daniel boone field trip

The Daniel Boone Homestead 400 Daniel Boone Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508 Upcoming Event June 29  - Evening on the Green

Spring hours.

Park Open for Vehicles daily

9:00 am-4:00 pm 

The front gate closes at 4pm  

Park Open for Pedestrians 

Sunrise to Sunset every day.

 Visitors Center open Saturday and Sunday (10-4) Tours at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm or by appointment.  

Daniel Boone Homestead is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in partnership with The Daniel Boone Homestead Associates

Josh Shapiro, Governor Hayley Haldeman, Chair Andrea Lowery, Executive Director

Winner of 2 History Awards From the Kentucky Historical Society

THIS WEBSITE FUNDED BY THE FORT BOONESBOROUGH FOUNDATION

Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail

North Carolina Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, Inc.

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371 Technology Trail Lane Duffield, VA 24244

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Last updated: November 14, 2023

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91 Bartlett Park Road Middlesboro, KY 40965

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Daniel Boone

born on November 2, 1734, Boone was an American frontiersman whose western Virginia exploits and Boonesborough settlement made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States.

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Students and Teachers of US History this is a video of  Stanley  and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The December 2015 video was an impromptu capture by a member of the audience of Penn students, professors and guests that numbered about 200. -  Click Here  for more information

Daniel Boone Homestead 400 Daniel Boone Rd. Birdsboro, PA 19508 (610) 582-4900 www.danielboonehomestead.org

Other States:

Daniel Boone, one of the nation's most famous frontiersmen, was born and raised in Pennsylvania, just east of Reading, on November 2, 1734. 

Little is known of Daniel's Pennsylvania years, though he did return to visit his boyhood home in 1781 and again in 1788. Of course, as a young man he began the adventures he is known for, opening new regions of Kentucky for settlement. He established Boonesborough, Kentucky in 1775.

His father, Squire Boone, an English Quaker and prominent Pennsylvanian businessman, migrated south in 1750 after selling the homestead to William Maugridge, a relative of the Boones'. After changing hands several times, the Homestead became a state-owned historic site in 1938.

Today the site includes 579 acres of land, seven eighteenth century structures, a lake, picnic areas, and other recreational facilities. A tour begins at the Visitor Center, which introduces the homestead through a variety of interesting exhibits. Next is the Boone House. Originally the one-room log cabin where Daniel and his ten siblings were born, this dwelling has evolved into a two-story structure. The Boone House Cellar is the original.

The Smokehouse was built by a later owner in the late eighteenth century. The Blacksmith Shop (Squire Boone's trade), though not original to this site, was built in 1769. The Bertolet House , moved to this site from the Oley Valley along with the Bertolet Bakehouse , dates back to 1737. A number of other interesting structures, including an 1810 sawmill, have also been located to the Boone Homestead to provide visitors with a fine recreation of early Pennsylvania life.

The Rifle Range is the site of a number of flintlock marksmanship events throughout the year. There are two beautiful picnic areas and even overnight lodging for organized youth groups. To top it off, the Daniel Boone Homestead also serves as a wildlife refuge. Visitors can observe many species of birds and mammals here.

The Homestead offers fine educational programming for School Groups . Adaptable for any age, Programs consist of Guided Tours of the Homestead and Self-Guided Tours of the natural landscape. Both stimulate the imagination and encourage students to discover the sights, sounds, and objects from 18th century Berks County.

Copyright © 1996-2014 by Patrick Tadeushuk. All Rights Reserved.

10 Best Things to do in Daniel Boone National Forest

There are probably 100s of things to do in Daniel Boone National Forest as it’s an incredibly large and beautiful area to explore in Kentucky but rather than searching up what those places are, I’m going to share 10 throughout the area you absolutely have to see.

Quick info:

• Name: Daniel Boone National Forest (aka Daniel Boone National Park or Daniel Boone State Park).
• Location: Kentucky (it goes through a large part of it).
• Things to do: Waterfall hikes, swimming, caving, natural bridges and many more activities.
• Family friendly place? Somewhat, I will show you which places on the list are best for family trips here.
• Rating: 5 out of 5 .

I’ve taken 2 trips to Daniel Boone National Forest so far and I have to say knowing where to go to find the best spots in this area is key to getting the most out of your trip and that’s what this post is going to do. My first trip here wasn’t even planned so I missed out on a lot of awesome spots, but on my second trip here, I corrected that mistake.

It’s called Flat Lick Falls and it’s one of the many waterfalls throughout the Daniel Boone State Park area. I’ll be showing you where this one below.

Map location:

It’s basically located in eastern Kentucky as you can see. This is a very large area and if you try to use your GPS to input Daniel Boone National Forest, you may get a lot of mixed and confusing results like I did. This is why it’s better to explore this place based on specific spots inside the area, and that’s exactly what the list below will be doing so you don’t get lost like I did when I first came here.

Just as well, there are other connecting forests and parks south and north of Daniel Boone National Forest worth exploring and I’ll also be providing you with my top recommendations on that later in this article.

10 things to do in Daniel Boone National Forest:

• Flat Lick Falls
• Natural Bridge State Park
• Red River Gorge
• Swimming at Red River Gorge
• Scenic overlooks at Red River Gorge
• Yahoo Falls and Yahoo Arch
• Natural Arch scenic area
• Cumberland Falls
• Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park
• Split Bow Arch

Flat Lick Falls:

Flat Lick Falls was the first place I discovered with my buddy in the northern region of Daniel Boone National Forest and it was only thanks to speaking to the locals who mentioned it (after we realized our GPS led us the wrong way). This is considered one of the most beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest waterfalls you’ll find in the entire region with tons to do around it

There’s an awesome hike to the waterfall itself, swimming right by it, caving and much more to do here! Exploring Flat Lick Falls was honestly one of my favorite things to do Daniel Boone National Forest and you can literally spend one or more days here.

Natural Bridge State Park KY:

Natural Bridge State Park is one of the the most popular spots to explore in all of Daniel Boone National Forest but difficult to find unless you have the right GPS input (which I included). There’s a few reasons why this is one of the most iconic places to explore in Daniel Boone National Forest:

• Most Daniel Boone National Forest photos come from this place.
• It has many hotels, resorts, attractions and things to do (besides exploring the park)
• It’s right next to Red River Gorge (the next things to explore on this list)

Red River Gorge:

Red River Gorge is the top attraction in all of Daniel Boone National Forest in my opinion and it’s why I recommend that no matter what you decide to do around the whole area, that this be on your mandatory exploration list! I even made an entire list of the best things to do in Red River Gorge to make that easier for you and as for hikes, that list does include it but my personal favorite is the Grays Arch trail . 

This area is literally 10-20 minutes away from Natural Bridge State Park and has tons of fun things you can do there. At the very least, start with a scenic drive around it, and see which areas have the most cars/people as they are usually where you’ll find the best hikes (or just read my post above for specific areas there to see). 

Swimming at Red River Gorge:

There’s one long river throughout the Red River Gorge area of Daniel Boone National Forest where you can go swimming and there’s plenty of beach areas as well as boulders you can cliff dive from. Now I do recommend you be very careful with cliff jumping anywhere and in our case, the water was very dirty and we couldn’t see the bottom so when we found a good spot to cliff jump, we first got into the water and tested to see how deep it was. 

Overlooks of Red River Gorge:

Scenic overlooks are plentiful at Red River Gorge too and as I said, you will see plenty of signs for trails that you can enter into with your cars. Some trails here are pretty short from the parking lot and will take you to some truly breathtaking views and overlooks. Others will connect to longer trails that take you down to the base of Red River Gorge.

When I went here the first time with my friend, we chose the Chimney Rock trail , which led us to a parking lot, from which we walked about a quarter of a mile to the overlook. This was one of the shortest walks we had left before the sun set, so we had to go with one that would allow us to see one last sight in Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest, before we continued on our trip.

Note: Beware of the horrible sweat bees in Red River Gorge! When I was there during the summer, it was an awful experience (bug spray might help with the sweat bees).

Yahoo Falls and Yahoo Arch:

This is a several mile hike that connects together 2 awesome places in the region which is Yahoo Falls, which is kind of a cave waterfall and another awesome gem on the same trail which is Yahoo Arch, which is also kind of like a giant cave. This is one of the best hikes in the southern region of all of Daniel Boone National Forest that you’ll find ( it’s easy ).

Natural Arch scenic area:

With all the places called natural bridge and arch, you can now see why a place like Natural Bridge State Park from earlier is hard to find. This specific spot however is in a totally different area of Daniel Boone National Forest and is an equally amazing place to explore because of the overlooks for multiple arches in the area and hikes you can also take to see them.

Cumberland Falls:

This is a very probably the largest and longest waterfall in Daniel Boone National Forest and on top of that, there are hikes and even more waterfalls to explore in this area, including one called Eagle Falls that I highly recommend you check out too! Here’s another angle of Cumberland Falls:

Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park:

This is the only attraction on the list that is more for families and people seeking to camp out in Daniel Boone National Forest. There are actually tons of spots for that, but this specific area has a great combination of activities for kids and families like obstacle courses, group activities and much more to do.

Split Bow Arch:

This is one of the best arches in southern area of Daniel Boone National Park. The good news is that the drive will get you very close to this arch before you do a short hike to get there.

These happen to both be located within the Red River Gorge area of Daniel Boone Forest:

Aside from the bugs at Red River Gorge and incorrect GPS listings, my first visit to Daniel Boone National Forest was pretty awesome and the second one was way better because I understood how to properly explore this place! And there will be even more future explorations of this region when I get the my next chance to do it especially to the arches and natural bridges there (including this one):

Update: I found an awesome individual on Instagram named Max who explores Daniel Boone National Forest regularly. He shares a lot of the locations he’s found there and I wish I had known about his page earlier. Either way, here is a link to his Instagram here so you can find more places to explore in the region.

Is Daniel Boone National Forest worth visiting?

Absolutely! It has amazing hikes, waterfalls and scenery that is breathtaking for tourists and adventure seekers alike.

Can you drive through Daniel Boone National Forest?

Yes! There are numerous roads that run across Daniel Boone National Forest.

Is Red River Gorge part of Daniel Boone National Forest?

Yes, although on a map it doesn’t look connected, Red River Gorge is classified as part of the national forest.

Things to do nearby:

While Daniel Boone National Forest is stunning in many spots and I totally understand that I probably only explored 1% of it, let me tell you that outside (and not far) from this area are other beautiful spots you can (and should) explore. Let me give you a few examples:

• Blue Ridge Mountains
• Big South Fork
• Hocking Hills State Park

All of these areas are as vast and in some cases even bigger/longer than Daniel Boone National Forest and you can really do a ton of things there too.

Hi I'm Vitaliy, I love nature travel and this blog encapsulates all of my adventures and top recommendations of what to see (and what to avoid).

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Hi Vitaliy,

Thanks so much for writing this! I am headed down from Cleveland towards Great Smokey Mountains National Park and onward along Blue Ridge Pkwy. I was curious about Daniel Boone NF and your article here was the first I found.

I appreciate you highlighting your favorites and demystifying a few things, since it’s really hard to find things in some of these national forests since they don’t get the visits the national parks get. We’ve seen most of the national parks though, so I’m trying to find more of the better kept secrets in the national forests. This will actually be our first road trip in years through the Appalachians and usually we go out West. I’ll have to see your recommendations for PNW since we’re headed there for 3 weeks this summer.

Again, thanks!

You are most welcome Lee! I’d like to add some suggestions for the direction you’re heading in (from Cleveland to Great Smoky Mountains):

1) First, I’d absolutely recommend you stop by Hocking Hills National Park (south of Cleveland). It’s an astounding park.

2) Then as you head further south into Kentucky and Daniel Boone National Forest, you’ll find a lot of the stuff I mention on the way. Just make sure to label the spots you wish to see on your GPS ahead of time in case you lose connection.

3) Blue Ridge Parkway is very nice, but it does get repetitive. You may want to check out my post here on things to see on the Appalachian Mountains (which shows you where it starts on the northeast down to Atlanta).

4) Finally, Great Smoky Mountain National Park is gorgeous and when I went there, it was only really a drive through, but if you want to stop anywhere, Gatlinburg is the closest town with tons to do.

Hope you have a safe and awesome trip. And if you have any questions about where to go, or about the PNW (or south west like Utah, Arizona, ect…) feel free to ask me anytime.

Hello I have several questions I would like to please ask you, do you have an email?

Hi Sheryl, you can reach out to me on my contact page here .

Some places I recommend in the Northern part of the Daniel Boone are Lockegee Rock and The abandoned fire tower! Lockegee is very close to Morehead and while it is not a very long hike it is some mild rock climbing which leads to a beautiful view! The abandoned fire tower while not a long hike it a huge amount of stairs which lead to the fire tower that you can still go up to this day and get a spectacular view!

Nice suggestions Lexi! Really appreciate you sharing that and I will be sure to add this to my list the next time I go to Daniel Boone National Forest!

I’m not the most experienced outdoors men.

Is this trek good for novices like myself?

What do you recommend i pack for the trip?

Visiting Daniel Boone next weekend for memorial day weekend.

Hi Seth, which exact areas in Daniel Boone National Forest are you visiting? Considering it is huge, you’ll find a lot of options for experienced and inexperienced hikers. For the latter, I recommend more of the northern end of Daniel Boone and visiting places like the Sky Bridge (The famous natural bridge) and Red Gorge.

Both these places are very scenic and some hiking is involved, but nothing too crazy.

For natural bridges, the hike to the actual spot is about a half a mile, and it can be steep but it’s made for the general public to access it. For Red Gorge, there’s plenty of areas in the loop to go hiking and access parking areas which lead to overlooks, and those overlooks are pretty close to the parking area, which is also an easy hike.

Just bring bug spray because there’s a lot of sweat bees in the area. Enjoy that memorial day weekend!

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The Historic Daniel Boone Home

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Step into history at The Historic Daniel Boone Home. The Boone Home is nestled upon the rolling hills of Historic Missouri Wine Country and overlooks the Femme Osage Valley. This beautiful setting represents life in the early 1800s and brings the legacy of Daniel Boone to life. Within the thick limestone walls, stories of a daring man offer a glimpse into family matters, risky adventures and hard-fought battles.

Today the Boone Home sits on nearly 300 acres and overlooks the village, a simulated town comprised of more than a dozen 19th century buildings. Each building originated from within 50 miles of the property. Buildings such as the general store, school house and grist mill offer a peek into life on the Missouri frontier.

We are happy to help visitors and area students learn about Daniel Boone, Missouri history and pioneer life throughout the year. However, this means that we are sometimes limited on what types of tours we can offer other visitors when our field trips are on site. If you are interested in visiting us, especially on weekday mornings, please call ahead of time to learn what we can offer.

There is no charge to enter the park and self-guided tours of the village grounds are free, but there is a charge to tour The Historic Daniel Boone Home. We can’t wait to show you around! Visit our Tours page or call the park at 636-798-2005 to learn more about Home and School Group Tour opportunities.

During winter (Dec. 16-March 1), the park is open but the gift shop and guided tours are available only on weekends. Check our website for specific hours. The Historic Daniel Boone Home is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

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Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Day Trip

Historical Rendering of Daniel Boone Along the Wilderness Road

One of the nation’s most historic routes, the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail was blazed by the legendary frontiersman in 1775 from the Long Island of the Holston at what is now Kingsport TN, through the Cumberland Gap of Virginia into Kentucky.  It would become the route for thousands of settlers to the western frontier.

Long before Columbus discovered America, the Wilderness Trail was a major link in the trail systems of the Indians on the North American continent, used for commerce and raids.  Gabriel Arthur , a young indentured servant, was the first of record to travel the route and see the Cumberland Gap, a natural break in the mountains.  Arthur was sent along the trail in 1674 by the Shawnee Indians to secure a trade agreement with settlers.  The next recorded man to see the Gap was Dr. Thomas Walker in 1750.

The most daring effort to colonize the rich lands of the Kentucky River area were those of Colonel Richard Henderson , a Superior Court judge of North Carolina.  Henderson decided the best way to secure the area was to deal directly with the Cherokee Indians.  He discussed plans with friends, and they formed the Transylvania Company and solicited the assistance of Boone in negotiating with the Indians and blazing the trail.

On March 10, 1775, Boone led his 30 trail blazers from Long Island of the Holston to cut the trail through some 200 miles of wilderness northwest through the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky.

Thanks to the Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Trail Association , today, travelers can follow the Wilderness Trail as closely as possible along the original route.  Several historical stops are available along the route, and it makes a great day-long road trip through the scenic rolling hills and valleys of Scott County, VA into Lee County, VA to the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky.

Travelers may begin their journey at any juncture along the Wilderness Road.  Some of the more significant stops are listed below.  For detailed map:   https://danielboonetrail.com/trail-map/

Netherland Inn, Long Island of the Holston, Kingsport, Tennessee

Long Island on the Holston, or Hogoheegee River was the sacred treaty ground to the Cherokee.  It is the western terminus of the Reedy Creek Road, which carried the Great Warrior’s Path from Bristol to Kingsport. The Netherland Inn was strategically located in King’s Port and served as a way station for both river and road travelers.  Visitors can access the Long Island of the Holston via a swinging bridge, located on the Greenbelt walkway across from the Netherland Inn.  On the island, visitors can see the monument erected by the Cherokee nation on land ceded to them in commemoration of the United States Bicentennial.  The stone in the monument was brought from the Qualla Reservation at Cherokee, North Carolina.

Cherokee Nation Marker at Long Island of the Holston

Anderson Blockhouse Site, Carters Valley, Scott County, Virginia

The historic marker indicates the original location of the John Anderson Blockhouse .  Anderson built his blockhouse on the knoll here sometime before 1775. (A replica of the John Anderson Blockhouse was constructed at Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield, VA.  Generally open Saturday and Sunday, May through October, it is currently closed due to COVID-19.  Visitors can drive up and visit the grounds.)

A blockhouse was a specialized log cabin built of squared logs, and with an upper story that extended out overhanging the walls of the lower structure.  The squaring of the timbers made a tight fit, which left no space for an adversary to shoot through into the interior of the structure.

Since the favorite way to get someone who was barricaded within a log cabin to come out was to set fire to it, the overhanging upper story afforded the opportunity to shoot down on anyone attempting to set the lower building on fire.  Blockhouses were used as fortified strong points by the military all across the Eastern North America.

The Anderson Blockhouse functioned as a gathering spot for pioneers, who would wait at the Blockhouse until enough “guns” had gathered to make the trek through Indian territory.  The Blockhouse was the last contact with the Holston Settlements.

After gathering his 30 ax men at Fort Patrick Henry, it was at the Blockhouse that Boone began to blaze the trail into Kentucky.  The trail went north past the Blockhouse on state route 606 to the ford just upstream from the present swinging bridge.  The swinging bridge is still maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and visitors are encouraged to meander out on the bridge.

Moccasin Gap, Gate City, Virginia

Moccasin Gap in Clinch Mountain is one of two ground level water gaps leading from the western reaches of the Great Valley of Virginia into the interior of the Alleghenies, the other being the Narrows of the New River.

The two main trails of the central Appalachians joined for a short distance to make the passage through Moccasin Gap.  The most important one was the Great Warrior’s Path, or the Wilderness Trail, or alternately the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail.

This area was of great significance during Indian times because it was the main trail connecting the Cherokee Country with that of the Shawnee in Ohio.  This last trail ran from the Smokies through Moccasin Gap to Big Stony Creek to High Knob, Pound Gap, Elkhorn Creek, The Big Sandy River, and across the Ohio River.

Daniel Boone, Virginia, Scott County

Hob Nob Drive-in Restaurant

This railroad yard and the community that surrounds it is the only place in Virginia named after Daniel Boone.  This is the original Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail, and Boone reportedly drank from a spring in this area.  Today, this area is more famous as the home of the Hob Nob , an iconic restaurant that has been in the same family for more than 60 years.  It is famous for its diner fare, in particular the soft-serve ice cream cones.

Clinchport, Virginia and Stock Creek

Cinchport was the head waters of flat boat navigation on the Cinch River, just as Kingsport was on the Holston.  Not only did pioneer loggers build massive log rafts here in the winter to catch the spring tide to float their logs to mills at Chattanooga, but settlers farther up the Clinch would bring produce downstream in dug out canoes called bateaux.  Clinchport was the region’s point of entry into the Tennessee River System.  The Wilderness Road followed Stock Creek from here.

Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield, Virginia

Natural Tunnel is a great spot to stop, get out and stretch your legs.  Although the Visitor Center is not open to the public now, the chairlift down to the bottom of the Tunnel is currently available Friday through Sunday.  Ride the chairlift down where you can take the boardwalk out to the mouth of the 850-feet long tunnel.  Tall as a ten-story building, the limestone cave within the tunnel was carved out thousands of years ago by Stock Creek.

Replica of John Anderson Wilderness Road Blockhouse

Wilderness Road Blockhouse Exploration Station, Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield, Virginia

Located within Natural Tunnel State Park, the Wilderness Road Blockhouse is a replica of the original John Anderson Blockhouse that stood on now Carter’s Valley Road and served as a gathering point for pioneers. Those making their way westward would gather at the Blockhouse until there were enough “guns” to make the trek through Indian territory westward to Kentucky.  The Blockhouse is currently closed to visitors due to COVID-19, but travelers may still stop and walk around the grounds.

Daniel Boone Historical Marker, Duffield, Virginia

One of the few remaining Daniel Boone Historical markers in existence.

Kane Gap, Duffield, Virginia

This natural notch was a welcome sight to travelers on the Wilderness Trail.  It was through this Gap that countless thousands trudged as they made their westward.  Accessed via Fraley Avenue, Duffield, this is the only trail where you can actually walk in the footsteps of famed frontiersman Daniel Boone.  The trail is part of the Daniel Boone Birding and Wildlife Trail.  Managed by the Jefferson National Forest Service, the trail is moderate to difficult, but is worth the climb to the Gap.  Just before reaching the Gap, visitors will see the “pioneer hotel” recorded in many journals.  This large rock outcrop served as a shelter to the thousands before they crossed down into the valley below.

Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Interpretative Center, Duffield, Virginia

A satellite location of Natural Tunnel State Park, the Center is currently open Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  Admission is free.  Here visitors learn the important role the Wilderness Road played in American’s westward expansion.  The center offers a glimpse of the rough, unforgiving terrain early settlers traversed on their way to Kentucky.  The museum focuses on the portion of the trail from Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton, Tennessee to the Cumberland Gap and the brave men, women and children who traveled the trail.  There are several hands-on exhibits, such as striking flint and steel to get a spark.

Powell Mountain Overlook, Duffield, Virginia

Regardless of the season, the Powell Mountain Overlook always delivers an amazing view.  Located between Duffield and Stickleyville, Virginia, the Overlook offers a spectacular view down into the valley below and is a favorite stop along the Wilderness Road.

Stickleyville School, Stickleyville, Virginia

The school stands on or near the site of the massacre of James Boone, Daniel’s son.  At the time, the Boones were migrating to Kentucky and James had gone ahead along with several others, notably, Henry Russell. According to accounts of the massacre, “wolves” howled all night around the camp.  At dawn, a mixed party of Shawnee and Cherokee Indians attacked and shot James Boone and Henry Russell, through the hips so that they could not escape.  The pair were then tortured with knives and then killed.  Boone is said to have asked a Shawnee Indian, Big Jim, who Boone knew from visits to the Boone family homestead in North Carolina, to kill him.  Russell was reportedly clubbed to death and his body shot full of arrows.

Jonesville, Virginia

Mumps Fort stood at the top of the hill where the current courthouse is located today.  The Fort was built by William Mumps in 1775 in a community known then as Glade Spring or Sinking Springs.  Mumps Fort abandoned in 1776 at the outbreak of the Cherokee War.  The garrison was then repositioned at Fort Blackmore in Scott County, Virginia.

White Cliffs, Ewing, Virginia

White Cliff Rocks, Ewing, Virginia

The white rock cliffs atop Cumberland Mountain were among the most commonly mentioned geographic features recorded in the journals of the emigrants along the entire length of the Trail.  The pioneers seemed to take the cliffs as a hallmark of the wonderful new land that they were claiming as their own.

The term Cumberland seemed to ring in the souls of the pioneers as the name of the port-of-entry into the Promised Land.  The Cumberland Mountain guided them on their way until they reached Cumberland Gap, which was the gateway to Eden.  From there they traveled across the Cumberland Valley to the Bluegrass of Kentucky.

Wilderness Road State Park, Ewing, Virginia

The Wilderness Road State Park offers picnicking, hiking and nature, and living history programs.  Visitors can enjoy the visitor center, home to a theater showing an award-winning docudrama, “Wilderness Road, Spirit of a Nation.”  The center also has a frontier museum and a gift shop with unique regional gifts.  The park features the reconstructed Martin’s Station, an outdoor, living history depicting life on Virginia’s 1775 frontier.  Guests can also enjoy the park’s picnic shelters, nature play-scape, ADA-certified playground, sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits.

Visitors can hike, bike or horseback ride on the 8.5 Wilderness Road Trail linking the park with more than 50 miles in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Middlesboro, Kentucky

Cumberland Gap National Park

Cumberland Gap National Park is located at the crossroads of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia and creates a natural break in the Appalachian Mountains.  The Cumberland Gap Visitor Center features a museum with interactive exhibits about the Gap’s role as a transportation corridor, and also features the Cumberland Crafts gift shop, which houses juried wares from crafters throughout Appalachia.

The park covers 24,000 acres and is among the largest national parks in the eastern United States.  Stretching about 20 miles, the park runs along the Cumberland Mountains.  It includes 24 known cave features, ranging in size from around 20 feet to more than 16 miles in length.  There are also a large number of cliff systems in the park, the most prominent of which is the 500 feet cliffs of White Rocks, which is located in the eastern portion of the area.  At the northeastern end, the park lies adjacent to the Sillalah Creek Wildlife Management Area and Martin’s Fork Wildlife Management Area and State Natural Area .

Driving the entire Wilderness Road Trail can be done in one full day.  Conveniently located along the way are several places to dine, including Campus Drive-in and The Maple Tree Book Store and Coffee House, Gate City; the Hob Nob , Daniel Boone; ChuBeez , Duffield; A Better Burger , Jonesville; and Dutch Treat, Rose Hill; as well as national chain fast food restaurants.

For lodging convenient to the Wilderness Trail, visitors have the option of Roberts Mill Suites and Estilville Bed & Breakfast , Gate City; Appalachian Mountain Cabins and PapPaw’s Cabin , Duffield; and Wilderness Road Bed & Breakfast, Ewing.  Camping is available at both Natural Tunnel State Park and Cumberland Gap Wilderness Road Campground .

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Agritourism Biking Birding Camping Caving Fishing Geocaching Golf Hiking History Horseback Riding Hunting Music Outfitters Specialty Shopping State Parks Zoo

Places to Stay

Bed & Breakfasts Cabins Campsites Lodges Local Home Rentals

Locally Owned Franchise

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UPCOMING SCOTT COUNTY, VA EVENTS

Stock Creek Passage

Allen Hicks Friday Night Jams

Touring the Galaxy

Gate City Jeep Jamboree

Kayak the Clinch

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North Carolina Daniel Boone Heritage Trail

Daniel Boone called North Carolina home for 21 years (1752 to 1773), more than any other place he lived. Follow the trail to see locations associated with Boone's presence that span several counties. Boone's Cave Park is a great starting point.

3552 Boone’s Cave Road Lexington, NC 27295

(336) 236-4218 ncdanielboonetrail.org Michelle Moore [email protected]

Local Information

Lexington tourism authority.

Ends: 6/15/2024

2024 Outdoor NC Pledge Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes.

(336) 236-4218 - ncdanielboonetrail.org

DANIEL BOONE’S CHALLENGE

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 1 hour
• User Ages: Ages 4 - 7 w/ chaperone and 7+ without

This Challenge Course Features 16 Different Obstacles!

This challenge course features 16 different obstacles, including Kentucky swinging barrels, the pioneer log swinging bridge, and the Timber Bluegrass Forrest. There is an option in the middle of the course to climb higher for the trail blazers. This is a self guided experience, after about a 20 minute intro with our trained guides you navigate the course at your own pace.

What to Bring

• Closed toe shoes

*All other necessary equipment is provided.*

Requirements

• Sign the Participant Agreement (waiver) prior to the activity
• Have your parent or legal guardian sign the waiver if under 18 years of age
• Must be at least 4 years of age to participate

Related Tours

• User All ages
• Hour Glass 2.5 hours

BOONES CHALLENGE AND INTRO CHIEF ZIPLINE CANOPY TOUR COMBO

Get the full Boone Creek experience with this package. Explore the canopy on our Zipline Canopy Tour and then trek through the forest on Daniel Boone’s Challenge.

• Hour Glass 3.5 hours

BOONES CHALLENGE AND ZIPLINE CANOPY TOUR COMBO