Jackie Steffan This is one of the first parks people told me to visit when I moved to Tennessee. If I’m being honest, I wrote them off, thinking there’s no way it can be that impressive. This is me putting my pride aside and admitting Natural Tunnel State Park is incredible. The park contains many miles of hiking trails, campgrounds, cabins, and amphitheater, and a chairlift down to its crowning glory, the Natural Tunnel. The tunnel itself is over 850 feet long and 10 stories high, with an operating railway that runs through the entire tunnel. The park is open year round, but the chairlift is closed in the winter, so you will have to hike down to the tunnel. Like most other VA state parks, there is a small fee to enter the park, $5 per day and $5/person for a roundtrip chairlift ride.
Getting There
From I-26:
- Take I-26W to the end and merge onto US-23 N
- After about 20 miles, turn right onto Natural Tunnel Parkway. There is a sign here for the park.
- In about 1 mile, take the right onto Chairlift Loop and proceed to the pay station.
- Continue on this road to the Visitor Center. There is a large parking area at the top.
Hikes in the Park
Natural Tunnel State Park has seven trails of varying lengths and difficulties. We hiked on three of the seven trails and give details on those below. A map of the park and its trails is below.
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-naturaltunnel.pdf
To Lover’s Leap– 0.36 or 0.5 miles one way
From the Visitor Center, take the ramp to the left to start the hike. This will take you to an overlook of the tunnel. From the overlook, continue left on the Lover’s Leap Trail.
While we were visiting, the Lover’s Leap Trail was closed from here for maintenance. There is a split after the overlook, if the Lover’s Leap trail is open, go right at the fork. This trail is 0.36 miles one direction. A left at the fork takes you on Gorge Ridge, a slightly longer, slightly less scenic route for 0.54 miles to the Lover’s Leap Overlook.
If you take Gorge Ridge, there are a few turns to keep in mind. Shortly after the initial fork, there is another with Tunnel Hill Trail. Keep right at this intersection. Gorge Ridge will eventually meet with Purchase Ridge Trail. At this intersection, take a right and make your way to the Lover’s Leap Overlook.
Purchase Ridge Trail
Purchase Ridge is a 2.5 mile lollypop trail. From Lover’s Leap, take the trail to the right at the Gorge Ridge intersection. You’ll stay on this trail for about a mile, passing through the forest and past the many campgrounds at Natural Tunnel State Park. Make sure to stay on the trail rather than going to the campgrounds, this can get confusing at points.
The trail will eventually lead to a split, this is just a loop so you can take either direction. If you are just looking to go to the overlook and turn around, head to the right at the fork. Shortly after, there is a wooden platform overlooking the tunnel and surrounding valley. This is one of the highest points in the park. If you’re looking for a slightly longer trail, this is the one to do! We saw a box turtle on our hike, which made it that much better.
Tunnel Trail
If you’re up for a steep hike to the tunnel rather than the chairlift, or if you’re on a budget and don’t want to pay the $5 chairlift fee, this is how you’ll access the tunnel. From the Visitor Center, head to the right, under the chairlift. The trail starts to the left on the sidewalk across the street from the chairlift. Weave along and down the hill to the terminus of the chairlift. From here, take the boardwalk to the tunnel. Be careful as you are crossing the railroad tracks, and enjoy the wonder that is Virginia’s very own Natural Tunnel. This trail is 0.27 miles one-way, but is very steep.
