Priest Wilderness is a protected area in the Glenwood/Pedlar Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia, just south of the Tye River, Route 56, and Three Ridges Wilderness. Covering 5,726 acres, it rises steeply from about 1,000 feet at the river to 4,063 feet at the summit of The Priest. Its rugged relief defines one of the Appalachian Trail’s best-known climbs, ascending about 3,100 feet in 4.3 miles from Route 56 to the summit. The Appalachian Trail is the wilderness’s only major trail, and the Priest Shelter near the summit makes the area a notable destination for long-distance hikers and demanding day hikes.

Wintergreen, Virginia · USA