Breaks Interstate Park

Colton Lovelace

Absolutely STUNNING!!! Worth it. Come see for yourself and explore the area. The park has some amazing views and trails. Showers and bathrooms were well kept. Zip line is a MUST and was a great experience with an amazing view. So much wildlife in this well kept park.

Martha Schott

Oh my gosh!!! This place is where heaven touches earth. It is SO BEAUTIFUL. My husband and I just returned from a long weekend stay at the Catawba Lodge at Breaks Interstate Park and I'm ready to return. We were immersed in natural beauty every hour that we were there. Our room overlooked the gorge and every morning we woke to a white wall of fog off the balcony. Not being able to see into the gorge only sharpened our other senses and the sounds were amazing: the rushing water from the river below; calls from a wide variety of birds, especially the crows; the dripping of the condensed fog from the leaves of the surrounding trees; and the plopping sound of acorns crashes through the branches. The coolest part was watching the sun try to break through the fog. One minute it appeared as a white circle, the next it was sending fuzzy tentacles of light through the branches of the trees, other times it was absent except for its reflection on the thinning areas of fog. Between 9 and 10 AM the fog completely disappears and what is left is a beautiful green view of the gorge, with the sunlight illuminating the green with its golden rays and casting shadows of the opposite side of the rises. During the days we hiked and got ourselves completely surrounded by mountains, woods, water, and rock. Every trail exposed us to different aspects of the park, and the overlooks were amazing. Stateline Overlook provided us with a beautiful sunset one evening. A second beautiful sunset was from the top of a hill during our Elk Tour. The Elk Tour is one of many activities that are available throughout the year at an extra charge. The tour bus leaves from the Visitor Center at 5 PM and goes to an elk grazing and research area. A boxed meal is provided at the shelter with an educational presentation, then followed by a drive around the gravel roads in search of elk, deer, and wild turkeys. On our tour we saw 70+ elk, several deer, and one group of turkeys. The restaurant, Rhododendron, is in the same building with registration/check-in, gift shop, and conference center. One side of the restaurant overlooks the gorge and a wooden deck. One evening we had young deer right outside the window. We had breakfast and dinner, so I'm providing the menus from that; I'm not sure about lunch (we were out on the trails during lunch hours). The food is good and reasonably priced. The staff friendly and attentive. I needed a jacket on two occasions due to AC temp. Check-in was pleasant, with the staff member being very helpful with suggestions for overlooks and trails. The check-in desk is also the check-out desk for gift shop purchases. And, the gift shop is full of wonderful park themed T-shirts, caps, books, hiking aids, and souvenirs. There is even a section for children. Across the drive from the gift shop lot is the Visitor Center. The staff are knowledgeable and informative of park activities. There is a gift shop in the Visitor Center that has different items than the other gift shop. There is also a small museum about the history of the area. And, outside the visitor center are examples of things common before the park was a park. There are playgrounds throughout the park, as well as shelters, picnic tables, cabins, campsites, a water-park (seasonal), boat ramps, lakes and ponds. It is a wonderful destination and one that will call me back again and again.

Bryan Whitaker

What a beautiful day and this place is worth the $3 admission. We were on our way back from North Carolina and decided to check it out. I see why they say it is the gorge of Kentucky Virginia. It's absolutely gorgeous the overlooks for nothing hard to get to there's a few steps on a couple of them but the state line we just walk straight out on it basically. It's such a beautiful view.

Tim Wygal

Awesome park! Overlook close to the lodge was one of the best I have ever seen. Not to take away from stars, but if you eat more vegetarian the lodge restaurant has few selections. Mostly fried meat comfort foods. We brought our own food in case. Rooms nice with fridge and microwave. Trip to Haysi Main street country kitchen worth the trip. They will custom make what you want. Small town friendliness there is great.

Kaya Gross

Really fantastic park. Camp grounds were amazing. Lose 1 star as the campground host was always off duty , and a storm came through and we needed some help - would have been nice to have a person around. Another star down - when booking and paying for the campsite there is no mention that at time of check in there’s another charge for the vehicle or vehicles - additional $10 each. Just would have loved to know what it actually costs! No junior ranger coloring books available. They could do a tiny bit better. However views and trails are spectacular and very special