George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

Parks Directory of the United States / National Forests

Address: 5162 Valleypointe Pkwy
Roanoke, VA 24019
Phone: 540-265-5100;
Fax: 540-265-5145;
Phone: 888-265-0019;
Web: www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj
Size: 1,770,673 total acres: 1,061,080 - George Washington NF; 709,593 - Jefferson NF.
Location: Jefferson NF is in western Virginia, crossing WV and KY state lines in places. Accessible by US 11, 220, 21, 52, and 58. Nearby cities/towns include Bristol, Bluefield, Lexington, Lynchburg, Radford, Roanoke, and Wytheville. George Washington NF lies on both sides of the Virginia-West Virginia line, extending from around Covington, VA, in the south up to near Winchester, VA, in the north. Accessible by I-64 and I-81; US 11, 33, and 220; VA 42 and 259. Nearby cities/towns include Front Royal, Luray, Harrisonburg, Lexington, and Waynesboro.
Facilities: Visitor center (Sherando Lake), 30+ campgrounds, 3 group camps, dispersed camping, 40+ picnic areas, trails (2,000 miles) including 9 national recreation trails and 4 OHV trails, marina, fishing piers, swimming beaches, 7 shooting ranges, scenic drives (3,000 miles), (é).
Activities: Camping, hunting, fishing, boating, canoeing, rafting, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, ORV riding, wildlife viewing, bird watching, horseback riding, 14 historical/cultural sites.
Special Features: Forests are located within eight major river basins (Potomac, James, Roanoke, New, Big Sandy, Holston, Cumberland, and Clinch) and comprise three mountain ranges (Shenandoah, Allegheny, and Blue Ridge). Points of interest include historic and scenic Shenandoah Valley; Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area, with 150-year-old remnants of the pig iron industry that once flourish here; Reddish Knob (4,397 feet), offering a panoramic view of the Potomac Highlands; Elliot Knob, the highest spot in George Washington NF at 4,463 feet; scenic Blue Ridge Parkway; and a 300-mile segment of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (see entry in national trails section).

---

See other parks in Virginia.