Search Results

Thirteen states make up the Appalachian Region; however, only one is entirely rooted here: West Virginia. West Virginia is also one of the most scenic and beautiful states you will ever traverse through; just ask John Denver. The state is known for its coal mining industry, historical locations, and outdoor opportunities. You can also find the midway point for the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, WV, at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. For those who do not know, the Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail spanning more than 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine. It’s a bit of a trek. West Virginia is also home to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which has some breathtaking locations, such as Sandstone Falls along the New River and the Grand View Overlook, which overlooks the New River as it bends around the mountains. The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest steel span bridge in the western hemisphere and home to the Bridge Day Festival, where you can watch people jump off of the largest steel span bridge. Nestled in the heart of West Virginia, the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) is a must-see destination, though it's quite the tongue twister! The MNF boasts some of the state's most breathtaking vistas, especially during the vibrant colors of autumn. Just a short drive away is Charleston, the state's capital, where the stunning 293-foot, gold-leafed dome of the Capitol building stands tall, visible from almost every corner of the city. West Virginia's rich cultural heritage is reflected in its music, with a vibrant blend of gospel, blues, bluegrass, African influences, and much more. West Virginia offers many other excellent destinations, including Babcock State Park, home to one of the most photographed mills in the U.S. As time passes, we look forward to exploring and sharing more of this 100% authentic Appalachian state with you. If you're a lover of the great outdoors, charming small towns, and live music or need a place to unwind, West Virginia might be calling your name. West Virginia official tourism website

The Cumberland Gap was the first gateway to the western frontier, and it’s said that 300,000 people crossed here. However, long before Thomas Walker brought attention to this location, Native Americans used this path, known as the “Warriors’ Path,” to access rich hunting lands in what is known as Kentucky today. The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CGNHP) was created in 1940 by Franklin Roosevelt to help preserve the Cumberland Gap and the Wilderness Road, blazed by Daniel Boone. The CGNHP is shared between three states: Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. The park's main visitor center is located on the Kentucky side after going through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel from Tennessee at 1 Skyland Road in Middlesboro, KY. The park has 85 miles of trails and 14,000 acres of wilderness. One of the more popular trails is the Tri-State Trail, which allows you to stand in all three states in one spot. The CGNHP offers some of the best views in the region; at the Pinnacle Overlook, you can view Fern Lake and the town of Middlesboro, KY, on one side. On the other side, you can see Clinch Mountain and the mountain chain belonging to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which features the Foothills Parkway above Maryville, TN. Other popular locations at the CGNHP include the Iron Furnace, which produced iron ore sold to Black Smiths. The Hensley Settlement is a small community built on the top of Cumberland Mountain in the early 1900’s. This settlement comprised multiple families, including a church and school, and remained an isolated Appalachian community until the 1940s. Gap Cave, about 350 million years old, features many stalagmites and stalactites; however, the crown jewel is the Pillar of Hercules, a column formed over millions of years. This giant—and we do mean giant—is a spectacle to behold. The CGNHP also gives tours of Gap Cave, and we highly recommend taking one. The Gap Cave also has a vibrant history with the American Civil War, and you can see where soldiers burned their names into the ceiling using candles. The Sand Cave is a 250-foot-wide sandstone cave eroded by wind, with beach-like sand leading up into the back of the cave. We would consider this one of the top five natural wonders of the Appalachian Region and a must-see; however, the hike is rather difficult. A roundtrip hike from the parking area is roughly ten miles, which makes you ask the question, “Is there ever a down?” Seriously, this is a very strenuous hike, with chance encounters of black bears. In the same area as the Sand Cave are what is known as White Rocks, a section along a ridge line that bolsters an extensive view of the area. The CGNHP does offer camping and backcountry camping, which you can find more details about in the link at the bottom. The CGNHP is a hidden gem amongst the many other National Parks, and one that surprises many visitors. The park has a lot to offer, it also has none of the crowds you will see at other parks such as the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and so on. If you are looking for a place to explore with abundant natural beauty, the CGNHP has you covered. Click here for camping at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Click here for the official Cumberland Gap National Historical Parks website

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of America's greatest Byways. It spans 469 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Western North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Northern Virginia. The North Carolina section is known for extensive grand views, and we wanted to share our top 5! No.5 The Linville Viaduct You might think this is a very low rating; for some, it would be their top spot. However, the high volume of crowds from mid-September to the end of fall is what dropped it in our rating. The crowds here can be unbearable sometimes, and finding a parking spot can be difficult. The Linville Viaduct deserves a top 5 rating despite the crowds. The views here are just amazing. This location offers an extensive view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including a good view of Table Rock Mountain and Hawksbill Mountain. No. 4 The Three Knobs Overlook The Three Knobs Overlook faces the largest Mountain east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell. It also has a beautiful view leading into the valley. This overlook typically is overlooked, and is an excellent spot for those that like haveing a place to themselves. From this location, you can take in a sunset and watch the sun dip behind that tall sleeping giant. No.3 Waterrock Knob Waterrock Knob is undoubtedly one of the best views along the entirety of the Blue Ridge Parkway itself. It faces the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee, N.C. You can even see the casino in the valley below. This area does get crowded. However, it has plenty of parking to accommodate this, along with having picnic tables and restrooms. You can see Autumn from North Carolina to Tennessee, as Clingma's Dome, now known as Kuwohi, is easily visible. No. 2 Pounding Mill Overlook The Pounding Mill Overlook offers views in three directions. It includes a stunning view of Looking Glass Rock, a prominent feature in the Blue Ridge Mountains landscape. From here, you can view the Pisgah National Forest disappear into the many mountains ahead. The Pounding Mill Overlook is an excellent spot to take in a sunrise and peer out into one of North Carolina's most majestic views. No. 1 The Cowee Mountain Overlook The Cowee Mountain Overlook is the grandest view of the Appalachian landscape, with an incredible 180-degree view. From this viewpoint, you will see what appears to be a sea of mountains, with one ridge after another appearing like waves of an ocean. It can get moderately crowded here. However, there is plenty of parking. From here, you can see every shade of Autumn, and if you have the time, we highly recommend watching a sunset from here. Thanks for reading! Stay tuned, as we have plenty more Blue Ridge parkway articles coming!

Kentucky's largest waterfall, Yahoo Falls, sits tall at 113 feet and resides on the Kentucky side of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in McCreary County. The falls are also a part of the Daniel Boone National Forest . This area is also part of the Cumberland Plateau and protects the Cumberland River and its tributaries. Leaving the parking area, the hike to Yahoo Falls is relatively short (0.3ish miles) and includes a staircase leading down the hillside to a brief walk to the falls. There are alternative trails that take you to the falls. However, the trail to the left, leaving the parking area, is the most direct route. Many people dispute Yahoo Falls' claim to be the tallest waterfall; however, most do believe it is. No matter what you think, we can all agree that it is one of the most majestic waterfalls you can visit in Kentucky. Once you get to the falls, you can explore under the overhang of the ridge and even walk behind the falls. In addition, there is a bridge crossing the street just below the falls, which makes for a great place to take a few photos. After taking in the beauty of Yahoo Falls, consider the extra-mile hike to Yahoo Arch. As if you didn't need another reason to visit this Big South Fork National River and Recreation section, this natural beauty is just the cherry topping you didn't know you needed. We have been to many amazing locations throughout the Appalachian Region, and we would absolutely put this section of the park in our top ten must-visit Appalachian locations. As you hike from Yahoo Falls to Yahoo Arch, you will be greeted with another small waterfall along Yahoo Creek. The trail then leads you right up to the arch, which has a small trail leading up to a small opening. For those wanting to do a bit more exploring, you can walk up this small path through the opening to get to the top of the arch. Yahoo Falls and Yahoo Arch make for a perfect day trip that reflects the beauty of the Appalachian Region. If you are planning on visiting, please be sure to check your GPS and make sure that it is leading you to the parking area. We did have an issue with Apple Maps and had to choose our destination again. We recommend visiting in the Spring after a couple of days of rain; that way, you can see the falls at full flow. Thanks for reading, and be sure to stay tuned for more waterfalls of the Appalachian Region. Google Maps Parking Area

Get ready to mark your calendars for October 9-12th as the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) 2023 Event of the Year, Blue Highway Fest, returns. For those who do not know, Blue Highway Fest is a four-day bluegrass festival located in the heart of Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, VA. It was created to help bring people back into the area after suffering greatly from the loss of coal mining jobs. The festival also gets its name from the Grammy-nominated and 32-time IBMA Award-winning band Blue Highway. This year, Blue Highway will be holding a Rising Stars Challenge, with the first round of eliminations beginning on Wednesday, October 9th, from 9-11:35 a.m. The finals will follow the next day from 10-10:35 a.m. The winner will play on the main stage at Bullitt Park from 9-9:45. This year's lineup includes a hefty lineup featuring Seldom Scene, Authentic Unlimited Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, The Darrell Scott String Band with Special Guest Joe Craven, Scythian, Missy Raines & Allegheny, The Del McCoury Band, Dan Tyminski Band, Blue Highway and more.The festival will also feature various craft vendors and food trucks. Blue Highway Fest has two locations: on the first two days, the festival will be on the 3rd Street downtown stage, downtown Big Stone Gap, VA, and the last two days at Bullitt Park, the largest of the many parks in Big Stone Gap. For more information about Blue Highway Fest and for tickets, please visit the links below. Purchase Blue Highway Fest tickets HERE Check out Blue Highway Band HERE

Autumn has undoubtedly started showing here in the Northeast Tennessee region, with those beautiful autumn tones we know and love starting to appear. Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium, located in Kingsport, TN, is a great place to head if you want to spend some time in nature to unwind and enjoy the changing season. Bays Mountain Park features a nature center, animal habitats that include wolves, bobcats, deer, and much more, a state-of-the-art planetarium theater, hiking trails, a fire tower, and a 44-acre lake. The lakeside trail is our recommendation for taking full advantage of the season. This beautiful 2.5-mile trail is moderately difficult, but most people will not have any issues with it. It traverses the lake, and you will be surrounded by not only beautiful trail views but also views of autumn tones surrounding the lake. For those wanting to go a bit further, you can hike up to the CCC fire tower and take in a 365-degree view of Kingsport and the surrounding area. The Fire Tower Trail is .08 miles one way, in addition to the 2.5-mile Lakeside Trail, and is rated advanced due to the elevation gain and rocks along the trail.  Bays Mountain Park also offers barge rides that take you along the lake, where you will have a chance to see beavers and deer and, if you are lucky, black bears. These barge rides last around 45 minutes and are an extra expense that does require a ticket, with the current price being six dollars. Honestly, that's a great deal and worth the experience! Bays Mountain Park offers many different nature programs and events throughout the year. Please visit their website below to see what events are available. Bays Mountain Website Link to Map

Appalachian Roots Magazine will be more than your typical run-of-the-mill magazine. We will focus on what makes our region so unique. We have a culture here unlike anywhere else in the world; we have some of the best music, food, iconic locations, history, and people. Right now is the beginning of what we hope will be the place for you to come and see what the Appalachian Region offers, from New York to Mississippi. It will be a slow rollout as we build our website and start our two social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook . Be sure to follow them as we announce new stories when they are posted. If you have an event, festival, unique business, artist or just a good story you would like us to feature, please head over to the Contact Us page and tell us about it. We will try to respond as fast as possible. Appalachian Roots Magazine will be very strict about advertising; we want our advertising to reflect what we are sharing. When the time comes, these spaces will be minimal to preserve the character of our magazine. In time, we plan to have four issues a year, but for now, our stories will be featured on our website. Thank you for stopping by and reading, be sure to come back, and we will see you on down the trail.