Jefferson National Forest

NORTON, Va. – The Jefferson National Forest is big, wild and beautiful.
Those three words are, perhaps, the best way to describe one of the region’s biggest outdoor tourist draws. Visitors flock to the national forest each year because there is something for everyone in its 690,000 acres that covers ground in Virginia and neighboring West Virginia and Kentucky.
Its scenic vistas offer wonderful views of the region and its forest, especially for hikers who exert themselves along trails leading to some of the forest’s highest mountains. Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest point, draws tourists who want to spend a few days camping along areas where the air is crisp and clear. Others want a glimpse of the wild pony herds that roam in the Mount Rogers area, not too far from the popular Appalachian Trail.
The Mount Rogers Natural Recreational Area is the best-known portion of the Jefferson. It has three regions and includes such offerings as the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway. The High Country region of Mount Rogers has 25,000 acres of the highest land in Virginia, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Visitors longing for the solitude of a secluded picnic table for a family feast have plenty of choices located in the various day recreational areas in the Jefferson.
Hunters and anglers take advantage of the Jefferson’s wildlife habitats and pristine streams each year. The sharp echo of a deer rifle is often heard during hunting season in some of the towns that hug the Jefferson’s magnificent mountains. Trout streams can become crowded in the spring when anglers pack a cooler with goodies, grab some bait and find a comfortable spot to cast a line along the streams that run between Bland and Tazewell counties.
Horse owners often load up their trailers and spend a few hours or a couple of days in the saddle amidst the tree growths and rock outcrops in Dickenson County.
“It’s really great,” Dickenson County resident Jerry Gray said of the Jefferson National Forest. “We’ve got a strip of it.”
Dickenson County has a small portion of the forest in its borders, while neighboring Buchanan County has no national forest land in its boundary.
“We think we’ve got hidden treasure back here,” Gray said of the national forest.
There is a series of trails in Dickenson County that appeals to horseback riders, mountain bikers and hikers. Birch Knob, a scenic overlook just outside of Clintwood, has been steadily drawing visitors.
“We’ve got some good sites back here,” Gray said. “It has great potential.”
One project that has been an ongoing work in Dickenson County is the Pine Mountain Conference Trail. Those involved, including Gray, are working to build and maintain a continuous hiking trail with connectors to the Pine Mountain Trail. The trail is to run from the scenic Breaks Interstate Park to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park.
Hikers have plenty of choices at various sites in the region. The portion of the Appalachia Trail that runs through the Jefferson is always popular. The Bark Camp Loop Trail near Coeburn is popular because it’s flat and easy to walk.
The Chief Benge Scout Trail is not for the timid because its 15.7-mile trail is one of the most difficult to hike.
The Devil’s Fork Trail system is even more difficult, some hikers say. Those who tackle the 7.2-mile trail are in for a treat because it includes portions of an old coal and timber road and crosses a stream 10 times. Hikers can rest near a rusty old coal car that was abandoned decades ago.
The Jefferson is vast, but visitors may get information and maps by visiting any of the ranger district offices in the area.
National forest staff has information and tips to make any trip safe and enjoyable for veteran Jefferson visitors or for those who are experiencing the area’s wonders for the first time.

On the web:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/
Clinch Ranger District
9416 Darden Drive
Wise, VA 24293
(276) 328-2931
Mount Rogers National Recreational Area
3714 Highway 16
Marion, VA 24354-4097
(276) 783-5196
Toll Free 1-800-628-7202