Peters Mountain Wilderness
| Peters Mountain Wilderness | |
| Part of Jefferson National Forest | |
| Wilderness Area | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| States | Virginia |
| Counties | Giles VA |
| Coordinates | 37°25′59″N 80°37′21″W / 37.43306°N 80.62250°WCoordinates: 37°25′59″N 80°37′21″W / 37.43306°N 80.62250°W |
| Highest point | |
| - elevation | 3,956 ft (1,206 m) |
| Lowest point | |
| - elevation | 2,000 ft (610 m) |
| Area | 4,531 acres (1,834 ha) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Management | George Washington and Jefferson National Forests |
| Owner | USDA Forest Service |
| Nearest city | Pembroke, Virginia |
  Location of Peters Mountain Wilderness in Virginia
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The Peters Mountain Wilderness is an area protected by act of Congress to maintain its present, natural condition. As part of the wilderness system. it helps to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contributes to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools. Over half of the ecosystems in the United States exist within designated wilderness.
The ridge of Peters Mountain offers excellent vantage points overlooking the hills of West Virginia, and the area includes interesting bogs and mountain outcrops. The deep forests are occupied by the northern saw whet owl and many species of warblers. The mountain is home of the rare Peters Mountain Mallow.
The area is located on Peters Mountain in the Jefferson National Forest, about 10 miles north of Pearisburg, Virginia. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail travels about 1.5 miles through the middle of the area. The section of the Appalachian Trail passing through the wilderness can be reached by following the Appalachian Trail south from the trail head at Stony Creek or going north from the trail head at the New River.
Besides the Appalachian Trail, there are several other trails in the area. These include the Allegheny Trail extending along the ridge of Peters Mountain, and the Ground Hog Trail, a 2 mile blue-blazed trail that begins at Painters Run Road (Rt. 657) off of Route 219 in West Virginia. Trail information is available on National Geographic-Trails Illustrated Map #787 (Blacksburg-New River Valley).
Vegetation in the wilderness is primarily upland oak with yellow poplar, red oak, and hickory with at least three tracts of old growth forest. There are numerous sandstone outcroppings along the crest of the mountain and a number of high mountain bogs on Pine Swamp Ridge.Peters Mountain Mallow, one of the rarest plants in the United States, is unique to the mountain. It is protected in a 398-acre preserve purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Virginia that is located just outside of the wilderness area.
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Wikipedia