Lewis Fork Wilderness

Lewis Fork Wilderness lies within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and includes Mount Rogers itself, Virginia's highest point at 5,729 feet. The Wilderness is part of what is known as the "Mount Rogers High Country," in Grayson and Smyth Counties in southwest Virginia. Vegetation includes northern hardwoods with spruce/fir habitat at the higher elevations. Lewis Fork of Fox Creek contains native trout. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes through the northeast portion of Lewis Fork and then weaves in and out of the area along the southern boundary, for a total of about 5.5 miles within the Wilderness. There are 28 miles of trail within the Wilderness in all, and several trails have use restrictions. The area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests.