The state highway heads east through town as Wise Street, which passes under Norfolk Southern Railway's Clinch Valley District.

SR 63 parallels the Clinch River and CSX's Kingsport Subdivision, formerly the Clinchfield Railroad, east to Lick Creek.

The highway and railroad turn north to follow Lick Creek out of St. Paul and cross the Wise–Russell county line.

SR 63 crosses Sandy Ridge and the Tennessee Valley Divide at Flint Gap and enters Dickenson County.

SR 63 descends as Dante Mountain Road into the valley of McClure Creek and rejoins the Kingsport Subdivision at Trammel.