Breaks Interstate Park got its name due to two states sharing its management. Commonly shortened to The Breaks, it lies in the Appalachian Mountains along the Virginia-Kentucky border. The Breaks has been called the Grand Canyon of the South.
Breaks Interstate Park
2024 Price: $3 per vehicle
Park activities include hiking, elk tours, a zip line, rock climbing, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and camping.
Landscape
Breaks Canyon is one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi River, carved by the Russel Fork of the Big Sandy River. The canyon is five miles long and up to 1,600 feet deep. At the state line, Russel fork “breaks” through Pine Mountain and the Pine Mountain Fault.
In the mid-1700s, Daniel Boone arrived here looking for an easier passage through Pine Mountain. He gave the area its name, The Breaks.
One of the most visited and photographed areas is The Towers. The Towers is a section of exposed sandstone and rock-shale walls.
Overlooks
I visited four overlooks: Towers Overlook, Towers Tunnel Overlook, Clinchfield Overlook, and State Line Overlook. It was a misty and overcast day, which gave the photos a certain ambiance.
Towers Overlook
The path to the overlooks is easy and short; however, there are stone steps and a wooden staircase.
Towers Tunnel Overlook
The Clinchfield Line passes under the saddle between the Towers and the Chimney through the 900-foot Towers Tunnel. This tunnel allows the line to avoid the entrenched meander bend of Russell Fork. From the overlook I saw the tunnel and the railroad on a natural bench along the gorge.
Towers Tunnel Trail is a 0.25-moderate trail with yellow blazes. There is also a short section of wooden steps. From this trail, you can also hop on the Loop Trail or Prospector Traill.
Clinchfield Overlook
The Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad, called the Clinchfield Line, completed its route through The Breaks in 1915. At the time, The Clinchfield was the costliest American line (per foot) due in part to the Towers and Stateline Tunnels. This line was acquired by CSX Transportation whose coal trains still travel the gorge today.
There are multiple steps down to the overlook. Looking to my right, I could also see the State Line Overlook.
There is a second overlook on a spur trail to the left.
State Line Overlook
It was fully raining by the time I reached the State Line Overlook and mists obscured the real beauty of the overlook. I went back the next day when it was sunny and had much better views.
The Virginia-Kentucky border follows Pine Mountain’s crest. You can also see the rail line curving along the opposite canyon wall.
Route 80 Overlooks
There are also two overlooks outside the park along VA State Route 80: Lovers Leap Overlook and Mill Rock Point Overlook.
I stopped at Mill Rock Point, named for the millstones carved from the sandstone at its base. The overlook is a short walk from the parking area, down a set of wooden steps.
Hiking
There are over a dozen hiking trails in the park, most less than one mile long. In addition to the trails down to the overlooks, I also hiked the Prospector Trail, Geological Trail, Laurel Branch Trail, and Coldspring Trail.
Another popular hike is the Bottom of the Breaks Trail, which is an extremely strenuous hike to the bottom of the canyon. It has 800 feet of elevation gain and generally takes 4 hours, so it should not be started late in the day.
Prospector Trail
From the Towers Tunnel Trail, I turned onto the 1.5-mile Prospector Trail. I consider it a moderate to difficult trail, marked by orange blazes. From Towers Tunnel, the last ¾ mile is a rocky uphill climb.
It rained before and during my hike, which made it more difficult with slick leaves. In autumn, leaves cover the narrow ridgeline obscuring rocks and roots. There were also a few rock scrambles.
I loved that the trail wandered through caves and unique boulder formations.
Because it is sandwiched between the first and second tiers of cliffs that form the canyon, it is also called “Belt of the Breaks.”
Geological Trail
From the Prospector Trail, I took the spur onto the Geological Trail. This moderate 0.35-mile trail is on a narrow ridge and blazed with white markers. There are numbered interpretive posts tied to guides you can pick up at the Visitor Center.
A popular choice is to combine the Geological and Ridge Trails to create a loop near the State Line Overlook.
Laurel Branch Trail
Named for the stream it follows, this 0.75-mile trail connects to multiple trails in the park. It has red blazes. The small section connecting the Prospector and Geological Trails was more moderate in difficulty, but the rest is easier and wider.
After the main road, it wanders through forests of hemlocks, poplars, and rhododendron. There is little elevation change with some wooden steps, bridges, and a couple of logs acting as temporary bridges.
I turned off on the Cold Spring Trail, but Laurel Branch continues to the Lake Trail.
Cold Spring Trail
This trail, with yellow blazes, follows a streambed from Laurel Branch to the Cold Spring. Then I had to walk up a gravel-and-asphalt drive to the main road.
It is on the lower end of moderate difficulty, with more rocks and obstacles than Laurel Branch.
Wildlife
On my hikes, I saw American crows, blue jays, Carolina chickadees, Carolina wrens, golden-crowned kinglets, hermit thrushes, red-bellied woodpeckers, and white-throated sparrows.
There were also a bunch of squirrels.
With so much to do, I highly recommend Breaks Interstate Park! It is perfect for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and those who love unique geological structures.