Rolling landscapes and green pastures define Pulaski County. The outdoors offer a wide variety of options: a long park along a disused railroad corridor, activities on the New River and sport fishing at Claytor Lake State Park. Museums and historic buildings round out the picture. You can shape your time around nature, water, history or events, rather than trying to pack everything into a single outing.
Landscapes and Outdoor Activities
New River Trail State Park is a 57-mile linear park along a disused railroad corridor. Its gentle grade makes it suitable for hiking, biking and horseback riding. For mountain biking, the park includes the Hoover Mountain Bike Complex, with four miles of scenic trails. The two distances refer to different offerings: the linear park as a whole and the mountain bike trails in the complex.
You can also go tubing or kayaking on the New River in Pulaski County. This offers a different way to spend time outdoors than on the trail. Those interested in sport fishing will find another focus at Claytor Lake State Park. The historic Howe House there features interactive exhibits on the ecology of the lake and surrounding areas. Nature and learning come together at this site, without requiring you to make your visit all about a single activity.
Another water facility is the Evelyn Alexander Waterpark at Randolph Park, which includes a swimming pool and water features. If you plan to include water activities, you can distinguish between time on the river, sport fishing at the lake and the facilities at the park.
Buildings, Museums and Local History
The Pulaski County Courthouse draws on the Romanesque style of architect H. H. Richardson. It was completed in 1896, burned down in 1989 and was restored and reopened three years later. Its history therefore encompasses both the original building and a later reconstruction. Pulaski Train Depot was built in 1888; Calfee Park is a historic stadium dating from 1935.
The Raymond F. Ratcliffe Transportation Museum preserves and displays artifacts related to the history of Pulaski and the surrounding region. The Wilderness Road Regional Museum offers guided tours with historical context from volunteer staff. Its permanent exhibition, “Into the Wilderness,” explains the role of the Wilderness Road in the settlement of America. These offer different perspectives: regional artifacts, a guided historical overview and an exhibition about a historic road.
The Elks Theatre in downtown Pulaski is also part of local theater history. Built in 1911, the building hosted vaudeville performances, touring theater companies and early silent films. This past programming should be distinguished from current events; it tells the story of the forms of entertainment once presented there.
Food, Drink and Event Dates
Wine tastings at Iron Heart Winery are available every weekend: Saturdays from 12 to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Check current opening hours before your visit. The Salty Stash Distillery offers a longer, hands-on experience: over two to three hours, participants make their own product, from neutral vodka to flavored gin. As availability may change, check before booking.
There are different dates and ways to take part in music. The Bluegrass Jam Session invites people to play music, sing or listen on Thursdays; check the date before visiting. From October through April, the SWVA Music Trail-Crooked Road Affiliate Fiddle, Banjo, & Dance Club holds a free music event every second Saturday. The club also organizes ticketed concerts at least once a year.
The Pulaski County Flea Market takes place twice a year, in June and September, at the New River Valley Fairgrounds. Here, too, it is worth checking the specific event dates before setting out. When planning a stay, you can distinguish the enduring appeal of the landscape and history from offerings with set or recurring schedules.
Explore more destinations: Pulaski, Nelson County, Westmoreland County, Stafford, Salem, Buchanan County, Rappahannock County, Frederick County.
For the broader travel overview: Virginia.
