Breaks Interstate Park Tent Camping Trip

CEFR Level B2-C1

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This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Road Trip. Part 2 will be January's Subscriber Exclusive in The Variety Page Circular​.

August 11-14, 2025: Solo camping trip to Breaks Interstate Park (VA/KY) and Mammoth Cave National Park

Monday

I drove 5.5 hours to Breaks Interstate Park on the border of Virginia and Kentucky. The park is located near a deep gorge through the mountains and is known as the Grand Canyon of the South. 

On arrival, I asked the check-in desk for hiking suggestions since I wanted to be back before dusk. After parking at my campsite, I made a loop out of Flatwoods, Hickory Ridge, and Mountain Home Trails. These would be good for birding or less strenuous hikes, but there are no views. I didn’t enjoy the hike as much as I might have because it was very humid and also because I started rushing when I noticed that the mountains were blocking the sun and it was getting dark more quickly than I anticipated. I couldn’t find the trail at one point and ended up walking down the road for a ways. Overall, it was a good way to stretch my legs after the long drive, but by the time I made it back to camp, I was ready to set up my tent, build a fire, and relax.

I don’t have reason to regularly build fires, so I always feel accomplished when I am successful. I sat and read a novel. I ate curry straight from the bag, using bread as a spoon and plate. It was less satisfying than I anticipated, but I greatly enjoyed not having dishes to wash. As the time for sunset drew near, I started to get nervous. I’ve been well trained to never leave a fire unattended, but I wanted to go to the lookout to see the sunset. 

When the fire seemed low and not sending out sparks, I raced to the lookout. It was only a 10 minute speedwalk from my site. The sun was still high above the ridge. I chatted with a couple who were also waiting for the sunset, but my mind was on the unattended fire. I excused myself to race back and check on it. Grateful that I hadn’t started a wildfire, my heart thumped when the park host slowed down next to my site as I was about to leave. 

“Be sure to pack away your food in your car,” they said. “We saw a bear on the loop down the hill.” I assured them that I took bear safety precautions seriously. 

When they drove off, I raced back to the lookout, trying not to trip on roots in the dusk. I arrived when the sun was partly below the ridgeline. It was beautiful, as all sunsets are, but nothing ode-worthy.

Once it was dark, I walked with the couple back to the campground, slowly picking our way over rocks and roots because none of us thought to bring a flashlight for after sunset.

The night was uneventful. I guess the bear found other places to investigate.

Tuesday

I woke up early and got on the trail. I wanted to get an hour or two of hiking in before I got on the road again. I took Ridge Trail to Geology Trail to Overlook Trail before returning on Prospector Trail with a short spur on Laurel Branch and Grassy Overlook Trails to get me back to my campsite.

​Geology Trail was gorgeous with huge ferns coming out of damp, mossy rocks. It felt like I was in a tropical world, not the middle of the Appalachian mountains.

I ate granola bars and fruit punch for breakfast at Stateline Overlook. I was too late for sunrise, which was good because Geology Trail and the others would be too dangerous in the dark or pre-dawn light, but the early morning light was still beautiful. I suppose that once you’ve seen one mountain covered in green trees with a river far below in a narrow valley, then you’ve seen them all, but there is something exhilarating and freeing about these views.

Can you find the entrance to the train tunnel?

Again, I rushed my hike because I needed to get on the road. Based on the condition of the trails I took, the park isn’t being overly cautious when it recommends a buddy and hiking poles for Bottom of the Breaks Trail. Even the trails I took had places where I had to carefully move across rocks and wet places. Often, I had to stop and look ahead to find my trail because there was no clear path marked across a jumble of rocks and sharp boulders. 

Once back at my campsite, I showered in hot water, packed up my tent, and got on the road.
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Over five hours later, I arrived at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Subscribe to The Variety Page Circular to journey with me through Mammoth Cave National Park.