75th Anniversary Geocaching Adventure Program

Virginia Outdoors Kid Zone

Trail Quest

Follow Us On:

Virginia Department Of Conservation And Recreation

Home ›› Destinations ›› Natural Tunnel State Park ›› Educational Activities

Educational Activities at Natural Tunnel State Park

(276) 940-2674

1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway
Duffield, VA 24244

Latitude: 36.696984

Longitude: -82.738577

›› Google Map

Weather permitting, guided canoe trips of the Clinch River are offered on Saturdays and Sundays in season. Wild cave tours and trips to Natural Tunnel via Stock Creek are offered every other Sunday afternoon in season. Groups of eight or more may schedule tours at other times. Reservations are required for these programs - call the park at (276) 940-2674 to make a reservation or for more information. Guided wildflower walks are offered in mid-April; guided bird watching hikes are offered in mid-May. Guided walks, campfire get-togethers, astronomy programs and various kids activities are also offered.

Educational Activities Amenities At Natural Tunnel State Park

Amphitheater

Located near the picnic area, the parks amphitheater offers seating for approximately 4,000 people. The facility is ideal for many of the parks interpretive programs and hosts a variety of musical programs throughout the year. It has its own snack bar and restrooms. Groups may reserve the amphitheater for a fee by calling the park at (276) 940-2674.

Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (276) 940-2674
Fee: Park Fees
Location:36° 42.5400 -82° 44.4016

Visitor Center - Gift Shop

A visitor center is located just north of the park office near the chair lift. It has restrooms and vending machines outside and exhibits and a gift shop inside. The exhibits talk largely about the geology of the park and discuss various theories as to how the natural tunnel formed. Visitors can also learn about local history and wildlife and watch a brief video about the park. The gift shop sells souvenirs to remind visitors of their trip.

Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (276) 940-2674
Fee: N/A
Location:36° 42.1033 -82° 44.7466

Blockhouse

The Blockhouse reminds visitors of early frontier history of southwest Virginia. Originally situated to the south at Moccasin Gap near Kingsport TN, this authentic replica was reconstructed on park property thanks to volunteer efforts. Originally inhabited by the Anderson family, this structure was an important fortification in an area full Indians that constantly threatened settlers. Settlers traveling along the wilderness road to Kentucky would stay here for several weeks while they waited for other families as they built up a group, giving them safety in numbers as they traveled through more perilous parts.

Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (276) 940-2674
Fee: N/A
Location:36° 42.7200 -82° 44.2533

Rim Rock Railroad Steam Engine

This engine was donated to Natural Tunnel State Park by George Barnette Jr. of Wise, VA. It was moved to the Park from atop Little Stone Mountain near Norton, VA in 1996. The locomotive was used for the "Rim Rock Railroad" which operated as a frontier town & tourist attraction in the late sixties and early seventies at the Rim Rock Railroad and Recreation Area. Others responsible for this exhibit include: George Hunnicut Sr. & Pepsi Inc. of Norton, Tennessee Railfan Club, Kenny Fannon, and Natural Tunnel State Park Staff & Volunteers.

Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (276) 940-2674
Fee: N/A
Location:36 42.1033 -82 44.7466

Chair Lift

The chairlift is a unique feature of the park that allows easy access to the gorge and the observation platform where the natural tunnel is located. For $3 visitors may ride down the chairlift, explore the area at the bottom, and then ride back up when they are ready. Restrooms are located at the top in the visitors center and at the bottom near the chairlift station. A snack bar is located at the upper station. At the bottom visitors should make sure to check out the observation platform, which makes for a natural amphitheater. In the summer on weekends the park puts on live music for their Lighting Of The Tunnel program. In the winter they put on a Christmas program with colorful lights on the lift and caroling down by the tunnel.

Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (276) 940-2674
Fee: Park Fees
Location:36° 42.1033 -82° 44.7466

Cove Ridge Center

Cove Ridge Center is the park's conference center accessible just north of the picnic shelters near the pool area. This facility, built in 1999, offers meeting rooms, a classroom, a library with high speed and wireless internet, free pool access, a kitchen and overnight accommodations. The two lodges, Clinch and Powell, each have 6 bedrooms, a common TV/dining room, a kitchen, and restrooms. All bedrooms have two sets of bunk beds, thus sleeping 4 people in each room, or 5 if guests decided to double up in the larger bed in each room. The center offers packages for weddings, family reunions, as well as special rates for school, government, church, and other non profit groups. Contact the center (276-940-2696 ) for more information.

Season/Hours: All Year/Call 276-940-2696
Fee: Park Fees
Location:36° 42.5893 -82° 44.5570

Other Activities At Natural Tunnel State Park: Hiking, Biking, Camping, Fishing, Gifts and Shopping, Wildlife Activities, Winter Activities, Hunting, Swimming, Picnicking, Boating and Water Sports and Canoeing And Kayaking

Click here to return to the destination overview for Natural Tunnel State Park, or check out other great Virginia outdoor destinations that offer access to Educational Activities.

Twin Lakes State Park Hosts Lecture Series for Black History Month Zoe Rogers, Visitor Services Specialist On Saturday, February 11, 2012 Twin Lakes State Park will host a lecture series on the African-American Civilian Conservation Corps and African-American soldiers during the American Civil War.	Project WET for Teachers Sarah Lankford Virginia State Parks and Project WET offering Professional Development Workshop for Teachers. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at James River State Park's Visitor Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Join the Friends of Shenandoah River State Park Jaimie Lomasney, Visitor Services Specialist Become a member of the Friends of Shenandoah River State Park. Attend the next meeting on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. with a winter walk at Shenandoah River State Park with the group.	Sailor’s Creek Hosts American Civil War-era Valentine Workshop Sam Wilson, Jr., Chief Ranger for Interpretation Join us on Saturday, February 11, 2012 Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will host a workshop on American Civil War-era Valentines.

Browse related articles

What's Happening

›› Virginia State Parks Calendar
›› Virginia Association For Parks Calendar
›› Virginia Tourism Corporation Calendar

Explore Virginia's Outdoors

The Virginia Association for Parks is the premier non-profit organization for promoting local, state and national parks in Virginia. They have spent more than a dozen years building an effective state-wide grassroots organization.

More...

VirginiaOutdoors.com is sponsored in part by a generous grant from Dominion, a Fortune 200 energy company headquartered in Richmond. Click here to learn more about their volunteers and community commitment.