Wilderness Road State Park in Virginia

Wilderness Road State Park in Virginia should be put on your list of fall color drives. The park is tucked away in a corner of the Appalachian Mountains and is not far from the Tennessee and Virginia border. Wilderness Road follows an old Buffalo Trace. What is now off of the beaten path, was a major thoroughfare in the mid to late 1800's.

The Wilderness Road was blazed by famed frontiersman Daniel Boone. Once the trail became wide enough to move wagon loads of supplies, it was used by early settlers, tradesmen and as a supply route by both sides of the Civil War.

Located on the outermost southwest corner of the Virginia,
Wilderness Road State Park is just about 10 miles from Cumberland Gap National Park and is not far from Middlesboro, Ky. More specific directions are found online.

There is an entrance fee to get into the park, plus there are fees for camping and other activities. The link above gives you full details on the current prices. Key features of the Wilderness Road State Park include a visitor center with gift shop, nature and historical programs, camping, picnicking and hiking opportunities and a living history museum.

Families can spend an afternoon or a full day exploring the park and some may enjoy camping overnight. The camp does not offer laundry facilities or a restaurant. It is close enough to be a day trip from the greater Knoxville area, Middlesboro,Kentucky or Bristol (Tennessee or Virginia).

Many visitors will take Hwy. 25 to get to the state park. They may be surprised to find that Wilderness Road actually spreads through several states. Highway 25 approximates the original route. There is a museum in Virginia that commemorates the road, the Confederate Camp Wildcat in Kentucky and into Cumberland Gap through Harrogate, Tennessee and beyond.

Other articles that you may want to read about Wilderness Road include Fall photos in Cumberland Gap and any of the links in this article.