Bountiful nature, as richly colored as our mosses underfoot, our mountains on the horizon, and our sky overhead. Rivers to raft, heights to scale, camping, birding and porches to be sat on…while smiles form lazily upon contented faces. Expect this and more at Breaks Interstate Park, where uncommon history, heritage and heart offer a welcome that never wears out. Click here to learn more about the exciting activities at Breaks Interstate Park, or connect with Breaks Park on Facebook!
Breaks Interstate Park Activities
Hiking Trails More than 25 miles of hiking trails lace the park, varying from easy to difficult. Most are less than one mile long, but interconnected trails offer the more ambitious hiker a good choice of routes over varying terrain. Maps with descriptions of each trail are available at the Visitor Center. Trail names give clues to the outstanding physical features of each: Cold Spring, Geological, Grassy Creek, Grassy Overlook, Lake, Loop, Overlook, Prospectors’ Ridge, River, Towers, and Tower Tunnel. Both the Ridge and Geological trails are self-guided, with booklets available at the Visitor Center that detail points and notes of interest. But if you would prefer, guided hikes are scheduled throughout the summer.
Birding
As a part of the Virginia Birding and wildlife trail, Breaks Interstate Park is home to a wide variety of birds. Some of those include the Swainson’s Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Turkey Vulture, Red Tail Hawk and Osprey. Each winter the park participates in the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. The information collected is reported to the Audubon Society, where it is used to determine increases or declines in area species. We welcome public participation in this event. Should you wish to join us, more information is available by contacting the park Visitor Center.
Fishing
Laurel Lake, Beaver Pond, and the Russell Fork River offer a variety of fishing experiences, and the promise of a good catch. Laurel Lake, a twelve-acre man-made lake, and our two-acre Beaver Pond are stocked with bluegill and bass. The Russell Fork River is stocked with Rainbow Trout by Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries officials.
Biking (Mountain Bike Trail) & Rentals
The Mountain Bike Trail offers breathtaking scenery. The trail is a stack loop trail system offering up to nearly 12 miles of riding, from moderate to difficult. Depending on the route chosen, bikers may plan rides of varying length, with the possibilities of good climbs and long downhill runs. Positive reviews for this trail are posted regularly on the websites for hiking enthusiasts.
Geocaching
The 21st Century’s high-tech hide and seek! Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game for adventure-seekers of all ages. Using a GPS device, participants hide and seek small containers called caches, or “geocaches” and often post their experiences online. There are currently more than 60 geocaches hidden in and around the Breaks Park area. GPS devices and maps with Geocache coordinates are available at the Visitor’s Center.
Canyon Rim Zipline
Debuted in the fall of 2017, the Canyon Rim Zipline is truly one of a kind. Spanning along the rim of the Russell Fork River Gorge, the zipline will take our guests to heights unseen. Catch a glimpse of why the gorge is so infamously known as the “Grand Canyon of the South” on over 2,000 feet of line with three different stops. The park has highly trained guides who will assist our guests with safety tips and will make sure they have a ride of a lifetime. A maximum of eight people are allowed per trip, each trip will take anywhere between an hour and an hour and a half.