Last fall, hikers discovered a patch of Mile-a-Minute Vine at the southeastern edge of the proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA).  Located along Hankey Mountain portion of Wild Oak Trail, this is the first known occurrence of this  fast-spreading invasive plant in or near the SMNSA.  It can completely cover and overwhelm native plant communities and kill trees.  Some call it the Kudzu of the north.

In order to protect native plant communities and wildlife habitat on Shenandoah Mountain from the harmful effects of Mile-a-Minute, trail user groups and naturalists are uniting on June 3 to eliminate this patch of ​​​Mile-a-Minute Vine before it spreads.

Learn more, and register to help wipe out this harmful invasive.

In March 2022, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner introduced the Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022, which would designate more than 92,000 acres of the George Washington National Forest as the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area with four embedded Wilderness areas. The purpose of the legislation is to preserve majestic forests, spectacular vistas, and more than 150 miles of trails on the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley.

We had hoped the bill would be included in a legislative package and passed by Congress late last year, but despite our best efforts and the hard work of our Senate champions, this did not happen.

We anticipate that Senators Kaine and Warner will reintroduce the Shenandoah Mountain Act again this year and continue to push for its enactment.  We are thankful for their continued support of this incredible area.

In the meantime, nature is flourishing on Shenandoah Mountain. Wildflowers will soon be blooming, Black bear will be coming out of hibernation, migratory birds will be returning to the area, and forest visitors will continue to hike, bike, fish, camp, hunt, and enjoy the area.  

We will do everything in our power to make 2023 the year that legislation is passed and signed into law to provide our beautiful Shenandoah Mountain area the permanent protection it deserves.  Our goal is to make sure future generations will be able to enjoy it as we have.

Stay tuned.  We will send updates when we have new information to report on reintroduction of legislation and next steps.

Thank you for your continuing support for this effort that has spanned over two decades.

When:  September 10 at 10:00 a.m.
Where:  Braley Pond in the George Washington National Forest.

Join us for a summer hike led by a Virginia Master Naturalist and a nature photographer (John and Jeannie Holden) to see the many species of beautiful butterflies and wildflowers that make Shenandoah Mountain home.

Learn more and register.

Date:  Saturday, June 18, 2022
Time:  10:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Place:  Hone Quarry Reservoir (see map)

Join us for a summer wildflower and butterfly hike to see the many species of beautiful butterflies and wildflowers that make Shenandoah Mountain home.

Our leaders, John and Jeannie Holden, have been exploring the natural world of Shenandoah Mountain for decades. John is an avid hiker and has been a  a Virginia  Master Naturalist for 12 years.  Jeannie is an accomplished and published Nature Photographer.

There is no charge for these nature hikes, as they are intended to draw public attention to the treasures of Shenandoah Mountain and the need to preserve its amazing natural world.

Learn more and sign up to attend!

We have decided to cancel our Warblers & Wildflowers event this year due to a forecast of rain and thundershowers.

Many thanks to Sandy Greene and all the Virginia Master Naturalists who planned this event.  It's unfortunate the weather didn't cooperate.

Please check our website and Facebook page for other upcoming nature hikes.

There is no charge for these nature hikes, as they are intended to draw public attention to the treasures of Shenandoah Mountain and the need to preserve its amazing natural world.

Date:  Saturday, May 14
Time:  9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Place:  Shenandoah Mountain Trail at Rt. 250 (see map)
Henry and Becky Wilbur will lead a nature hike along the crest of Shenandoah Mountain starting at the Confederate Breastworks on Rt. 250.
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"We will be stopping frequently to make observations on the natural history of the area with an emphasis on the plant communities and speculation on the history of the forest. We will opportunistically include comments on animals and geology. We hope all participants will share their knowledge and ask questions. The more we observe, the less distance we will travel, but a reasonable guess would be an easy round trip of four miles ."

Learn more and register.

Date:  Saturday, May 14
Time:  8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Place:  Braley Pond Day Use Area (directions)
Leader:  Lynne Parks

Join us for a hike (2-3 miles) in the Braley Pond Day Use Area to see and hear returned migrants settling into breeding habitat as well as year-round residents. Birds will be identified by sight and song. We can expect to see about thirty species including flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and more. We’ll walk around the pond but also along the trail as it follows Johnson Draft. The entrance road might have some good birds too. Varied habitats include stream, meadow, and forest. The trail is level and easy.  Birders of all levels and ages are welcome.

Learn more and register

Read about Senator Kaine's hike on 
Shenandoah Mountain Trail in the News Virginian.

"Sen. Tim Kaine hikes near Staunton in support of proposed Shenandoah Mountain bill" by Nancy Sorrells

Press Release from the Southern Environmental Law Center, Friends of Shenandoah Mountain, and Virginia Wilderness Committee
For Immediate Release: March 23, 2022

Contact: 
Eric Hilt, Southern Environmental Law Center, 615-622-1199 or ehilt@selctn.org
Lynn Cameron, Friends of Shenandoah Mountain, 540-234-6273 or slynncameron@gmail.com  
Mark Miller, Virginia Wilderness Committee, 540-460-0593 or mmiller24450@gmail.com

WASHINGTON D.C. — On Wednesday, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022, which would designate more than 92,000 acres of the George Washington National Forest as the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area. If enacted, the National Scenic Area will preserve majestic forests, spectacular vistas, and more than 150 miles of trails on the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley. 

The new designation would allow forest visitors to continue enjoying these incredible lands – which are separate from and to the west of Shenandoah National Park – as they do today, while prohibiting logging and industrial development like gas drilling and pipeline construction.  

“National Scenic Areas strike a great balance between recreation and preservation,” Friends of Shenandoah Mountain Co-Chair Lynn Cameron said. “This unique designation ensures that hunters, hikers, anglers, mountain bikers, and many others will be able to continue to enjoy the exceptional landscapes for generations to come.”

The proposal has the support of more than 400 local businesses, organizations, and faith groups who recognize the immense benefits the new designation will have on nearby communities. Rockingham and Augusta Counties, as well as the nearby cities of Staunton and Harrisonburg, have also endorsed the proposal. The U.S. Forest Service – which recommended designation of a national scenic area and wilderness areas on Shenandoah Mountain in 2014 – estimates that visitors to national forests in Virginia generate $1.4 billion a year. The Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area will attract even more visitors and provide a boost to the region’s growing tourism industry.

“This bill is the product of 18 years of collaborative work from an incredibly diverse group of local conservationists, recreation groups, timber industry representatives, hunters, and anglers. Over that time, people with different outlooks on forest management came together and agreed that this exceptional place deserves the permanent protection that a National Scenic Area will provide,” Friends of Shenandoah Mountain Co-Chair Thomas Jenkins said.

“The Shenandoah Mountain area is one of the largest stretches of undeveloped land east of the Mississippi River, and boasts some of the most spectacular, uninterrupted views in the Southern Appalachians,” Southern Environmental Law Center Senior Attorney Kristin Davis said. “Designating this as a National Scenic Area will protect these special public lands and all they have to offer.”

The Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area would also include four Wilderness Areas, totaling around 28,000 acres of new Wilderness, which would have the highest level of protection public lands can receive. Wilderness Areas are popular among people in the South, and a recent study showed 88 percent of Southerners surveyed said they support more Wilderness designations. ​

“Wilderness Areas are some of the nation’s least developed lands and offer a one-of-a-kind experience to visitors looking for solitude. These protections are becoming increasingly important as more and more areas – especially in the Eastern US – are being rapidly developed, leaving fewer pristine and untouched landscapes,” Mark Miller, Executive Director of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, said.

Important natural resources would also be protected by Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, which lies within a biodiversity hotspot. The area is home to black bear, wild turkey, more than 250 species of birds, and many other species, including rare or endangered species that only live in the Shenandoah Mountain area. Creating this designation would help preserve these wildlife and plant habitats, allowing visitors to continue to enjoy the plants and animals that make this area unique. The National Scenic Area designation will also protect important water sources for people living in Harrisonburg, Staunton, and many other towns and communities downstream. 

Introducing the Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2022 in the United States Senate is just the first step in establishing these much-needed protections for this extraordinary area. In order to permanently protect Shenandoah Mountain, Congress must pass this important bill, and send it to the President for his signature. 

Wilderness and National Scenic Area FAQs

Some of our most spectacular federal lands are designated as National Scenic Areas and Wilderness areas. While there are some key differences between them, there are many similarities:

• Only Congress has the power to designate portions of national forests or other federal lands as National Scenic Areas or Wilderness Areas, and only federal land can be designated. Private lands near or within the proposed National Scenic Area are not included, and there are no private inholdings within the proposed Wilderness areas. Since this land is already federally owned and part of the George Washington National Forest, no land acquisition is required.
• Hiking, camping, backpacking, horseback riding, paddling, birdwatching, and many other forms recreation are allowed in both the National Scenic Area and Wilderness areas. Hunting and fishing are also allowed in both the National Scenic Area and Wilderness areas. This designation does not affect hunting or fishing rules, which are determined by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.  
• The Forest Service can continue to fight fires and damaging outbreaks of insects and disease in both the National Scenic Area and Wilderness areas.
• Most timber harvest and industrial development, such as gas drilling, would be off-limits in both the National Scenic Area and Wilderness areas.
• The proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area and Wilderness areas were both developed by and brought to Congress by local citizens, as most successful proposals are.

Wilderness is the highest level of protection available for public land. Wilderness areas are some of the nation’s most remote and least developed places. They have a natural character, and the imprint of any prior land uses is substantially unnoticeable.  

• To preserve the wild character of Wilderness areas, timber harvest, permanent roads, drilling, and other development are not allowed. The use of motorized equipment, motor vehicles, or other mechanical transport is normally not allowed, except when necessary for control of fire, insects, diseases, and for search and rescue operations. There are no existing roads in the proposed Wilderness areas.
• Designated Wilderness offers outstanding opportunities for people to enjoy solitude and backcountry recreation, and also protect forested refuges for wildlife and fish, clean water and air, and other natural values.  

National Scenic Areas are more flexible, protecting the exceptional scenic and natural value of an area while allowing compatible uses to continue. Certain activities that are not allowed in Wilderness areas may be allowed in National Scenic Areas. 

• Mountain biking is allowed on trails within the National Scenic Area. 
• No existing roads within the National Scenic area will be closed, and visitors can continue to use them, including for scenic drives and to access campsites and trailheads. 
• Virginia is already home to three popular National Scenic Areas. The Mount Pleasant, Seng Mountain, and Bear Creek National Scenic Areas contain some of Virginia’s most popular trails, and are popular destinations for camping, fishing, and other recreation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 23, 2022
CONTACT: Janine Kritschgau, 202-365-2176 (Kaine) or Valeria Rivadeneira, 202-228-6884 (Warner)
  
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine led the introduction of the Shenandoah Mountain Act, legislation to establish a 92,000-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA) in Rockingham, Augusta, and Highland counties. He was joined in introducing the legislation by Senator Mark R. Warner. National Scenic Areas are established by Congress to protect the scenic, historic, recreational and natural resources in specific areas, while allowing compatible uses such as outdoor recreation activities.
 
“These challenging past two years have underscored that getting out into nature is critical to our health and well-being,” said Kaine. “The establishment of this National Scenic Area will help us share the gifts of Shenandoah Mountain and the George Washington National Forest with visitors from near and far, while also boosting our local economies, protecting drinking water sources, and preserving the wildlife that make this area so special.”
 
“Virginia’s natural treasures provide free recreation opportunities for folks all around the commonwealth – all while creating jobs and supporting our local economies,” said Warner. “I’m proud to sponsor this legislation, which will help safeguard these treasures and ensure that Virginians can make the most of them for years to come.”  
  
The SMNSA encompasses four Wilderness areas: Skidmore Fork, Little River, Ramsey’s Draft, and Lynn Hollow, which in sum include 10 peaks above 4,000 feet and 150 miles of trails to attract campers, hikers, mountain bikers, fishermen, birders, and equestrians. The legislation also establishes a 5,764 wilderness area at Beech Lick Knob, located 10 miles north of the SMNSA.
In addition to providing world class trails, the area includes headwaters for the Potomac and James Rivers and watershed that provide municipal drinking water sources for Harrisonburg, Staunton, and communities farther downstream. Cold mountain streams in the area are also a stronghold for native brook trout. Today’s legislation would permanently protect those rivers and streams from industrial development, and also help safeguard populations of at-risk species, such as the Cow Knob and Shenandoah Mountain Salamander, that are natural to the area.
In 2019, the tourism economy directly employed 5,365 people and generated $601 million in expenditures in Augusta, Rockingham, and Highland Counties, as well as Harrisonburg and Staunton. In addition to the direct benefits to tourism and other businesses, JMU scientists estimate that lands within the SMNSA proposal already generate $13.7 million per year in other local benefits, including the value of the water supply and energy savings. Designation of the SMNSA would further grow this value.
 
In addition to Staunton, Augusta, Rockingham, and Harrisonburg local governments, over 400 businesses and organizations have endorsed the designation. A full list of supporters is available here.  
 
Full text of the legislation is available here. 
 
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Please come and visit a Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail site on Saturday, May 7.  We are going to be witnessing the tremendous biodiversity found in the George Washington National Forest.  Virginia Master Naturalists will be available to lead hikes every 15 minutes at both sites.

Where:   Braley Pond and Augusta Springs
When:  Saturday, May 7, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.



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Learn more details. 

No registration. 

Event will be held in light rain or shine.

This family-friendly, Covid-safe event is hosted by Friends of Shenandoah Mountain and Headwaters Master Naturalists.