Dismal Creek is a protected wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, centered on a bowl-shaped mountain landscape west of White Gate. Part of the Angels Rest Cluster, it is valued for rugged scenery, recreation, and exceptional ecological diversity. The Appalachian Trail follows the creek through the area, while old logging roads and railroad grades recall early twentieth-century timbering. Its habitats include ridges, streams, floodplain forest, a rare fen, and a special biological area supporting black bear, migratory birds, piratebush, rare calcium-loving plants, and northern white-cedar. Conservation efforts have focused on preserving its connected habitat, backcountry character, and high-quality trout stream.