Created in 1993, Wilderness Road State Park is one of the newer parks in the Virginia State Park System. This 310-acre park was opened specifically to provide additional facilities to the newly-formed Daniel Boone Wilderness Road, which was re-marked by the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association in the early 1990s from the Long Island of the Holston in Kingsport, Tennessee to the Cumberland Gap, Kentucky. The Wilderness Trail follows Boone’s historic pilgrimage to blaze a trail for western migration into the bluegrass of Kentucky and beyond.
Within Wilderness Road State Park, visitors will find an historic replica of Martin’s Station, which served as a colonial frontier fort during the time of Boone’s travels in 1775. Several times throughout the year, re-enactors hold special events to showcase life on the frontier. Visitors are welcome to visit Martin Station where they can become scripted into the frontier militia and in return receive land grants. Martin’s Station is a great resource for reliving life during the time of Daniel Boone. Upon entering the park, a herd of bison and buffalo that grazing alongside the entrance welcome visitors to the park.
Along with Martin’s Station, visitors can view the award-winning docudrama, “Wilderness Road, Sprit of a Nation” at the Visitor’s Center. Guests can also enjoy picnic shelters, 100-seat amphitheater, ADA-certified playground, sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits.
An 8.5.-mile trail, perfect for hiking, biking, or horseback riding, links the park to more than 50-miles of trails in the Cumberland Gap. For a challenging hike, Wilderness Road State Park is within easy access to the Ewing Sand Cave, a spectacular natural cave with a ceiling of gold, red, and green eroded rock forms and a beach-like sand bottom cave.
Adjacent to the park is the 1870s-era Karlan Mansion. Once a private home, the mansion is available for weddings and meetings. Highlighting the mansion is the solarium, a perfect spot for more intimate gatherings like showers, birthday parties or romantic dinners.
Wilderness Road State Park is open 8 a.m. to dusk. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. The Karlan Mansion is available through rental only and can be reserved by calling the park at 276-445-3065. Primitive camping is also available.
Located at 8051 Wilderness Road, Ewing, VA 24248
