered species, and the challenging Scott County Golf Course. The nine-hole course offers sweeping views of the Scott County landscape.

When choosing a vacation rental in Scott County, the focus of your trip can help you decide: Would you like to explore hiking trails and waterfalls, take in the scenery or make more time for music and history? The experiences described range from nature excursions to railroad and settlement history. You can first decide which themes you want your trip to center on, then look for suitable accommodation for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Duffield, Alexandria, Galax, Mecklenburg County, Bedford County, Petersburg, King William County and Brunswick County.

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