Natural Tunnel SP, VA

wxtoad wrote:
Here is a post with pictures and comments about Natural Tunnel SP. It shows only the older campground, since the new one had not been built yet.

Ted H.

If you look online to make your reservation, each site in Lover's Leap (new campground) has a picture. I helped measure, so I know the measurements are correct. Just FYI - my favorite site is #17 unless I need a pull-thru or plan to camp with someone else, then my favorite is #13. (It is a "buddy site" with #14.)

This is on my list of places to go now, thanks for the input.

Thank you all so much for your input. WXTOAD, you never cease to amaze me with you knowledge. Thank all you so much for all the helpful info.

Here is a post with pictures and comments about Natural Tunnel SP. It shows only the older campground, since the new one had not been built yet.

Ted H.

I will address the 2 different campgronds - Lovers Leap is the newer campground. Each site is back-in except for site #13. There are 18 sites - all of which have 50 and 30 amp, water and electric. They are totally pea gravel with a small amount of grass between the sites. Each site is decently private. Lover's Leap campground is now a site-specific reservation and you can see each site online. Most of them are in excess of 60' long except sites 11 and 12 - which are 40 and 35 feet respectively. There is a new bath house with laundry services ($1/load) in the campground and there are 4 individual shower rooms on the back side. They are cleaned twice daily during prime times, once daily during slower times.

Cove View Campground is an older (1960's era) campground with smaller pull-thru sites. Each site has a gravel drive, 20 and 30 amp hookups with water. There are trees between sites, but it is not as private as Lover's Leap, but has lawns if you have kids and dogs that want to play. Most sites will not accommodate anything over 32 feet in length. It has a clean, but old bath house, which are also cleaned twice daily during prime. There are two shower stalls along with 3 commode stalls for both males and females. There are 16 sites in this campground along with 4 new yurts. This campground is closer to the camp store, therefore, closer to the wifi. Reservations for this campground are non-site specific - you take what is available when you arrive. You are guaranteed to have a site, but choose when you get there.

A couple years ago we used this park as a home base for exploring the westernmost part of the Crooked Road. There are two different camping areas: Lovers Leap and Cove View. When we were making reservations we did not know that Lovers Leap was the newer and more desirable campground. We reserved in Cove View. When we got there we were disappointed that Cove View wasn't as nice, but we soon got over it.

It's a great park in and of itself, and it was a great home base for us. Our adventures on this part of the Crooked Road start here in my blog. We spent a whole week there, but most of that week was seeing the surrounding area rather than just staying in the park. Our main interest was the history and the experience of the mountain music.

-Speak

If you have time you may like to stop in Damascus, VA and ride the Virginia Creeper Trail. We did it a couple of years ago. It is really nice. They haul you and your bike or rental to the top and you very gently ride down. Very little pedaling required. The old train path is through the woods, over bridges, creeks, ferns. We only went half way up since we had the puppy trying out her new cart. Laurel Creek RV park is near the bike shuttle/rental.

+1 for this park. Very scenic and quiet, except for the occasional train (which is very cool).

Q: is the park more than a night over? Or can we comfortably spend a couple of days there with out being totally bored?

A: The park offers lots and lots of things to do, but is dependent on when you plan to be there. There is a large pool with a waterslide, but my kids enjoy the pool. Me, not so much.

There are many trails and some of easy hikes, others, not so much.

They offer many programs - kayaking with guides, canoeing with guides, canorkeling (canoeing and stopping along the way to snorkel in the river), hay rides, hiking to the Devil's Bathtub (google it, it is magnificent), caving, and they have just hired a new interpreter who will add different tours. Last year a couple who were in their late 80's did the canoe trip and said they really enjoyed it, but were tired and had to take a nap afterwards.

On the last Saturday of each month, they have the "Lighting of the Tunnel" with the chairlift open until 10 pm and with music down in the gorge at the mouth of the tunnel.

There is music offered on Sunday afternoons at the amphitheater.

There is a block house (used to fend off Indian attacks in the 18th century) that is open and has reenactments once a month, but it's according to when you are going to be there.

Lots of stuff to do in the park, bluegrass music available almost every night within a 30 mile radius, gorgeous scenery and wonderful, friendly people.

Q: We like hiking, though both have asthma & COPD, so we're limited in that regard but sights, nature & history are good. And don't forget good food!

A: Lots of history in the area and you can drive to many of the area highlights. Look up the "Crooked Road", which highlights the music venues within an hours drive of Natural Tunnel, including Bristol, VA/TN and the Birth of Country Music museum.

There are lots of Mom and Pop type restaurants here, and most cuisines are covered, too.

We camphost there 2 months each year. PM me with whatever questions you have.