GENERAL INFO: Wilderness Road State Park was purchased in 1993. The park is about 310 acres that lie astride the Wilderness Road, a route carved by Daniel Boone in 1775. The route, which followed a buffalo trace, opened America’s first western frontier. Most notable in the park are the Karlan Mansion built in the 1877, a state-of-the-art visitor center and Martin's Station, a replica of a colonial frontier fort that was on this site in 1775. Click here to visit the Friends of Wilderness Road's website, which provides details about the fort.
Karlan Mansion is unfurnished but may be rented for special events. Bikes can be rented to ride the Wilderness Road Trail, an eight-mile multi-purpose trail that passes through the park. The park also has the Indian Ridge Trail, which is a self-guided trail, and offers interpretive and environmental educational programs. Snacks and other merchandise are available year-round at the Powder Horn Gift Shop in the visitor center.
Click here (PDF) for a two-page brochure that generally describes the park.
AT-A-GLANCE: The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: 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.
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 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 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.
Click here for a Google map.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: The park offers primitive group camping for groups of up to 50. 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 availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
Click here for details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies. A fee is charged per pet per night for overnight stays.
Camping: Primitive; see above.
TRAILS: Wilderness Road Trail, a 10-mile hiking, biking and equestrian trail. Indian Ridge Trail, a self-guided, natural heritage trail.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: The LEED-compliant, state-of-the-art visitor center has a movie theater and the Powder Horn Gift Shop. The theatre showcases Spirit of a Nation, which depicts the history of the Wilderness Road. Many 18th century replica items, as well as art, snacks and refreshments, can be bought in the gift shop. Memorial Day through Labor Day, the center's hours are from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. It's open 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. the rest of the year. Public restrooms are available.
NATURE AND HISTORICAL PROGRAMS: Seasonal monthly programs, schools, environmental and nature education programs, and living history discussions. Raid at Martin's Station (re-enactment), May, sponsored by Friends of Wilderness Road State Park. Wilderness Road Heritage Festival, October. Christmas at Karlan and Yulefest Frontier Christmas, December. Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Middlesboro, Ky.; Historic Cumberland Gap, Tenn.; Pine Mountain State Park, Ky.; Lincoln Museum, Harrogate, Tenn. Virginia Heritage Music Trail.
PICNIC SHELTERS: Call the State Parks Reservation Center at 1-800-933-7275 to rent a picnic shelter. Parking and other park fees are not included in shelter rental. Shelters can be rented from 8 a.m. to dark (all day). Click here for park fees.
Each shelter guest must pay applicable daily parking or admission fees. If you'd to have such fees for your guests paid up-front, please contact park staff before the day of your event. Also, a special use permit and additional fees may be required for any activities other than simply picnicking; call the park beforehand to discuss such issues.
Amenities: Shelters have grills, picnic tables, water, electricity, horseshoe pits and nearby parking. Restrooms, playground equipment and a volleyball court are also nearby.
Shelter 1: Seats 48 under shelter; can accommodate more in surrounding picnic area, but those tables are not included in the reservation of the shelter. It has a water spigot and two electrical outlets.
Shelter 2: Seats 48 under shelter; can accommodate more in surrounding picnic area, but those tables are not included in the reservation of the shelter. It has a water spigot and two electrical outlets.
Shelter 3: Seats 60 under shelter; can accommodate more in surrounding picnic area, but those tables are not included in the reservation of the shelter. There's a built-in fireplace, a water spigot and two electrical outlets.
ACCESSIBILITY: The park is currently working to develop moderate handicapped accessibility.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Historic Martin's Station, an outdoor living history museum with daily first-person living history programs. A full-size sand volleyball court and two horseshoe pitching areas near the picnic shelters, all free of charge.
CONCESSIONS: Gift items and other merchandise are available year-round at the visitor center's Powder Horn Gift Shop.
HISTORY: Wilderness Road State Park is in a geographically and historically significant region of Virginia. The park lies astride the Wilderness Road that winds down Powell's Valley. In 1775, Daniel Boone carved the Wilderness Road, and by 1800 more than 300,000 settlers traveled the Wilderness Road westward through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky and the Midwest. It was originally settled by Joseph Martin, who arrived there on March 26, 1769, after a difficult journey. After an attack that fall by Native American warriors, Martin abandoned the station but returned in earnest in January 1775. Click here to visit the Friends of Wilderness Road's website, which provides historic details about Martin's Station.
Wilderness Road State Park was originally part of a farm owned by Robert M. Ely. The mansion was built in the late 1870s, and several generations of Ely descendants lived there. The surrounding rural area still bears the name Elydale after the Ely family.
In the 1940s, the mansion and surrounding property were purchased by Karl and Ann Harris. Even though the mansion was renovated several times, the basic structure of the house remains the same.
Wilderness Road Trail bisects Wilderness Road State Park. Visitors may park cars and horse trailers at the park to access the trail. The trail connects the park with the campgrounds at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, six miles away.
