Recreation > Jefferson National Forest (& George Washington National Forest)

In 1995, Jefferson National Forest and The George Washington National Forest were administratively combined. Together the two National Forests contain nearly 1.8 million acres of public land, representing one of the largest blocks of public land in the eastern United States. The Jefferson National Forest itself is comprised of lands located in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

The Jefferson National Forest hosts 280 miles of the Appalachian Trail that extends through the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains. Elevations range from 600 to 6,000 feet. Wide variety of trees, flowering vegetation and wildlife.

Outdoor recreation include camping, picnicking, hunting, fishing (400 miles of trout streams) hiking, horseback riding, swimming, cross country skiing and driving scenic by-ways. Recreation areas range from highly developed to isolated solitude of wilderness.

For more information regarding Jefferson National Forest visit www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/.