Access to nature’s playground

Southwest Virginia experiences four distinct seasons with moderate climates – the average spring and summer temperature is 78° F; fall and winter average 38° F. The mild conditions make recreation possible year-round.

The region’s Cherokee and Jefferson National Forests provide 250,000 acres of unspoiled woodlands for outdoor recreation, with numerous access points to the famed Appalachian Trail. The 35-mile-long Virginia Creeper Trail passes through the back country of Southwest Virginia and is ideal for horseback riding, running and bicycling. Snow skiing awaits at nearby Beech and Sugar Mountains, and motorcyclists particularly enjoy having close access to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.

TVA’s picturesque system of lakes allows for premier fishing and boating on the area's hundreds of miles of shoreline and thousands of acres of water.

Thirty golf courses dot the region’s landscapes, and the more adventurous outdoor enthusiasts find opportunities for underground caving, as well as whitewater rafting on Tennessee's nearby Nolichucky River.