The ‘Grand Canyon of the South’ cuts through Appalachia at this rare interstate park

It’s one of two interstate parks in America

Breaks Interstate Park straddles the Virginia-Kentucky border, and most people have never heard of it. The park covers about 4,500 acres of rough Appalachian country, and at its center sits a five-mile gorge carved by the Russell Fork River over millions of years.

The canyon plunges more than 1,000 feet through Pine Mountain, making it one of the deepest east of the Mississippi.
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"} –> People call it the Grand Canyon of the South, and once you stand at the rim, you’ll understand why. Only one other interstate park exists in the whole country, and this one earns its place.

Daniel Boone named it after the break in the mountain

Native peoples hunted this land long before anyone from Europe set foot here. Then in 1767, Daniel Boone came through looking for an easier route west through Pine Mountain.

The terrain stopped him cold. He and his companions found the mountain so rugged they named the area after the “break” in the ridge.

Nearly two centuries later, Congress passed Public Law 275 in 1953 and created the park. It opened the next year, tucked inside the Jefferson National Forest in one of Virginia’s most remote corners.

Seven overlooks line the canyon rim road

A ring road on the Virginia side connects seven overlooks, and each one gives you a different angle into the gorge.

Towers Overlook draws the most people, with views of massive sandstone formations left behind as softer rock wore away over millions of years.

Tower Tunnel Overlook lets you look straight down at a railroad tunnel cut through the rock below. Stateline Overlook puts you right on the Virginia-Kentucky line.

On clear days, you can see into three states from the rim.

25 miles of trails from easy strolls to canyon descents

More than 25 miles of trail cut through the park, and they range from flat walks to leg-burning descents into the canyon.

The Prospectors Trail runs a moderate-to-difficult three-mile loop through tall hardwoods and sandstone cliffs down into the heart of the gorge.

The Geological Trail follows a narrow ridge with numbered posts that explain the rock along the way. If you want something easier, the Overlook Trail is a 1.5-mile path along the canyon edge with views of the river more than 1,000 feet below.

The Bottom of the Breaks Trail will test your legs, with creek crossings, rocky ground and steep switchbacks all the way to the canyon floor.

Over 300 climbing routes on Appalachian sandstone

Rock climbing opened here in 2016 after years of work between the park, the Access Fund and the Central Appalachian Climbers Coalition.

The canyon walls are hard Appalachian sandstone, similar to what you find at New River Gorge in West Virginia.

Since opening, the coalition and park have put up more than 300 sport and traditional routes, and they keep adding more. Difficulty ranges from beginner to advanced.

You need to fill out a free waiver each year. Pinnacle Rock is the easiest crag to reach, just a two-minute walk from the parking area.

Elk returned after 170 years away

Virginia’s last elk was killed in 1855, and the eastern elk subspecies went extinct shortly after 1877. In February 2023, elk walked inside the park for the first time in over a century.

Then in 2012, the state launched a restoration program, bringing 75 Rocky Mountain elk to a 600-acre plot near the park. The herd has grown to more than 250 animals across parts of Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties.

Guided bus tours run from March through October on select dates, and the park reports a 100 percent success rate at finding the herd.

Class V rapids rip through the gorge in October

The Russell Fork River runs through the heart of Breaks Canyon and carries some of the toughest whitewater in the eastern United States.

Each October, water released from John Flannagan Dam on the first four full weekends turns the gorge into a Class V gauntlet.

The river splits into three sections, with Class III water on the upper and lower stretches and Class IV-V in the gorge itself.

That middle section is strictly for experienced paddlers. Lives have been lost here. No commercial rafting companies operate on this river.

A 2,000-foot zipline along the canyon rim

The Canyon Rim Zipline opened in 2017 and stretches more than 2,000 feet along the edge of the gorge. Three sections carry you from one overlook to another high above the Russell Fork River.

Guides take groups of eight or fewer, and the full trip runs between an hour and a half and two and a half hours.

You need to weigh between 70 and 250 pounds to ride. The zipline runs Thursday through Monday during the season, weather permitting.

Peregrine falcons nest on the canyon cliffs

Breaks Interstate Park sits on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, and its deep forests, canyon walls and water draw dozens of species. Hawks, vultures and bald eagles patrol the air above.

In 2007, the park released peregrine falcons into the canyon, and a breeding pair took hold on the cliffs soon after.

Spring and summer bring breeding warblers, including the Swainson’s Warbler, Hooded Warbler and Northern Parula.

Each winter, the park joins the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count.

Pedal boats and water slides on Laurel Lake

Laurel Lake is a 12-acre man-made lake stocked with bluegill and bass, and you can rent pedal boats, canoes and kayaks from the dock during warmer months.

A two-acre Beaver Pond nearby gives you another spot to fish. You’ll need a valid Virginia or Kentucky fishing license if you want to cast a line.

For the kids, Splash in the Park has a 4,000-square-foot beach-entry pool with four water slides and a spray ground, open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Bobcats, bears and timber rattlesnakes call it home

The mix of forest, cliffs, meadows and water here supports serious wildlife. White-tailed deer, red foxes, bobcats and black bears all live in the park.

You’ll find gray treefrogs, mountain chorus frogs and wood frogs in the wetter areas. Timber rattlesnakes and northern copperheads live in the rocky spots, so watch where you step.

The park and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources have set up trail cameras that show heavy use of restored habitat by deer, turkey, bobcats and other animals.

Explore Breaks Interstate Park in Virginia

You can reach the park at 627 Commission Circle in Breaks, Va., by following Virginia Route 80 or Kentucky Route 80.

The nearest towns are Breaks, Va. and Elkhorn City, Ky. Check the official website for seasonal hours and tour schedules.

Day-use admission runs $3 per car. The park stays open year-round, but campgrounds operate from about March through November.

Cell service is thin out here, and gas stations are few, so fill your tank and download your maps before you head in.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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