Welcome to

Norton, Virginia

From outdoor adventures to old-time jams at Country Cabin II, Norton and the surrounding High Knob Region offer year-round adventures for everyone. The city and surrounding region boast more than 100 miles of non-motorized trails for hiking and mountain biking, waterways ripe for fishing and paddling, music venues and festivals highlighting old-time, Americana, and bluegrass music, art galleries and museums highlighting Appalachian artists and history, and more. We invite you to Get Outside in Norton! See the links below to help plan your visit.

Discover Norton

Flag Rock

Searching for outdoor adventures? Look no further than Norton’s Flag Rock Recreation Area. Located three miles (and a thousand feet) above downtown Norton, the recreation area boasts more than 10 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, scenic overlooks, picnic shelters, a campground, reservoirs for fishing and paddling, bouldering and rock climbing routes, and sanctuaries for both the green salamander and Woodbooger.

High Knob Tower

High Knob Region

Make the High Knob Region your basecamp for outdoor adventures in Southwest Virginia! Named for High Knob – the highest point in the Cumberland Mountains – the region is home to three state parks, the more than 90,000-acre Clinch Ranger District on the Jefferson National Forest and other community parks and trails. The variety of recreation sites and activities make the region a great outdoor escape. Check out the High Knob Adventure Guide to help plan your trip!

High Knob Tower

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Current Month

06dec6:00 pm7:30 pmHoliday Storefront Decoration Contest Event6:00 pm - 7:30 pm(GMT-05:00) Lincoln Road Coffee Lounge, 736 Park Avenue NW

07dec4:00 pm7:00 pmNorton Holiday Market & Tree Lighting4:00 pm - 7:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Norton Expo Center, 115 8th St. SW

08dec6:00 pm8:00 pmNorton Christmas Parade6:00 pm - 8:00 pm(GMT-05:00)

14dec10:00 am12:00 pmGroup Hike: Powell River Trail10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Powell River Trail, 36.89977780679294, -82.78863191894985

16dec10:00 am2:00 pmOil Painting Class10:00 am - 2:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Norton Community Center, 201 Park Ave. NE

01jan10:00 am1:00 pmFirst Day Hike: Pickem Mountain Loop10:00 am - 1:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Norton Reservoir Trailhead

14jan5:00 pm7:00 pmTrash Treasures Workshops5:00 pm - 7:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Norton Community Center, 201 Park Ave. NE

20jan10:00 am2:00 pmOil Painting Class10:00 am - 2:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Norton Community Center, 201 Park Ave. NE

01feb10:00 am12:00 pmGroup Hike: Cranesnest Trail10:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Cranesnest Trail Parking Area

28feb(feb 28)9:00 am02mar(mar 2)5:00 pmShamrock Scavenger Hunt(February 28) 9:00 am - (March 2) 5:00 pm(GMT-05:00) Norton Community Center, 201 Park Ave. NE

Get the inside scoop

Join us for a group hike on the Powell River Trail in Appalachia at 10 a.m. next Saturday, Dec. 14! See below for more info. Registration is required. 

🥾Distance/Difficulty: 3.4 miles/Easy

🥾Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Bring snack/water.

🥾Cost: Free

🥾Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-3103, to register.

#nortonva #explorenortonva #getoutsidenortonva #hike #hiking #swva #iheartappy #visitva #loveva #winter
Check out these upcoming events in December! Visit https://www.nortonva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4625/Norton-2024-Calendar-Updated-102824 for more details on the events listed below.

#nortonva #getoutsidenortonva #visitva #loveva #holidays #hiking #hike #shoplocal #christmasparade #painting #arts
Norton City offices will be closed beginning at noon tomorrow, Nov. 27, through Friday, Nov. 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. See below flyer for the garbage schedule for this holiday.
Are you registered? The annual Holiday Storefront Decoration Contest has begun! Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 4. See below flyer for more details.

Questions? Contact Norton Parks & Recreation  at rmkilgore@nortonva.org or (276) 679-0754.
Norton's annual Holiday Market will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Norton Expo Center (115 8th St. SW)! 

More than 40 vendors are registered for this year's market. Other festivities will include an Ugly Christmas Sweater, Christmas Karaoke, and Christmas Cookie contests!

The Norton Tree lighting Ceremony will also be held at 6 p.m. that evening.

Follow Norton Parks & Recreation for up-to-date info on this event.
❄️ First significant snowfall event of the season on High Knob!
Don't forget! Make plans to visit downtown Norton from 6-8 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 22, for the inaugural Pink Friday event! Shop at participating downtown businesses and take holiday photos with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Participating businesses will be offering special discounts/deals during the event.

Follow the event's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/582329514478036) for more details.
We're excited to announce the winners of the Get Outside in Norton Fall Photo Contest! Thanks to the 14 talented photographers that submitted images. Winners are:
📸First Place: Earl "Bo" Cash of Norton (Photo: Flag Rock Campground)
📸Second Place: Tom Kiffmeyer of Morehead, KY (Photo: Guest River Gorge Trail)
📸Third Place: Melinda Mullins of Norton (Photo: Flag Rock Campground)
Check out the winners' photos and follow us on Facebook (@explorenortonva) to see all other photo contest submissions.
We’ll hold another Outdoor Photography Contest next year as part of the 2025 High Knob Outdoor Festival. Stay tuned for details!
#nortonva #getoutsidenortonva #explorenortonva #fall #photography #loveva #vaoutdoors #visitva #swva #iheartappy
Join us for a hike on the Legion Park Trail next Saturday, Nov. 23!

Date/Time: 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23

Distance/Difficulty: ~4.2 miles/Difficult

Details: Join us for a hike on the Flag Rock Area Trails system from Legion Park to Flag Rock Overlook and return. This hike is difficult, climbing almost 1,000 feet in elevation in just over a mile. Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Bring water and a snack.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.

Get Registered: Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-3103.

#nortonva #getoutsidenortonva #loveva #visitva #iheartappy #swva #hike #hiking #explorenortonva
Don't forget! The annual Holiday Storefront Decoration Contest has begun. Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 4. This year's theme is "The First Noel". See below flyer for more details.
Make plans to visit downtown Norton from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, for the inaugural Pink Friday event! Shop at participating downtown businesses that evening and take holiday photos with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Participating businesses will be offering special discounts/deals during the event.

Follow the event's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/582329514478036) for more details.
Flag Rock Campground and restrooms in Flag Rock Recreation Area will close beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12, for the winter season.
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