A mythical (or not) creature brings bigtime adventure to the Appalachian Mountains.

Whether they call him Bigfoot, Sasquatch or Yeti, true believers have scoured wooded areas from Appalachia to the Pacific Northwest – and all corners of the globe – for sightings of the legendary figure.

In the southwest corner of Virginia, near the commonwealth’s smallest town of Norton, the creature answers to a different name – Woodbooger. And anyone who goes there will find him hiding in plain view in the wilderness of nearby Flag Rock Recreation Area.

Just beyond the parking area for the 1,000-acre park, a giant statue of the tall, hairy, humanlike being towers over a gravel path that leads to Flag Rock Overlook.

The Woodbooger became part of local lore in 2011 when Animal Planet filmed an episode of its program “Finding Bigfoot” in southwest Virginia. Courtesy of this national exposure, tourists flocked to the area in search of the elusive forest dweller. Taking full advantage of the creature’s newfound notoriety, the Norton City Council declared Flag Rock Recreation Area a Woodbooger Sanctuary in 2014.

Explorers Delight

Visitors often take pictures of themselves with the Woodbooger statue. Explorers also are welcome to come to the area and search for the mysterious creature or photograph evidence of the beast’s existence as long as they don’t damage its habitat.

However, Norton is not only a base for those in search of the Woodbooger. Nestled beneath High Knob – the highest point in the Cumberland Mountains – the town is centrally located between two main highways, U.S. 23 and U.S. Route 58 Alternate, near the crossroads of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The 4,200-foot High Knob summit is part of Stone Mountain which, at 13 miles wide and 26 miles long, connects many of the communities and recreation sites in the High Knob Region. Along with the city of Norton, the region includes nine Southwest Virginia communities in Wise, Scott and Lee counties.

Offering a variety of outdoor adventures, the region also is home to three state parks (Clinch River, Natural Tunnel and Southwest Virginia Museum), the more than 90,000-acre Clinch Ranger District on the Jefferson National Forest and other community parks and trails.

Activities range from hiking, hunting and horseback riding to camping, cycling (road, gravel and mountain) and climbing or bouldering on miles of cliffs. The region’s waterways offer opportunities for fishing and paddling as well.

In addition, the 40-plus mile Thomas Jefferson Scenic Byway Loop passes by additional recreation sites, scenic vistas and trails.

Observation Tower and Overlooks

Located five miles above downtown Norton atop the summit of Stone Mountain, the High Knob Observation Tower is a popular destination for hikers. Distant peaks as far away as Great Smoky Mountains National Park and West Virginia are visible from the tower.

A one-mile trail (also the start of the 15.6-mile Chief Benge Scout Trail) travels from the observation tower parking lot to High Knob Recreation Area.

Evenings are prime time to tour the area as well. Since the Woodbooger is a nocturnal creature, a spectacular sunset just might get explorers in the mood for a nighttime adventure.

The observation tower, along with two overlooks, is an ideal spot to watch the sunset.

Powell Valley Overlook, located on U.S. 23 North between Big Stone Gap and Norton, offers sweeping vistas of Powell Valley and surrounding mountains.

At 3,200 feet in elevation, Flag Rock Overlook also provides a great vantage point to watch the sun dip below the horizon. The lights in downtown Norton illuminate the surrounding hillsides as well.

A daytime hike to Flag Rock Overlook showcases the reasons that the Woodbooger would feel at home in the region. Highlighting the area’s natural beauty, the scenic trail to the overlook provides panoramic views of the Appalachian landscape.

The almost three-mile out-and-back trek, which begins at Legion Park in Norton, requires hikers to navigate gradual inclines and rocky terrain along forested paths lined by towering trees. Yellow blazes mark the trail, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Woodbooger. If you don’t spot the real thing, well, the statue is only a few steps from the overlook.

In Good Company

The city’s Flag Rock Recreation Area is three miles above downtown Norton on the lower slopes of High Knob. The park is most often associated with “Flag Rock,” which can be seen from downtown as a rock outcrop capped by an American flag.

The stars and stripes have waved atop the rock pillar since the 1920s when a German immigrant is said to have scaled the outcrop and erected the flag to symbolize his love for his newfound home.

In addition, the Woodbooger is not the only one to enjoy sanctuary status in these parts. The Flag Rock Recreation Area also has been designated as a Green Salamander Sanctuary to protect the species’ habitat. It is the country’s only town or city property given special designation for this species.

There are 20-plus salamander species within the borders of Norton and Wise County, giving the region one of the world’s highest concentrations of salamander diversity.

If you spy a Green Salamander, consider yourself lucky (few trained herpetologists get to see the species) – and be sure to keep your distance. They don’t respond well to being handled, and the chemicals on humans’ skin can harm the amphibians.

Festivals and Food

Along with the elusive Woodbooger and Green Salamander, the region is home to many outdoor festivals. The annual High Knob Outdoor Fest is August 10-18, with adventures designed for beginners and experts alike.

Activities include an outdoor photo contest, kayak and canoe rides, a bouldering clinic, stargazing program, nature painting classes, outdoor yoga, forest botanicals festival, trail runs, mountain bike poker ride on the Flag Rock Area Trails system and more.

The festival culminates with a celebration in downtown Norton from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, August 17, that features live bands, a craft beer and wine garden, food trucks, local artisans and outdoor gear vendors and demonstrations. For more information, go to highknoboutdoorfest.com.