Wilderness Road State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $5 per vehicleAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dcr.virginia.gov(276) 445-3065
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Wilderness Road State Park is a 393-acre park in Lee County, about 11 miles east of Middlesborough.
Things to do include horseback riding, biking, hiking, and picnicking. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and group camping.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 a.m. - dusk.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Standard | $5 |
| Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Weekends (Apr–Oct*) | $5 |
| Boat Launch and Equestrian Fees – In addition to Daily Parking Fee Year-Round Per Trailer – Equestrian | $4 · day |
| High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Standard | $13 |
| High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Weekends Apr–Oct* | $13 |
| High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – Buses 16 or more Year-Round | $30 |
Official wording
Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Standard: $5 Passenger Vehicle Parking and Admission Fees – Weekends (Apr–Oct*): $5 Boat Launch and Equestrian Fees – In addition to Daily Parking Fee Year-Round Per Trailer – Equestrian: $4 High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Standard: $13 High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – HOV 9–15 passengers Weekends Apr–Oct*: $13 High Occupancy Vehicle and Bus Parking and Admission Fees – Buses 16 or more Year-Round: $30
Virginia park passes
- Naturally Yours Passport — $85. Parking and admission for 12 months to all State Parks (admission for up to 4 at Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum) Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport — $40. Parking and admission for 12 months, age 62+ Details
- Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $180. Parking plus boat-launch / horse-trailer fees for 12 months Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $145. As above, age 62+ Details
From the Virginia state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Virginia State Parks reservation system (reservevaparks.com)
- Phone
- 800-933-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
A fee is charged per pet per night for cabin stays.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
The park offers primitive camping for groups. Campers must bring drinking water; portable toilets are available, showers are not. Reservations can be made at the visitor center. (Camping is also available six miles away at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Middlesboro, Ky.)
For information on the availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, dwelling and park. First, determine the appropriate season, which can vary by park, then the relevant rate. You also may want to learn about the cancellation and transfer policies.
Camping
Camping
Primitive camping for groups.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingHorseback ridingCampingHikingPicnicking
Trails
Wilderness Road Trail, a 6.5-mile hiking, biking and equestrian trail, is registered as a stop on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Indian Ridge Trail, is a .77-mile self-guided natural heritage trail. The .9-mile, hiking-only Pioneer Trail offers scenic views of Martin's Station Fort and the iconic White Rocks. Fisherman's Loop Trail, which is a1.1 miles hiking trail that runs along side the trout fishing area.
Swimming
None at this park.
Boating, paddling and fishing
Scenic Indian Creek has a 1-mile section stocked with brown and rainbow trout. The stream is designated a class c delayed harvest waterway; hence it requires the use of single hooks and artificial lures, and all trout must be released unharmed from Oct. 1 through June 15. All state freshwater and trout fishing licenses apply within the park.
Nearby Powell River has plenty of redbreast sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, catfish and musky. There are no public access points on the Powell River, so anglers should get permission from the landowner before accessing the river from private land.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Visitor center
- Park or camp store
- Parking
- Amphitheater
- Group facilities
Camping
- Tent camping
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
- Visitor center, gift shop: The visitor center and gift shop facility is universally accessible with universally accessible restrooms and parking.
- Shelters are universally accessible.
- The amphitheater and stage are universally accessible. The path leading to them is unpaved.
- Restrooms and parking near shelters are universally accessible.
- The picnic area is universally accessible but without paved sidewalks.
- The Karlan Mansion's back entrance is universally accessible. Accessibility is limited to the first floor.
- Martin’s Station Fort is universally accessible, but individual cabins are not. The path and sidewalks are unpaved.
- Playground equipment is ADA-compliant.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 8051 Wilderness Rd.
Ewing, VA 24248 - Nearest town
- Middlesborough — about 11 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.6332, -83.5273
- Phone
- (276) 445-3065
- WildernessRoad@dcr.virginia.gov
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
At the intersection of Routes 58 (Wilderness Road) and 923 (Martin's Station Trail), five miles west of Ewing, Va., and 10 miles east of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Middlesboro, Ky. Its address is 8051 Wilderness Road, Ewing, Va. 24248. Latitude, 36.633168. Longitude, -83.527348. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 10 hours; Richmond, eight hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 11 hours; Roanoke, five hours. Directions: From Interstate 75 (Kentucky): Take exit 29 (Corbin, Ky.) and head south on U.S. 25 toward Middlesboro, Ky., for about 50 miles. Take the first exit after passing through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel onto U.S. 58 (toward Jonesville, Va.). Wilderness Road State Park is about 8 miles ahead on the left (Martin’s Station Trail) across from Elydale Elementary School. From Interstate 40 (Knoxville, Tenn.): Take exit 6 (Old Broadway) heading north on U.S. 441, which merges with Maynardville Highway (TN 33) near Halls Crossroads. Continue north on TN 33 about 25 miles to Tazewell, Tenn. Merge north onto U.S. 25E for about 10 miles to Harrogate, Tenn. Exit right onto U.S. 58 (toward Jonesville, Va.). Wilderness Road State Park is about 8 miles ahead on the left (Martin’s Station Trail) across from Elydale Elementary School. From Interstate 81 (Bristol, Tenn.-Va.): Take Exit 74B south onto U.S. 11W (towards Kingsport, Tenn.). Go about 20 miles on U.S. 11W (Stone Drive). Exit right onto U.S. 23 north toward Gate City, Va. Go about 25 miles to Duffield, Va. At the traffic light, turn left onto U.S. 58 and continue for about 40 miles. Wilderness Road State Park is on the right (Martin’s Station Trail) across from Elydale Elementary. From Interstate 40 (Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn.): Travel east on I-40 about 15 miles. Take exit 421 onto Interstate 81 and head north. Go about 8 miles, then take exit 8 (Morristown, White Pine) north onto U.S. 25 and continue for about 40 miles until you reach Tazewell, Tenn. Stay on U.S. 25E another 10 miles to Harrogate, Tenn. Exit right onto U.S. 58 (toward Jonesville, Va.). Wilderness Road State Park is about 8 miles on the left (Martin’s Station Trail) across from Elydale Elementary School.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Jul 31, 2026
- Virginia State Parks 'Find a park' list (HTML, one 'Name (CODE)' link per park)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology