Important Notices
| COVID-19 & the VBWTBefore heading out to visit a site on the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail, be sure to check if that site has any COVID-19 policies or closures in place. This information is typically posted on a site's own website. |
Sites On This Loop
- MLP01: Compton Mountain to Horn Mountain Driving Loop
- MLP02: Poplar Gap Park/Sunset Hollow
- MLP03: Elk Viewing Area
- MLP04: Breaks Interstate Park
- MLP05: John W. Flanagan Reservoir
- MLP06: Branham Farm Wildlife Area
- MLP07: Birch Knob
- MLP08: Pound River: Active Beaver Area and Recreational Area
- MLP09: Cranes Nest River Trail
- MLP10: North Fork of the Pound & Phillips Creek Recreation Area
Description
The Pound River decorates this region made famous by John Fox, Jr., in his 1908 novel “Trail of the Lonesome Pine” that mentions several of the places in this area of Virginia. Many of the sites on this loop are situated directly on the Pound River or along one of the waterways that join the Pound River. The majority of sites are located within the valleys or surrounding mountains, with some sites, such as Cranes Nest River Trail, offering views from berms overlooking the river. In addition to being destinations themselves, these venues are excellent for visitors in transit to West Virginia or Kentucky. Breaks Interstate Park, for example, is nestled in the Cumberland Mountain Overthrust Block, along the Kentucky/Virginia state border. Climb to the peak of Birch Knob, and on a clear day, be rewarded with views of Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina! The Pound River and other waterways, as well as surrounding mountains offer a great diversity of habitat for a variety of endemic wildlife.
Loop Map
Services
Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce
276.935.4147
bcchamber@bvu.net
Dickenson County Chamber of Commerce
276.926.6074
chamber@dcwin.org
Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority
276-762-0011
info@heartofappalachia.com
Wise County Chamber of Commerce
276.679.0961
wisecountycoc@verizon.net