Waterfall Hero Hikes: Lewis Fork Wilderness

Lewis Fork Wilderness is a stunning 6,076-acre Wilderness Area located in Grayson and Smyth Counties in southwest Virginia, within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Jefferson National Forest. It encompasses Virginia’s highest peak, Mount Rogers (5,729 feet), along with rugged high-elevation ridges, dense forests of hardwoods, red spruce, and Fraser fir, and sections of the Appalachian Trail. Designated under the Eastern Wilderness Act, the area offers a remote, primitive wilderness experience characterized by misty spruce-fir forests, open meadows, frequent cloud cover, and abundant opportunities for hiking, backpacking, and solitude amid one of the southernmost high-elevation ecosystems in the eastern United States.

Map:

Trails:

Appalachian Trail (#1)

Appalachian Trail runs through the wilderness from Elk Garden past Mount Rogers and into Grayson Highlands.

Lewis Fork Trail (#4533)

Lewis Fork Trail starts from VA-603 and heads up along its namesake, ending at Crest Trail.

Lewis Fork Spur (#4598)

Lewis Fork Trail connects Lewis Fork Trail and Mount Rogers Trail.

Mount Rogers Trail (#166)

Mount Rogers Trail starts from VA-603 and heads up the mountain, entering the wilderness after Grindstone Campground. It leads about 4 miles to the Appalachian Trail at Deep Gap.