Once nearly denuded of all trees, the land making up the forest has sprouted a rich mantle of second-growth hardwoods and hemlocks, which drape the mountains and hills of the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies. In all, the forest can claim some 40 species of trees and 2,000 species of shrubs and herbaceous plants.

All or parts of six federally designated wildernesses lie within the forest, which is home to at least 70 kinds of amphibian and reptiles, some 200 species of birds, nearly 100 species of freshwater fish, and 55 species of mammals, from squirrels to bears.

More than 900 miles of hiking trails — including 60 miles of the legendary Appalachian Trail — and 2,000 miles of roads crisscross the forest. Large swaths of the forest parallel the idyllic Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah National Park, both of which are less than two hours by car from Washington, D.C. Leave yourself plenty of time to explore the forest and its surroundings. It can keep you busy for weeks.