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 This article is on national forests in the United States. ...

They cover 1.8 million acres (7,300 km²) of land in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Just over 1/3 of the forest is actively used for timber producing. Approximately one million acres (4,000 km²) of the forest are remote and undeveloped. The Appalachian Mountains are a system of North American mountains running from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to Alabama in the United States, although the northernmost mainland portion ends at the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner (D) Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... State nickname: Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin (D) Official languages English Area 62,809 km² (41st)  - Land 62,436 km²  - Water 376 km² (0. ... State nickname: Bluegrass State Other U.S. States Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) Official languages English Area 104,749 km² (37th)  - Land 102,989 km²  - Water 1,760 km² (1. ...

The forests are popular hiking, mountain biking, and hunting destinations. Beautiful natural scenes are common hiking destinations Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... Mountain biking is an exciting sport that involves riding bicycles anywhere off paved roads. ... Hunting is, in its most general sense, the pursuit of a target. ...

The two forests were administratively combined in 1995. North of the James River the forest is called George Washington National Forest. South of the James River it is called Jefferson National Forest. The James River in the U.S. state of Virginia is 547. ...

Notable features

• The northern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the Forest.
• Over 2,000 miles (3,000 km) of hiking trails go through the Forest, including 330 miles (530 km) of the Appalachian Trail.
• Virginia's highest point, Mount Rogers, is located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area that is part of the Forest.

Blue Ridge Parkway in autumn near Looking Glass Rock The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the U.S., noted for its scenic beauty. ... The Pocosin cabin along the trail in Shenandoah National Park The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail, is a 2,174 mile (3500 km) marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. ... Mount Rogers is the highest point in the state of Virginia, USA, with a summit elevation of 5729 feet (1746 meters) above mean sea level. ...

External links

• George Washington and Jefferson National Forests