Natural Tunnel State Park in Virginia Visitors Guide

Natural Tunnel State Park is located in Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains near Duffield in Scott County. The park is 909 acres large and, as its name suggests, protects an 850-foot-long and 100-high natural tunnel. It’s been a tourist attraction for well over 100 years.

Exploring Natural Tunnel State Park

 It is rumored that Daniel Boone was the first non-native to set eyes on the tunnel in the 18th Century. The tunnel is so impressive that famous politician William Jennings Bryan called it the “8th Wonder of the World.”

The park has a variety of hiking trails that offer something for everyone.  The tunnel is the key feature of the park and is incredibly impressive. Many of the trails offer views of the tunnel. We recommend hiking down to the base and getting a close-up view of the tunnel.  However, the railroad tracks that run through the tunnel are still active.  Consider hiking the Lover’s Leap Trail. This hike gives you a fantastic view.  

Legend of Lover’s Leap

Legend has it that a Cherokee maiden and a Shawnee warrior fell in love but were forbidden to marry by their tribes. Unable to live together in this life, the two decided to spend eternity together and jumped to their deaths from the highest point above the tunnel. Today, the point where the two star-crossed lovers are said to have jumped is known as Lover’s Leap.

Camping at Natural Tunnel State Park

Natural Tunnel State Park is a great place to spend the weekend. The park has two campgrounds: Cove View Campground has 16 sites, and Lover’s Leap Campground has 18 sites. All sites in both campgrounds have electric and water hookups for RVers. Cabins are also available for rent. 

If you don’t have time to camp, that’s okay. Hiking some of the trails can give you a good feel for the park in a couple of hours. No matter what, stopping at Natural Tunnel State Park is worth your time.