Discover Tazewell through a variety of experiences: a historic downtown, exhibitions about the region’s history, and landscapes with a character all their own. Well-preserved historic buildings shape the town center along Main Street, where you’ll also find shops and restaurants. If you’re interested in the history of Southwest Virginia and Appalachia, the Lucie Greever Gallery features twelve permanent exhibits and space for changing exhibitions.
Explore the Past
At Pioneer Park, fourteen wooden and stone buildings reflect life on the frontier in the 19th century. The park offers a different focus from the exhibitions at the Lucie Greever Gallery: historic buildings shape the scene here, while the gallery focuses on regional history and changing themes. Together, these perspectives offer different ways to explore the area’s culture and past.
You can also discover a historic trace outdoors: a section of the trail system at Wolf Creek Picnic Area and Trail follows an old rail bed. Imprints of the original railroad ties are still visible there. The Tazewell County Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention celebrates old-time and bluegrass music and is on the events calendar. It takes place annually in July at Pioneer Park at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum. Check the date separately for your travel year. The July 2026 edition included fiddle and guitar competitions, including a category for younger fiddle enthusiasts.
Landscapes and Habitats
Tazewell County lies on the Alleghany Plateau and is characterized by mountainous terrain. One distinctive landform is Burke’s Garden: the bowl-shaped depression formed through the gradual collapse of a mountain and is considered Virginia’s highest valley. This landscape cannot be reduced to individual trails or viewpoints; its striking geological formation is also part of what makes it distinctive.
In The Cove, grasslands and open habitats provide a home for numerous birds, including bald eagles, great blue herons, and wild turkeys; other wildlife also lives there. Cell service in The Cove is very unreliable, so bring an alternative navigation option. Lincolnshire Park and Lake, meanwhile, provide habitats for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and other wildlife. The damp, moss-covered woodland along Little Wolf Creek is characterized by tall eastern hemlocks and dense rhododendron undergrowth. Its habitats are also home to wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and woodland birds.
By the Water and on the Trails
At Lincolnshire Lake, you can fish, hike, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and use the aqua park. Recreational offerings are seasonal and may change, so check what’s available during your visit. A trail in the park leads to the lakeshore. The wooded slopes, however, are not served by trails—so the lakeside route and the surrounding woodland offer different ways to explore the area.
Wolf Creek Picnic Area and Trail has three trails, each about two miles long. One section of the trail system follows the old rail bed, where the tie imprints are still visible. The Appalachian Trail crosses Route 615 at Little Wolf Creek. In Burke’s Garden, the Country Store, just before the school, marks the official start of the Heart of Appalachia Bike Trail.
A Route for the Ride
Back of the Dragon is a 32-mile drive along Virginia Route 16 between Tazewell and Marion. The route passes through Tazewell County and includes more than 400 curves. Road conditions and route operations may change, so check before you set out. A downloadable GPX file is available for navigation with a compatible navigation app or GPS device. Riders often meet at the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center in Tazewell before continuing toward Marion or along other nearby Appalachian routes.
Discover more destinations: Tannersville, Cedar Bluff, Tazewell, Pounding Mill, Culpeper County, Floyd County, Patrick County, Essex County.
For the main travel overview: Virginia.
