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Murals & Photo Opportunities

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Aerial Tramways

  • address 3405 Pipestem Dr, Pipestem, WV 2597937.54162609999999-80.9831142

Experience one-of-a-kind views of West Virginia’s iconic mountain scenery with a trip on an aerial tram. At Pipestem Resort State Park or Hawks Nest State Park a scenic tram ride leads to picturesque views of Almost Heavens incredible beauty. Plan your next aerial adventure in Almost Heaven and incredible memories will be sure to follow along the way.

Appalshop

  • address 91 Madison Street , Whitesburg, KY 4185837.1168214-82.8215211

Appalshop started as a film workshop in 1969, and 50 years later we're still documenting and revitalizing the traditions and creativity of Appalachia.

Ark Encounter

  • address 1 Ark Encounter Dr, Williamstown, KY 4109738.6279329-84.58093029999999

Ark Encounter is a Christian young Earth creationist theme park that opened in Williamstown, Kentucky, United States in 2016. The centerpiece of the park is a large representation of Noah's Ark, based on the Genesis flood narrative contained in the Bible. It is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high

Artisan Village

  • address 200 Artisan Way, Berea , KY 4040337.5968076-84.3110379

The Artisan Village. As Berea is known as the “Folk Arts and Craft Capitol of KY,” the Artisan Village allows visitors to get to know the people behind the craft. Lindsey Gallery, Honeysuckle Vine, The Cabin of Old Time, and many others are local artist who have perfected their craft. Live demonstrations are given for visitors.

Babcock State Park

  • address 486 Babcock Road, Clifftop, WV 25831

One of West Virginia’s most iconic locations, Babcock State Park has 4,127 acres of stunning scenery. Located 20 miles southeast of the New River Gorge Bridge, the park is most known for the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a fully functional replica of the original Cooper’s Mill, which once stood on the grounds. Other attractions include recreational activities like hiking, fishing and mountain biking, as well as whitewater rafting nearby in the New River Gorge.

Nature and landscape photographers who wish to fly a drone near the Glade Creek Grist Mill, are required to check in at the park office in advance. The use of drones is permitted, but only from 1-3 p.m., daily. Check in at the park office for drone use at other times. Drones may not be flown over buildings or the parking area, and must stay a minimum of 20 feet away from the mill.

The Glade Creek Grist Mill closes for the season on the last Sunday in October. Picnic area restrooms and certain area gates close for the season Oct. 31.

Bad Branch Falls – High Rock Trail

Bad Branch Falls Nature Preserve

  • address KY-932, Eolia, KY 4082637.0692269-82.7608634

Bad Branch Falls, with it’s beautiful trail and enchanting 60 ft. waterfall, is a Letcher County treasure. It is a must see for visitors wanting to explore our area. The hike to Bad Branch Falls is a little over a mile (one way) and takes close to 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace. The trail will take you through an old timber haul road that was built in the 30’s or 40’s.
This hike is a categorized as a moderate hike because it requires climbing over rocks and walking around small ledges. During the winter, there is usually ice along the trail which can also make hiking somewhat dangerous. Most people that can walk one mile should not have any trouble. 
The scenery to the falls is breathtaking, including high sandstone cliffs, giant hemlock pines and many different types of rock formations. If you want something a little more challenging, there is an option to take the High Rock Loop Trail, a little over 2 mile hike to the crest of Pine Mountain. This trail joins in with the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail - which will stretch over 110 miles when completed.

Photo credit- Letcher County Tourism www.discoverletcher.com

Beartown State Park

  • address 4800 Watoga Park Road, Marlinton, WV 2495438.1166181-80.12776389999999

The Park is actually one large rock formation split into sections and clefts large enough for walkways. The Park is noted for its massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and unusual rock formations, which are comprised of Pottsville Sandstone formed during the Pennsylvanian Age. Faulting and erosion of the sandstone capping the mountain created a unique system of ‘sunken streets’ in this ‘town of rocks.’ Huge rock formations, deep caves, and dark corners invite the imagination to speculate if bears really do inhabit the vicinity.

Beartown State Park is a natural area. Its 107 acres are located on the eastern summit of Droop Mountain, seven miles southwest of Hillsboro, West Virginia. The land was purchased in 1970 with funds from the Nature Conservancy and a donation from Mrs. Edwin G. Polan, in memory of her son, Ronald Keith Neal, who lost his life in the Vietnam War.

Big Sandy Heritage Center Museum

  • address 172 Division Street 4th Floor , Pikeville, KY 4150137.4786343-82.5166388

The Big Sandy Heritage Center Museum is located in Pikeville, Kentucky. The museum was housed in the old Chesapeake and Ohio Depot until 2015, when it moved to the 4th floor of the Judicial Annex in downtown Pikeville. The museum portrays the people, places, and events that makes the area unique.

Blackwater Falls State Park

  • address 1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 2626039.1081324-79.4976949

Located in the Allegheny Mountains of Tucker County, Blackwater Falls State Park is named for the amber waters of Blackwater Falls, a 57-foot cascade tinted by the tannic acid of fallen hemlock and red spruce needles. The falls, along with a few of the park’s other features like Elakala Falls, Lindy Point and Pendleton Point Overlook, are some of the state’s most photographed spots. Visitors can enjoy the scenic views year-round by taking the steps to the falls or using viewing platforms. The park has 20 miles of hiking trails, the longest sledding magic carpet on the East Coast in the winter, a comfortable lodge and more.

Breaks Interstate Park

  • address 627 Commission Cir, , Breaks, VA 2460737.2861769-82.2951987

Breaks Interstate Park is a bi-state state park located partly in southeastern Kentucky and mostly in southwestern Virginia, in the Jefferson National Forest, at the northeastern terminus of Pine Mountain. Rather than their respective state park systems, it is instead administered by an interstate compact between the states of Virginia and Kentucky. It is one of several interstate parks in the United States, but only one of two operated jointly under a compact rather than as two separate state park units. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Kentucky Department of Parks are still major partner organizations, however.

The Breaks is also referred as the "Grand Canyon of the South", through which the Russell Fork river and Clinchfield Railroad (now the CSX Transportation Kingsport Subdivision) run. It is accessed via highway 80 (Virginia 80 and Kentucky 80), between Haysi, Virginia, and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, and passes through the community of Breaks, Virginia, east of the park.

Buzzard Rock

  • address Daniel Boone National Forest, Stearns, KY 4264737.0208632-84.2879688

How can you experience this view in person? Buzzard Rock isn’t marked officially on a map, but it’s still highly visited. The trail leading to it is an old Jeep trail along the ridge too and is worn down by foot traffic by hikers exploring the Big South Fork and the Daniel Boone National Forest. Buzzard Rock is at the top of the list of majestic overlooks of the Big South Fork region!
To explore Buzzard Rock, take U.S. Hwy 27 through Whitley City, then take a left onto Wiborg Loop Road. Take another left onto Tom Roberts Road, then veer left onto Big Creek Road. Take the gravel road into the forest several miles until you see and unidentified gravel parking lot on your right!

Camp Blanton

  • address 4294 State Hwy 840 , Wallins Creek, KY 4087336.8593862-83.3819647

Right off The BackBreaker trail is where you can take your next adventure and hike or check into one of our remodeled cabins. This has to go on your next Bucket List with our trails.

Canann Valley Resort State Park

  • address 230 Main Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 2626039.0244321-79.4648206

Canaan Valley State Park was established in 1963 on 6,014 acres of land, part of which had been willed to the state by resident S. Maude Kaemmerling for recreational use. In 1971, the park opened its ski slopes on the 4,420 foot Weiss Knob. It was the state’s first ski resort and sparked a new industry in West Virginia. The park’s lodge has been managed by a private operator since the mid-1970s, but the state park system still provides certain services.