Barbours Creek Wilderness

Barbours Creek Wilderness, established in 1988 in western Virginia's George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, protects 5,382 acres on the eastern slope of Potts Mountain near New Castle. Its rugged Appalachian terrain includes cold-water Barbours Creek, limited trail access, and varied forest communities ranging from oak and hickory on drier slopes to pine and hemlock in wetter hollows. Potts Pond supports rare species, including the federally endangered northeastern bulrush, while the area and adjoining national forest provide important habitat for black bears, many bird species, and a major concentration of bobcats. A 2012 fire scarred parts of the wilderness, but its undeveloped character and ecological diversity remain central to its significance.

Virginia · United States