Natural Tunnel State Park
Starting a trip off in an emergency room is never on my itinerary. But if you must include this exciting excursion in your camping plans, Kingsport, TN near lovely Natural Tunnel State Park has a wonderful hospital, among other treasures to explore.
If you would rather avoid this side trip, tell your 7-year-old not to test how fast his bike can go down the hill from the camp store to the campsites. We can save you that trouble. It’s fast. With a sharp turn.
After getting the face gash and road rash fixed up, we decided to explore this town a bit, starting with lunch at Barbaritos (very dog friendly with a nice outdoor patio) and a walk along the river trail. Both are excellent, and a great way to redeem a rocky start to our first day of this 6-day camping trip. Rocky. That also happens to be the name of our new-to-us 2005 Rockwood 27-foot travel trailer. And this was the maiden voyage.
Natural Tunnel State Park is about a 6-hour drive from where we live, so we made sure to dedicate more than a weekend venture to this park. And we are so glad we did. This beautiful and unique park ranks at the top of our list so far.
Unfortunately, the pool was closed during our visit. But due to this inconvenience, the fee for the chair lift that takes riders down to the entrance of the tunnel was waived. So, of course, we took full advantage of this and rode up and down several times like an amusement park ride in the great outdoors. You can also walk down to the tunnel entrance, but why would you with such a thrilling option available. Once down at the tunnel floor, definitely hang out until a train comes through.
Speaking of thrilling options, if you don’t mind getting your feet wet, sign up for the Stock Creek Passage Ranger-guided hike. Watching a train whiz through a dark tunnel while you are inside is pretty incredible. This adventure costs a little bit but is definitely worth it.
The location of this park, which is dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, is not only beautiful but full of amazing places to visit. We don’t always venture out of a park during our camping trips, but this one absolutely calls for several side trips. From one of the coolest and heart-pumping hikes, Devil’s Bathtub Loop, to outdoor theatrics at the long-running Trail of the Lonesome Pine drama, the Heart of Appalachia region offers something for everyone.
Fast Facts (and Opinions)
Location: Natural Tunnel State Park - Duffield, VA
Equipment: Travel Trailer
Date: August 2021
Weather: Warm, Sunny, Rain and Hail
Kid-Friendly: Yes (ours were ages 9 and 7)
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Site: LL16
Water/Electric
Back-in
Level
Gravel
Shade, Sun
No good hammock trees
Nice stone paved hookup areas with wooden multi-purpose tables
Bathhouse:
Clean
Showers have good water pressure
Fairly close to the site
Cell Service: Yes (Verizon)
Park Highlights:
Chair lift into the tunnel
No fee during our time of visit due to the pool being closed
Very unique and fun experience (our dog even got to ride!)
Stock Creek Passage guided hike into the tunnel
Highly recommend
2 miles out and back
$5 per person
Wear closed-toed waterproof hiking boots or closed-toed hiking sandals
Learned how the tunnel was formed
A coal train passed through the tunnel while we were inside
Went back to that area later and kids played in the creek
Blockhouse tour with guides in historical character
Lover’s Leap Loop Campground (where our site was) is great for kids riding bikes
Kids completed Naturalist Activity Books
Area Highlights:
The Official Outdoor Drama of Virginia, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Visitor’s Center
Big Stone Gap General Store - good coal-fired pizza, karaoke
Renewed Brew Coffee Company - great downtown coffee shop with an even greater mission
Boatyard-Riverfront Park and Greenbelt - nice walking trail along river
Pal’s Roundhouse - where $1 gets you a nostalgic ride on an indoor 1956 carousel
Barbaritos Mexican - not necessarily a local restaurant but has a nice dog-friendly outdoor patio
Phil’s Dreampit BBQ - if you are a BBQ fan, this local staple is a must
Holston Valley Medical Center Emergency Room - for those super adventurous ones who have a bad day
Gray Fossil Site and Museum, Gray, TN - only so-so (maybe due to COVID/pandemic), but the kids liked it
Gate City - cute shops
Want to visit three other nearby Virginia State Parks? Check out my blog post, Four Parks in One Day!
Park Hikes:
Cabin Trail to Purchase Ridge Overlook
Easy and short, limited view of tunnel
Gorge Ridge Trail to Lover’s Leap Overlook - 1.5 miles
Out and back, nice view of tunnel from 2 sides
Area Hikes:
Highly recommend - one of our favorite hikes
7 miles counter-clockwise
First 2 miles are a strenuous uphill climb
Water is very cold but crystal clear and refreshing
Parking has bathrooms and a creek to play in - closer parking option is very small, rough, narrow, and requires 4-wheel drive
Other Campsites:
Good Options - #15, #9
Cove View Campground has smaller sites
Things to Do Next Visit (Because There's Just Never Enough Time!):
Tubing on the Clinch River
Virginia Creeper Trail
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