North Creek

North Creek is a protected wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, valued for its mountain scenery, streams, trails, and biological richness. Centered on a valley where North Creek and Cornelius Creek flow through the Appalachians, it includes Apple Orchard Mountain, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail within 200 miles. Forests around Apple Orchard Falls, possible old-growth stands, rare fauna, and significant forest communities make the area especially important. Yet despite its protected character and exceptional waters, North Creek has remained vulnerable to road building and timber sales, prompting repeated opposition from conservationists seeking to preserve its intact interior forest and streams.

Buchanan, Virginia · United States