New River Valley Ranger District

Evaluate Our Service

Recreation

Beartown Wilderness

The United States Congress designated the Beartown Wilderness in 1984 and it now has a total of 5,609 acres*. All of the wilderness is in Virginia.

Description

Some of Virginia's most remote territory is nestled in Beartown Wilderness. No improved roads lead here, and the old dirt roads are being reclaimed by native vegetation. This country is steep and rugged, particularly at the heads of the drainages, and reaches elevations of almost 5,000 feet. The principal waterways are Roaring Fork Creek, Bark Camp Creek, and Cove Branch, which runs off Beartown Ridge. The creeks feed several beaver ponds. For native trout, fish Roaring Fork. The vegetation is diverse, featuring Appalachian hardwoods, northern spruce-fir, northern hardwoods, hemlock, a sphagnum bog, and a few rare plants. You may see bears, you may see deer, and you're certain to see many smaller mammals and a great variety of birds.
The Appalachian Trail (AT) traces the southern boundary for about four miles, providing access for backpackers. There are no other maintained trails.

Administration

Planning to visit the Beartown Wilderness?
Contact the New River Valley Ranger District

Leave No Trace

1. Remember, when visiting any wilderness area, always follow these principles:
2. Plan Ahead and Prepare
3. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
4. Dispose of Waste Properly
5. Leave What You Find
6. Minimize Campfire Impacts
7. Respect Wildlife
8. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
   

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc*. web site.

Learn More About the National Wilderness Preservation System

Read about how the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service and National Park Service manage wilderness. Learn more about issues facing wilderness managers. Learn about wilderness research projects at the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute.

The web site is sponsored by wilderness.net*.