Priest Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Priest Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Glenwood/Pedlar Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
. The wilderness area is located just south of the Tye River
, the Three Ridges Wilderness
, and Virginia State Route 56
. The wilderness consists of 5726 acres (23.2 km²) and ranges in elevation from 1000 feet (305 m) at the Tye River to 4063 feet (1,238 m) at the summit of The Priest
.
is the only major trail within the boundaries of this wilderness area. The AT here is maintained by the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club, a trail maintenance club affiliated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
. The AT southbound from Virginia State Route 56 to the summit of the Priest Mountain offers a 3,100 foot elevation gain over 4.3 miles. There is one Appalachian Trail shelter within the wilderness, the Priest Shelter, near the summit of The Priest.
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are U.S. National Forests that combine to form one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States. They cover of land in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky...
. The wilderness area is located just south of the Tye River
Tye River
The Tye River is a tributary of the James River in central Virginia in the United States. Originating on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County, and fed by the Piney and Buffalo rivers, by way of the James River it is part of the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay.Although...
, the Three Ridges Wilderness
Three Ridges Wilderness
Three Ridges Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Glenwood/Pedlar Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The wilderness area is located just east of the Blue Ridge Parkway between the Tye River and Wintergreen Ski Resort.It is separated from the boundary of...
, and Virginia State Route 56
Virginia State Route 56
Virginia State Route 56 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 11 at Steeles Tavern east to US 60 near Buckingham. SR 56 is the main east–west highway of Nelson County...
. The wilderness consists of 5726 acres (23.2 km²) and ranges in elevation from 1000 feet (305 m) at the Tye River to 4063 feet (1,238 m) at the summit of The Priest
The Priest
The Priest is a mountain in Nelson County, Virginia. The peak of the mountain is the highest point in the county.The mountain is on a spur off the main Blue Ridge Mountains, about 3.5 miles east of Maintop Mountain, located in the Priest Wilderness of the George Washington National...
.
Recreation
The Appalachian TrailAppalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
is the only major trail within the boundaries of this wilderness area. The AT here is maintained by the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club, a trail maintenance club affiliated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia...
. The AT southbound from Virginia State Route 56 to the summit of the Priest Mountain offers a 3,100 foot elevation gain over 4.3 miles. There is one Appalachian Trail shelter within the wilderness, the Priest Shelter, near the summit of The Priest.