Beartown Wilderness

Beartown Wilderness is a 5,613-acre federally protected wilderness area in Virginia, managed by the Forest Service. It offers backcountry hiking and backpacking in a primitive setting where motorized travel and mechanized transportation are prohibited. Visitors come here for solitude and untracked exploration in a non-motorized landscape.

Access requires foot travel only. The wilderness operates under strict Leave No Trace principles—pack out what you pack in, camp only in designated areas where allowed, and respect the no-roads, no-motors mandate that defines the wilderness experience. Spring through fall offers the most reliable conditions; winter weather can make backcountry travel hazardous. Plan accordingly and come prepared for true wilderness self-sufficiency.