Ecotourism
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Private
The Nature Conservancy
State Preserves
State Forests
Wildlife Managment Areas
Latest News
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Resources
@astctour Twitter List on Ecotourism
Our YouTube Playlist for Ecotourism State
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How does ASTC view Sustainable Tourism?
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The Land and Water Conservation Fund Interactive Map
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A Sustainable Recreational Blueprint for Virginia's High Knob Region
ASTC jealously guards the value of this word. Ecotourism is not just about being outside.​
Please go to our forum section to tell us what Ecotourism means to you.
Region
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The Cumberland Forest Project (KY, TN, VA)
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Blue Ridge Parkway (Eco-Friendly Sites)
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Private
Rustic Ravines (Waynce County)
BIRDWATCHING/STARGAZING
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Three Rivers Avian Center (Summers County)
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The Nature Conservancy
Brush Creek Preserve TNC (Mercer County)
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Slaty Mountain Preserve (TNC) (Monroe County)
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Greenbrier Valley (TNC)
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Preserves
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Certifed Arboretum
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State Forest
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Greenbrier State Forest (very close to White Sulphur Springs)
Note: When traveling to Greenbrier State Forest, vehicles and campers will need to travel through Harts Run Tunnel, which is 13’ 6” high.
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Panther State Forest (southwestern McDowell County and Mingo County)
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Cabwaylingo State Forest (Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln and Mingo)
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Calvin Price State Forest (Greenbrier County)
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Camp Creek State Forest (Mercer County)
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Wildlife Management Areas
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Anawalt Lake WMA (southern McDowell County)
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Berwind Lake WMA (southern McDowell County)
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Tug Fork WMA (northern McDowell County)
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Beury Mountain WMA (Fayette County)
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Plum Orchard Lake WMA (western Fayette County)
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Bluestone Lake WMA (southern Summers County)
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Horse Creek Lake WMA (western Wyoming County)
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R.D. Bailey Lake WMA (western Wyoming County
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Meadow River WMA (western Greenbrier County)
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Moncove Lake WMA (eastern Monroe County)
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Tate Lohr WMA (southern Mercer County)
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Beech Fork Lake WMA (northern Wayne County)
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East Lynn Lake WMA (southern Wayne County)
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Hilbert WMA (eastern Lincoln County)
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Upper Mud River WMA (southern Lincoln County)
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Laurel Lake WMA (northeast Mingo County)
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Wildlife Viewing
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Greenbrier Outfitters (White Sulphur Springs)
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Wildlife center at Forks-of-Coal natural area set to open
(Spring, 2022)
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Scenic Rivers
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Private
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KY Natural Lands Trust. Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor
On boarder with Virginia
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Lilley Cornett Woods (Letcher County)
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The Nature Conservancy
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Bad Branch State Nature Preserve (Whitesburg, TNC) CRDRT
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Preserves
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James E. Bickford State Nature Preserve (Harlan County)
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Blanton State Forest and Nature Preserve (Harlan County)
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Certifed Arboretum
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State Forests
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Kentenia State Forest (Harlan County)
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Kentucky Ridge State Forest (Bell County)
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Tygarts State Forest (Carter County)
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Wildlife Management Areas
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Cranks Creek Wildlife Management Area (Harlan County)
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Martins Fork Wildlife Management Area (Harlan County)
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Begley Wildlife Management Area (Harlan County) CRDRT​
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Carr Creek Lake WMA (Knott County, KY)
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Stone Mountain WMA and State Natural Area (Harlan County, KY)
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Fishtrap Lake Wildlife Management Area (Pike County) CRDRT
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Wildlife Viewing
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Jenny Wiley State Resort Park (Lawerence County)
Guided Elk Tours. September to early March
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Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park (Perry County)
Guided Elk Tours. Fall or Winter
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Jewel Ridge Wildlife Viewing Area (Perry County)
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Elk Tours Breaks Interstate Park
(Pike County, KY/ Dickenson County VA)
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Stay in Clay (Experience Elk Country, Clay County)
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Scenic Rivers
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Private
Snakeroot Ecotours (Mt. Mitchell. Black Mountains)
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Curtis Wright Outfitters Falconry (Buncombe)
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The Nature Conservancy
Bluff Mountain Preserve (Ashe County)
Big Yellow Mountain Preserve (Avery County)
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Preserves
River and Earth Adventures Eco-Education (Blowing Rock)
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Certifed Arboretum
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State Forests
Holmes Educational State Forest (Hendersonville)
Tuttle Educational State Forest (Caldwell County)
DuPont State Recreational Forest (near SC and GA)
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Natural Area (WMA)
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area (West Jefferson, NC)
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Catoosa Wildlife Management Area (Morgan County)
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Wildlife Viewing
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Scenic Rivers
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Private
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The Nature Conservancy
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John R. Dickey Birch Branch Sanctuary (Johnson County)
Shady Valley (Johnson County)
Orchard Bog and Quarry Bog (Johnson County)
Schoolyard Springs (Johnson County)
Pogue Creek Canyon (Pickett County)
Clear Creek Preserve (Morgan County
Clifty Creek Preserve (Roane/Morgan County
Stone Preserve (Morgan County)
Gil & Summerfield Johnston Preserve (Scott County)
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Preserves
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Certifed Arboretum
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State Forest
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Martha Sundquist State Forest (Cocke County)
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Chuck Swan State Forest (Campbell & Union County)
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Scott State Forest (NW of Knoxville)
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Lone Mountain State Forest (West of Knoxville)
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Wildlife Management Areas
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Chuck Swan WMA (Campbell & Union Counties)
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Pickett State Forest & WMA (West of the Big South Fork National River RA)
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Lick Creek Bottoms WMA - Joachim Bible Refuge (Greene County)
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Forks of the River WMA (Knoxville)
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Buffalo Springs WMA (Rutledge and Grainger Counties)
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Tellico Lake WMA (Monroe County)
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Catoosa WMA (Cumberland and Morgan Counties)
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Kyles Ford WMA (West of Kingsport, near VA line)
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Wildlife Viewing
Seven Islands State Birding Park (20 miles east of Knoxville)
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Scenic Rivers
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Private
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Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure Elk Viewing (Buchanan Couty)
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The Clinch Coalition Guided Hikes (Clinch Ranger District)
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The Nature Conservancy
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Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve (Montgomery County)
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Falls Ridge Preserve (Montgomery County)
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Clinch River (Tazewell, Russell, Wise, Scott Counties)
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Warm Springs Mountain Preserve (Bath County) 10,000 acres
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Preserves
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Virginia Natural Area Preserves
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Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve (Russell County)
Big Falls and the Pinnacle (Russell County)
Copper Ridge Trail and Overlook (Russell County)
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Johnsons Creek Natural Area Preserve (Alleghany County)
No public Access
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Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve (Rockbridge County)
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Certifed Arboretum
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State Forest
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Channels State Forest (Washington and Russell Counties)
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Old Flat State Forest (Grayson County)
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Matthews State Forest (Grayson County)
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Hawks State Forest (Carroll County)
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Niday Place State Forest (Craig County)
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Moore’s Creek State Forest (Rockbridge County)
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Wildlife Management Areas
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Big Survey WMA (Wyth County)
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Clinch Mountain WMA (SMYTH, RUSSELL, WASHINGTON, TAZEWELL COUNTIES)
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Crooked Creek WMA (Carroll County)
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Hidden Valley WMA (Washington County)
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Stewards Creek WMA (Carroll County)
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Fairystone Farms WMA (Patrick & Henery) Counties)
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Smith Mountain Cooperative WMA (Bedford County)
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Short Hills WMA (Botetourt & Rockbridge Counties)
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Havens WMA (Roanoke County)
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Turkeycock WMA (Franklin)
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T. M. Gathright WMA (Bath County)
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Highland WMA (Highland County)
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Wildlife Viewing
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Breaks Interstate Park (KY/VA) Elk Tours
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Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (Bird and Wildlife Trails)
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​​​Forest Trails
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Scenic Rivers
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Benefits, Criteria and Designated Rivers
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Thank you for visiting Appalachia Sustainable Tourism Collaboration!​
We hope the site helps you with your vision for your community.
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