View from Reddish Knob, the highest point on Shenandoah Mountain. Photo © Brad Striebig Today Virginia's U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner introduced the Shenandoah Mountain Act of 2025, which would designate more than 92,500 acres of the George Washington National Forest as the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA).
See their Press Release here.
This legislation would preserve the majestic forests, spectacular vistas, and more than 150 miles of trails on the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley. The SMNSA designation would allow forest visitors, such as hikers, hunters, bicyclists, fishermen, and equestrians, to continue to enjoy this beautiful area, just as they do today, while prohibiting commercial logging and industrial development, like gas drillng and pipeline construction.
Shenandoah Mountain, a vast area of undeveloped forest land, is home to black bear, 250 species of birds, and rare salamanders found nowhere else on earth, as well as a rich diversity of trees and wildflowers. With 10 peaks over 4,000', it is one of the highest areas in Virginia. Its cascading mountain streams provide clean drinking water for Harrisonburg and Staunton and for Rockingham and Augusta counties. Shenandoah Mountain is aj popular outdoor recreation destination that supports the local tourism economy.
See their Press Release here.
This legislation would preserve the majestic forests, spectacular vistas, and more than 150 miles of trails on the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley. The SMNSA designation would allow forest visitors, such as hikers, hunters, bicyclists, fishermen, and equestrians, to continue to enjoy this beautiful area, just as they do today, while prohibiting commercial logging and industrial development, like gas drillng and pipeline construction.
Shenandoah Mountain, a vast area of undeveloped forest land, is home to black bear, 250 species of birds, and rare salamanders found nowhere else on earth, as well as a rich diversity of trees and wildflowers. With 10 peaks over 4,000', it is one of the highest areas in Virginia. Its cascading mountain streams provide clean drinking water for Harrisonburg and Staunton and for Rockingham and Augusta counties. Shenandoah Mountain is aj popular outdoor recreation destination that supports the local tourism economy.
Painted trillium. Photo by Lynn Cameron This Shenandoah Mountain proposal has been endorsed by over 400 local businesses, organizations, and faith groups who recognize its many benefits. Local governments for Rockingham and Augusta Counties, as well as Staunton and Harrisonburg, have passed resolutions of support for the proposal.
The Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area would include four Wilderness Areas, totaling around 28,000 acres of new Wilderness, which would have the highest level of protection public lands can receive.
Friends of Shenandoah Mountain greatly appreciates that our Senators have reintroduced the Shenandoah Mountain Act, and we will continue to work toward passage of the bill by Congress and being signed into law by the President.
Please let Senator Kaine and Senator Warner know you appreciate their reintroducing the Shenandoah Mountain Act and ask them to keep fighting for its enactment by Congress!
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