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State & National Parks

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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.

Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center

  • address  125 Aldersgate Camp Rd, Ravenna, KY 4047237.7317109-83.8497558

Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center is a 354-acre Christian Retreat, recreation, R.V., camping and worship center owned and operated by the United Methodist Church of Kentucky. Aldersgate is open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, sex, handicap or national origin. Historic Fitchburg Furnace and the old ghost town of Fitchburg are all within Aldersgate’s boundaries. Located in the foothills of Appalachia Aldersgate is near Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park, and other interesting and beautiful sites. Come Visit!

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

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

Bad Branch Falls Nature Preserve

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

Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve is a 2639 acres nature preserve in Whitesburg , Kentucky. Originally dedicated by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission on September 26, 1985, the preserve originally covered 435 acres and included Bad Branch Gorge, a forested gorge with a 60 ft waterfall tumbling over sandstone cliffs on the south face of Pine Mountain. Subsequent acquisitions have expanded the preserve west into the Presley House Branch watershed, northeast into the upper reaches of the Bad Branch watershed and a small portion of the north face of Pine Mountain. The preserve also protects Kentucky's only known nesting pair of common ravens. Bad Branch has been designated a Kentucky Wild River. There are 7.4 mi of foot trails and bridges over uneven strenuous terrain.

Bear Track Lake Adventures

  • address 580 Beartrack Lake Road, Beattyville,, KY 4131137.6236441-83.7453333

Bear Track Lake, a 29 million gallon spring-fed mountain lake, is the centerpiece of our property. Whether it's giving you a relaxing view, cooling the ambient air, or providing a refreshing drink for wildlife, we think Bear Track Lake will be an excellent centerpiece to your vacation as well.

It covers more than 6 acres of land and is surrounded by spectacular cliffs and undisturbed forest. The lake is home to many types of fish, including catfish, bluegill, and bass. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of our albino catfish!

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Birch Knob Observation Tower

  • address 1 Birch Knob Drive, Clintwood , VA 2422837.237982-82.458106

Birch Knob Observation Tower enjoy views stretching from Virginia, to Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.

Blackwater falls Sled Run

Experience the thrill of racing down more than a quarter mile of fresh mountain snow on the sled run at Blackwater Falls State Park. The longest sled run on the East Coast; the sled run at Blackwater Falls State Park is a must-do every year. Create cherished memories and experience wintertime fun with friends and family at Blackwater Falls.

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 Circle, Haysi, VA 2425637.2860398-82.29449079999999

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.

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.

Buckhorn State Park

  • address 4441 KY-1833,, Buckhorn, KY 4172137.3248584-83.4256394

Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park is positioned just along the edge of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Buckhorn offers five options for meeting space. The conference center can be divided into two smaller meeting rooms. There are two areas in the main dining room that can be sectioned off for meeting space. The meeting space can hold 10-200 people. Buckhorn offers 36 lodge rooms, two-2 bedroom cottages and three-3 bedroom cottages along with full service catering to all places to rent in the area.

 

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!