George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Appalachian Trail

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, two separate forest combined in 1995, form one of the largest national forests in the United States, covering 1.8 million acres.  Nearly half of this vast expanse remains remote and undeveloped, offering a pristine wilderness that includes 25 designated wilderness areas.

The forest features over 2,000mi (3,200km) of hiking trails, giving adventurers a plethora of options.  Mount Rogers, the highest point in the forest rises to 5,729ft (1,746m) above sea level.  Among its intriguing historical sites is the ghost town of Lignite, once a thriving iron ore boom town in the 1800s.  The town was abandoned after the demand for iron dwindled, and few traces remained.  The forest is also home to the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, found in Breaks Interstate Park, where Frontiersman Daniel Boone passed through in 1767 and gave it the name “The Breaks”.


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