Entry 124: Breaks Interstate Park: Hiking, Community, and Bi-State Collaboration in Kentucky and Virginia
There are some places you visit that never really leave you—and for me, Breaks Interstate Park is one of those places. Tucked into the rugged Appalachian Mountains on the border between Kentucky and Virginia, this park is often called the “Grand Canyon of the South.” But for me, it’s much more than a nickname or a scenic overlook—it’s a place that shaped my early professional journey and introduced me to incredible people, powerful landscapes, and thriving communities working hard to build their outdoor future. Falling in Love with the Breaks I first visited Breaks Interstate Park for work several years ago. Like many who arrive for the first time, I was immediately taken in by the view—sheer cliffs plunging into the Russell Fork Gorge, wooded trails that seem to roll on forever, and a silence that hums with presence. The hiking here is unforgettable. Whether it’s climbing to a high overlook or winding through rhododendron thickets along the river, every trail offers a new vantage poi...