George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Been Here
Life List
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest (Wikimedia)
Measuring nearly 1.8 million acres, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are steeped in American and pre-American tradition. The combined area was a one-time home for Indians, a passageway for pioneers, and a battleground during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Today, the forests offer an assortment of recreational experiences in one of the East's largest expanses of pristine land. Available activities include hiking, fishing, backpacking, biking, camping, wildlife viewing, and scenic driving. Read More »
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Highlights
- Hike the Wild Oak Trail, a 26-mile loop that follows the North River before ascending to a ridgeline and the 4,351-foot summit of Little Bald Knob. Tackle the trail in a manageable five or ten-mile section for a dayhike, or make it a two- to three-day weekend backpacking trip.
- Ascend 3,200-foot Great North Mountain on your mountain bike, riding a trail that’s a mix of gravelly Forest Service fire roads, ridgetop doubletrack, and some tricky sections of knotty singletrack. The nine-mile loop serves up 1,500 feet of vertical—not a climb for inexperienced or unfit riders.
- Fish for wild trout in the forest’s hundreds of miles of streams and rivers. The fly-fishing on Jackson River offers you a shot at hefty rainbow and brown trout, while smaller mountain streams harbor native brookies. The forest’s ponds, lakes, and riverways are home to nearly 100 species of fish, so no matter where you dangle a line, you probably won’t go home empty- handed.
- Paddle the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, languidly drifting through a bucolic landscape of pasture, limestone cliffs, forested slopes, and mountain views. Luray-based Shenandoah River Outfitters rents canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes.
- Set off from milepost zero as the scenic 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway begins its journey south from Waynesboro, Virginia (also the southern end of Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive). Spring and fall offer up a riot of seasonal colors, although traffic on the road may get congested, especially at weekends.
-
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests Travel Q&A
- Answer this
- cabin near fries va
-
Asked on April 15, 2012 by slick
What You Can Do in George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Articles & Advice on George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
-
- Trees, Caves, and the Capital
- Head out from family-friendly Washington, DC, into Virginia's nearby and utterly opulent Shenandoah Valley for underground marvels and above-ground hiking and horseback riding. Then loop through the wilds of West Virginia before returning to the nation's capital on this seven-day Mid-Atlantic jaunt.
- Washington, D.C., Area Hikes
- Introduction
- Weekend Wheeling in Washington, D.C.
- West of Town - Around Front Royal
- Virginia's Top 5 Trout Streams
- Jackson River
- George Washington National Forest
- Hiking - Pedlar Ranger District
- George Washington National Forest
- Highlights
Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
advertisement
Parks Near George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
- James River Face Wilderness,VA (13 mi.)
- Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail,VA (15 mi.)
- Thunder Ridge Wilderness,VA (16 mi.)
GEARZILLA: The Gorp Gear Blog
advertisement
