Johns Creek Mountain is a protected wildland in western Virginia’s George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, recognized by The Wilderness Society as a Mountain Treasure for its conservation value. A long ridge extends about 12 miles southwest from above New Castle, with elevations generally between 2,900 and 3,000 feet, while Johns Creek drains its slopes and descends into a gorge near town with class 4 and 5 rapids. Though official trails are absent, old logging roads, paths, and railroad grades still provide access. The area’s oak-hickory forests have conditions likened to old growth, but recent logging and limited roadless protections reflect ongoing forest management pressures.