Scott County: Nature, Trails, and History

Scott County can be explored through a range of interests: striking geological formations and trails sit alongside traces of history, collections, and musical traditions. If you’re looking for a hotel, this overview can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Nature and Trails

The Natural Tunnel is more than 850 feet long and ten stories high. It was naturally formed through a limestone ridge over thousands of years. Natural Tunnel State Park also offers canoe trips on the Clinch River—another way to spend time outdoors apart from hiking.

The trails vary in length and route. The Devil’s Fork Trail is a 6.9-mile loop that leads to the geological formation known as Devil’s Bathtub. The left fork of the Devil’s Fork Trail Loop crosses 13 streams on the way there. The Little Stony Trail is a six-mile round-trip hike to a 24-foot waterfall; the waterfall is three miles from the trailhead. This gives you a choice between a loop and an out-and-back route with different destinations. The Little Stony Trail is designated a National Recreation Trail, in part for its scenic significance and ease of access.

The Bear Rock Trail is a short hike with expansive views over Little Stony Creek Gorge. The Bear Rock overlook sits on a steep rock face with no railings or signs; keep this in mind when planning your visit. For longer outings, the Chief Benge Scout Trail offers the option of multi-day backpacking with overnight stays or hiking a section of the trail.

The landscape and waterways also have their own appeal: Bark Camp Recreation Area is beside a 45-acre lake that is regularly stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, several species of sunfish, and channel catfish. Glady Fork Wetland, maintained by beavers, includes open meadows, marshland, swampy brushland, ponds, and hardwood forests. Jefferson National Forest covers most of High Knob in northern Scott County and extends farther north from there.

Historic Sites and Collections

The Gate City Historic District covers five blocks in downtown Gate City, the county seat of Scott County. Since the 19th century, the area has developed into an important trading center for the surrounding region. The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail traces a longer historical route: laid out in 1775, it ran from Long Island of the Holston in present-day Kingsport, Tennessee, through Scott County and Lee County, and through Cumberland Gap in Virginia to Kentucky.

The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center has a museum, library, conference room, gift shop, and outdoor classroom. Interactive exhibits invite visitors to try hands-on activities, including making a spark with flint and steel and trying on period-appropriate historical clothing. The center is just outside Kane Gap, one of the last undeveloped sections of the Wilderness Road.

The Kilgore Fort House was built by Robert Kilgore. It is the last surviving structure in a series of twelve forts that stretched from Castlewood, Virginia, to Cumberland Gap and served as refuge for early settlers in the late 18th century. The Fannon Railroad Museum tells a different story of collecting: its holdings include a restored, authentic N&W railroad caboose, a Blue Diamond Coal Company diesel locomotive from Scotia, Kentucky, and an ETW&NC tender car known as the Tweetsie Line. The museum also includes a depot that was used as a prop in the film “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Music and Regional Culture

Saturday concerts at the Carter Family Fold use acoustic instruments only; electric instruments are not permitted. The Carter Fold Snack Bar serves homemade snacks. On a regional scale, The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, connects the Carter Family Fold with other heritage venues. The route runs through the Appalachian Mountains.

Bush Mill also brings together technology and regional heritage: it is a restored, working, water-powered grist mill. Its metal wheel is 30 feet in diameter and 4 feet wide; at maximum operating capacity, it generates about 30 horsepower. At Bush Mill Day in October, the Nickelsville Ruritan Club grinds corn for sale; the event also includes apple butter making. Check the event date before your trip.

More Ways to Spend Your Stay

The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail loop takes visitors through small communities, long stretches of scenic roads, and lush, growing forests. At Creation Kingdom Zoo, visitors can see rare animals up close; the zoo also serves as a breeding facility for rare and endangered species. If you’d like to include golf in your travel plans, consider Scott County Golf Course, a challenging nine-hole course with expansive views of the Scott County landscape.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Duffield, Giles County, Prince Edward County, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Westmoreland County, Appomattox County, Rockbridge County.

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