Breaks Interstate Park National Trails Day

Breaks Park plans National Trails Day events for June 7;
Hiking events, stream ecology class planned

Breaks Park is celebrating the American Hiking Society’s 22nd Annual National Trails Day with special hiking, stream ecology, and educational events throughout the day on Saturday, June 7.

Trails Day activities will begin with an early morning bird hike at 8 am. Participants should meet at the Visitor Center to join local birder David Raines in seeking out the birds who call Breaks Park home. 

A Stream ecology class hosted by James Stapleton will give children and adults alike hands-on experience in collecting and identifying aquatic bugs. This information will be used to determine the health of a stream inside the park, and will be recorded in the Park’s official flora and fauna species list. Participants can anticipate getting wet during this exercise, and should wear appropriate clothing and footwear. It will be a wonderful opportunity to have fun, and be a part of the Breaks Park official scientific record. Those who wish to participate in this scientific adventure should meet at the Visitor Center at 1 pm.

A hike on the Geological Trail is planned at 3 pm. Geologist and Author Tony Scales will lead the hike and explain how the Breaks gorge was formed, as well as what types of rocks, minerals, and geological formations can be found at the park. Participants should meet at Stateline Overlook. The hike is considered moderate, and closed-toe footwear is required.

Additional programs are planned throughout the day, including making homemade bird feeders, and animal track bandannas. A snake program is planned, as well as a scavenger hunt. A full list of programs for the weekend can be found on the park website.

“The Breaks staff seeks to seize every opportunity to engage our visitors with the natural world,” said Breaks Superintendent Austin Bradley, “We hope that our participation in National Trails Day will help create this engagement and foster an appreciation for this great resource which is owned by the citizens of Virginia and Kentucky,” he said.

National Trails Day (NTD) is a celebration of America’s magnificent Trail System, occurring annually on the first Saturday in June. NTD features a series of outdoor activities, designed to promote and celebrate the importance of trails in the United States. Individuals, clubs and organizations from around the country host National Trails Day events to share their love of trails with friends, family, and their communities. NTD introduces thousands of Americans to a wide array of trail activities: hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, trail running, and bird watching and more.

Breaks Interstate Park is located on the Kentucky - Virginia border and is accessed by State Route 80. Commissioned by the U.S. Congress in 1954, it encompasses more than 4,600 acres and is one of only two interstate parks in the United States. For more information about the park, please visit www.BreaksPark.com.