Mountain Lake Wilderness

Mountain Lake Wilderness spans the Virginia-West Virginia border in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, forming part of a southern Appalachian wilderness cluster beside Mountain Lake. Frequent rain and high elevations create unusual habitats for the region, including bogs, vernal ponds, red spruce wetlands, and a rich variety of plant and animal life. The land rises from about 2,200 to more than 4,000 feet and is crossed by the Eastern Continental Divide, sending streams toward both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Logging in the 1920s and chestnut blight altered the forest, but trails and overlooks now reveal its diverse landscapes.

Virginia · United States