Natural Tunnel State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Natural Tunnel State Park is located in Virginia and is a popular tourist destination due to its unique natural beauty and historical significance.
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Summary
The park is named after the Natural Tunnel, which is a scenic and impressive formation that was created by a river cutting through a mountain. The tunnel is over 800 feet long and is considered one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the state.
Visitors to the park can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking, camping, picnicking, and swimming. The park also has a visitor center that offers exhibits, educational programs, and guided tours.
One of the most popular attractions in Natural Tunnel State Park is the chairlift that takes visitors down to the bottom of the tunnel. From there, visitors can explore the tunnel's walls and learn about its history and geology.
Other points of interest in the park include the Lover's Leap Overlook, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and the Wilderness Road Trail, which follows the path that early pioneers used to travel through the area.
Interesting facts about Natural Tunnel State Park include that it was used as a hideout by Native Americans and was later used as a route for early settlers traveling westward. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, and deer.
The best time of year to visit Natural Tunnel State Park is between April and October, when the weather is mild and the park is open for outdoor activities. However, visitors should be aware that the park can get crowded during the summer months, and it is recommended to visit during the weekdays to avoid crowds.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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