Daniel Boone Wilderness Road
Local Visitor Information
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Explore Resources
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Byway Overview
The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail was the first road over the Cumberland Gap. It was used by Native Americans to connect the Cherokee in the Great Smoky Mountains with the Shawnee in Ohio, naming it “Warrior’s Path”. Daniel Boone was commissioned to open a path (or trace) over the Cumberland Gap. He improved the path to accommodate wagon trains. Over 200,00 pioneers traveled this route from the East to Kentucky. The route starts in Bristol, Virginia and dips into Tennessee briefly before making its way westward along the Tennessee border and through the communities of Gate City, Clinchport, and Rose Hill before ending near the town of Cumberland Gap, TN and the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park near Middlesboro, KY.
Quick Facts
- Designation
- State Byway
- Location
- VA
- Total Length
- 97 miles
Visitor Information & Byway Partners
Local Byway Partners
800-367-7623 This route travels the southern border of the state - from Bristol, VA to the very southwestern tip of Virginia. Taking Route 11W and dipping into Tennessee to Kingsport, the traveler will then turn onto Route 23 to reenter Virginia. Route 23 turns westward at Gate City to the intersection with US 58/421. US 58 will continue to the southwestern tip of Virginia and to the Cumberland National Park and Middlesboro, KY.
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Homeplace Farm and Museum
1840's farmstead with structures and artifacts collected throughout Scott County
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Moccasin Gap
On the original path connecting the Cherokee and Shawnee.. Sadly, the gap was later used for ambushing the pioneers heading from the East to Kentucky. Located in the Clinch Mountains.
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Natural Tunnel State Park
1-million-yerar-old tunnel under Purchase Ridge with the Stock River running through it. Today a railroad line runs through the tunnel and next to the river.