Wise County: Discover Trails, Lakes and Culture

Wise County offers a wide range of experiences: trails range from short loops to long routes, alongside lakes, stretches of river, museums and recurring cultural events. When choosing a vacation rental, you can first consider whether hiking and nature watching, activities on the water, or history and events will be the focus of your trip.

Trails for Different Interests

The Sugar Hill Unit of Clinch River State Park is open to hiking, cycling and fishing, and has nearly 8 miles of trails. The site also contains remnants of an 18th-century French settlement. Here, outdoor activity and a specific historical connection come together in one named location.

Trail lengths offer a useful comparison: High Knob Lake Trail is 1.3 miles long and leads to High Knob Lake. The self-guided Phillips Creek Loop Trail is 1.2 miles long; along the trail are a waterfall, weather permitting, and old-growth forest. By contrast, Pine Mountain Trail follows the ridge of the Cumberland Mountains and is 26 miles long. This lets you choose based on the planned length of your hike without treating short and long routes as equivalent.

The 1.5-mile Red Fox Trail is a historic interpretive trail associated with an 1892 massacre at a site known as “the killing rock.” Cyclists can also take the 128-mile Heart of Appalachia Bike Route and Scenic Drive, which leads to Guest River Gorge in Wise County. Check route conditions before setting out. The Mountain View Trail System has access points in Coeburn and St. Paul.

Lakes, Rivers and Nature Watching

At High Knob, birdwatchers can spot some migratory bird species at elevations above 3,500 feet; these species typically breed in the spruce-fir forests of the Blue Ridge. There is also a 4-acre lake there, surrounded by a lakeside trail. High Knob Lake Trail combines the choice of a short route with a lake destination.

The 3.7-mile loop around the shore of Lake Keokee offers shoreline fishing and the chance to observe nature on foot; a paved ramp is available for launching boats. Kayaking, fishing and hiking are possible at Big Cherry Lake. Phillips Creek Recreation Area offers opportunities for picnicking and swimming; seasonal conditions may vary.

The described habitats also vary for wildlife watching: Saint Paul Loop has six viewing locations in wetlands as well as in montane and extensive forest habitats. The Appalachian Wonders Loop on the Cumberland Plateau offers opportunities to spot wildlife, including foxes and black bears, during visits to Wise County. Around Wise Reservoir, trails wind through the surrounding mixed forests.

The stretch of the Pound River from Old Mill Village Launch Area to Poodle Joe has no rapids and includes deep spots for fishing or swimming. Downstream from Old Mill Village Launch Area, a remote wilderness extends for the next 8 miles; on the right bank of the river is Cumberland Forest-Highlands, a property managed by The Nature Conservancy. Big Cherry Reservoir lies in a mountain basin: elevations range from 3,000 feet downstream of Big Cherry Dam to 4,223 feet at the headwaters near High Knob.

Museums, Theater and Event Days

Mountain Heritage Museum and Gallery displays hundreds of artifacts relating to the history of coal mining, logging, railroads, agriculture, the Civil War, Indigenous people and the natural history of the Appalachians. Lonesome Pine School & Heritage Center preserves historical memorabilia from communities and schools in southwestern Virginia. Exhibits at Harry W. Meador Coal Museum include photographs, mining equipment and tools, office furnishings, items from coal companies and a small dentist’s office from the early 1900s.

John Fox, Jr. Museum is housed in a family home with original furnishings dating from around the turn of the century. Another cultural experience is The Trail of the Lonesome Pine: it is Virginia’s official outdoor theater and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s longest-running continuously operating outdoor theater.

Recurring events include Coal Railroad Days, held the first weekend in August, with arts and crafts booths, food, live music and historical reenactments, including staged bank robberies and shootouts. Home Craft Days Festival takes place annually on the third weekend in October. The program includes concerts, crafts and demonstrations of weaving, pottery, grain milling, woodworking, basket weaving, broom making, quilting and lace making. If you want to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates in advance.

Places to Include in Your Travel Plans

If you want to explore individual destinations, you can also include Big Stone Gap and Wise in your plans. Discover more destinations: King George, Shenandoah Valley, Madison County, Fairfax City, King William County, Roanoke.

See the broader travel overview: Virginia.