Three Ridges Wilderness
Encyclopedia
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 the Priest Wilderness
by Virginia State Route 56
. The wilderness consists of 4702 acres (19 km²) and ranges in elevation from 1000 feet (305 m) at the Tye River to 3790 feet (1,155 m) at the summit of Three Ridges Mountain.
crosses through the wilderness for approximately ten miles. This section of the Appalachian Trail, combined with the other trail in the wilderness, the three mile long Mau-Har Trail, creates “one of the best loop trails in the state of Virginia,” according to one guidebook. These trails are maintained by the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club, a trail maintenance club affiliated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
. There are two Appalachian Trail shelters within the wilderness, the Maupin Field Shelter to the north, and the Harper’s Creek Shelter, 2.6 trail miles from the Tye River.
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 east of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
between 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...
and Wintergreen Ski Resort.
It is separated from the boundary of the Priest Wilderness
Priest Wilderness
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...
by 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 4702 acres (19 km²) and ranges in elevation from 1000 feet (305 m) at the Tye River to 3790 feet (1,155 m) at the summit of Three Ridges Mountain.
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...
crosses through the wilderness for approximately ten miles. This section of the Appalachian Trail, combined with the other trail in the wilderness, the three mile long Mau-Har Trail, creates “one of the best loop trails in the state of Virginia,” according to one guidebook. These trails are maintained by the Tidewater 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...
. There are two Appalachian Trail shelters within the wilderness, the Maupin Field Shelter to the north, and the Harper’s Creek Shelter, 2.6 trail miles from the Tye River.