Natural Tunnel State Park
About
Natural Tunnel State Park is a 2,028-acre state park in Virginia, about 1.4 miles from the town of Clinchport. The State Department of Conservation manages the land, and the park holds three campgrounds, making it a base for overnight stays as well as day visits. Fall is a comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Big Stone Gap weather station show October highs around 69°F with lows near 43°F, and September and October see the fewest wet days of the year. Several trails start right at the park. Lover's Leap Trail is about 0.1 mile away, and Gorge Ridge Trail and Purchase Ridge Trail are each about 0.2 mile off. For a different outing, Possum Creek offers canoeing roughly 7 miles away.
Park size
2,028 acres
Inside this park
Location
Natural Tunnel State Park
Virginia
Data source: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (Protected Areas Database, public domain)
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Apr–Oct. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 67–84°F and lows of 41–63°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Big Stone Gap, VA weather station, 11 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan44° high24° low
- Feb48° high26° low
- Mar57° high33° low
- Apr67° high41° low
- May75° high51° low
- Jun81° high59° low
- Jul84° high63° low
- Aug83° high62° low
- Sep79° high56° low
- Oct69° high43° low
- Nov57° high32° low
- Dec47° high27° low
Where it is
- Natural Tunnel State Park · State park
- Nearest town
- Clinchport, Virginia · 1.4 mi
- Managed by
- State Department of Conservation
Nearby
- Lover's Leap TrailHiking0.1 mi
- Gorge Ridge TrailHiking0.2 mi
- Purchase Ridge TrailHiking0.2 mi
- Tunnel Hill TrailHiking0.3 mi
- Think BlocksRock climbing6.5 mi
- Turtle AreaRock climbing6.5 mi
- Top Gun AreaRock climbing6.6 mi
- Possum CreekCanoeing6.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Natural Tunnel State Park
Best months: April and August–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
44° / 24°
12 wet
Feb
48° / 26°
11 wet
Mar
57° / 33°
13 wet
Apr
67° / 41°
12 wet
May
75° / 51°
13 wet
Jun
81° / 59°
13 wet
Jul
84° / 63°
13 wet
Aug
83° / 62°
12 wet
Sep
79° / 56°
9 wet
Oct
69° / 43°
9 wet
Nov
57° / 32°
10 wet
Dec
47° / 27°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Stone Gap, VA, 11.3 mi away at 1,466 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
