Rough Mountain Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Rough Mountain Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Warm Springs Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
. The wilderness area is located on Rough Mountain and consists of 9300 acres (37.6 km²). Rough Mountain Wilderness ranges in elevation from 1150 feet (351 m) to 2842 feet (866 m) at Griffin Knob. The area has only one established hiking trail within its boundaries, and is characterized by steep slopes heading up to the ridgeline of Rough Mountain.
The only established trail in the Rough Mountain Wilderness, the Crane Trail, starts from possibly “the most remote trailhead” in the George Washington National Forest. The trail itself only 3 miles long, but requires an out and back hike because private homes and hunting camps block access to Virginia State Route 42
at the western end of the trail. The eastern trailhead is located next to railroad tracks leased by the Buckingham Branch Railroad
from CSX Transportation
, so access to the trail from either terminus may not be possible without trespassing.
It may also be possible to bushwack across the ridge of Rough Mountain to Griffith Knob starting from a parking lot north of the Wilderness boundaries. This hike requires a 2.6 mile trek through an adjoining nonwilderness roadless area before reaching the Wilderness boundary. It has been described as possibly “the loneliest hike in Virginia” in one guidebook.
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 on Rough Mountain and consists of 9300 acres (37.6 km²). Rough Mountain Wilderness ranges in elevation from 1150 feet (351 m) to 2842 feet (866 m) at Griffin Knob. The area has only one established hiking trail within its boundaries, and is characterized by steep slopes heading up to the ridgeline of Rough Mountain.
Recreation
Rough Mountain Wilderness is so difficult to access that it never receives much use other than during hunting season. In addition, the only reliable water sources exist just outside of the Wilderness’s boundaries and there are few flat spots suitable for camping.The only established trail in the Rough Mountain Wilderness, the Crane Trail, starts from possibly “the most remote trailhead” in the George Washington National Forest. The trail itself only 3 miles long, but requires an out and back hike because private homes and hunting camps block access to Virginia State Route 42
Virginia State Route 42
State Route 42 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Running parallel to and west of Interstate 81, SR 42 consists of three sections with gaps filled by secondary routes in between. Some of SR 42 lies along the old Fincastle and Cumberland Gap Turnpike...
at the western end of the trail. The eastern trailhead is located next to railroad tracks leased by the Buckingham Branch Railroad
Buckingham Branch Railroad
Buckingham Branch Railroad is a Class III short-line railroad operating over 200 miles of historic and strategic trackage in Central Virginia...
from CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, so access to the trail from either terminus may not be possible without trespassing.
It may also be possible to bushwack across the ridge of Rough Mountain to Griffith Knob starting from a parking lot north of the Wilderness boundaries. This hike requires a 2.6 mile trek through an adjoining nonwilderness roadless area before reaching the Wilderness boundary. It has been described as possibly “the loneliest hike in Virginia” in one guidebook.