Shawvers Run Wilderness

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Shawvers Run Wilderness
Shawvers Run, from Va 607, 15 oct 17.jpg
Shawvers Run, from Va 607, 15 oct 17
USA Virginia relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Craig County Virginia, United States
Nearest city Potts Creek, Virginia
Coordinates 37°35′11″N80°12′20″W / 37.58626°N 80.20569°W / 37.58626; -80.20569 Coordinates: 37°35′11″N80°12′20″W / 37.58626°N 80.20569°W / 37.58626; -80.20569
Area5,784 acres (2,341 ha)
Established1988
Administrator U.S. Forest Service

The Shawvers Run Wilderness, a 5784-acre area located less than one mile south of Potts Creek, Virginia, is protected by the Eastern Wilderness Act of Congress to maintain its present, natural condition. As part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, it helps to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contributes to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools. Over half of the ecosystems in the United States exist within designated wilderness. [1] [2]

Contents

A viewpoint on Hanging Rock overlooks the Shawvers Run Wilderness, Hanging Rock Valley, Peters Mountain Wilderness, and Potts Creek Valley. [3]

The area is part of the Barbours Creek-Shawvers Run Cluster .

Location and access

Potts Mountain Rd (Forest Service Rd 177-1) next to Shawvers Run Wilderness in southwest Virginia Potts Mountain Rd (Forest Service Rd 177-1) next to Shawvers Run Wilderness in southwest Virginia.jpg
Potts Mountain Rd (Forest Service Rd 177-1) next to Shawvers Run Wilderness in southwest Virginia

Located in the Eastern Divide Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forrest, the wilderness falls between the crest of Potts Mountain on the southeast and Va 18 on the northwest. [4]

The only official trail in the area, the Hanging Rock Trail, is a 0.7 mile hike to a viewpoint over the area from Hanging Rock. The trailhead is on Forest Service Road 177-1. [4]

The Valley Branch Trail is an unofficial trail, 2.7 miles long, with a trailhead on Forest Service Road 177-1 [5]

Natural History

Populations of native brook trout are found in Valley Branch Creek and Shawvers Run. [3] Besides the oak-hickory forest common to the Jefferson Forest, the wilderness contains poplar, birch, hemlock and white pine along Valley Branch, and, in the dry section to the west of Potts Mountain, Virginia pine and chestnut oak. [5]

The slopes of the wilderness provide watershed protection for the federally endangered James River spinymussel found in Potts Creek. [3]

Topography

Hanging Rock viewed from Va 603 in Hanging Rock Valley Hanging Rock viewed from Va 603 in Hanging Rock Valley, 15 oct 17.jpg
Hanging Rock viewed from Va 603 in Hanging Rock Valley

The wilderness lies on the western slope of Potts Mountain, in the Ridge and Valley Province of Virginia and West Virginia. The terrain is a complex anticlinal structure capped by erosion-resistant Silurian sandstone. The mountain ridge is about 3700 feet in elevation without prominent knobs; the lowest elevation is along Shawvers Run at about 2000 feet. [6] Shawvers Run and Valley Branch are the two largest waterways draining the area. [5]

The southwestern end of the wilderness surrounds Hanging Rock Valley, part of a karst system with large caves including the two-mile long Patton Cave and Panther Cave. [3]

Nearby wild areas

See also

Barbours Creek-Shawvers Run Cluster

Related Research Articles

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Barbours Creek Wilderness

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Little Dry Run Wilderness

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Little Wilson Creek Wilderness

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Lewis Fork Wilderness

The Lewis Fork Wilderness is an area in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area protected by the Eastern Wilderness Act of Congress to maintain its present, natural condition. As part of the wilderness system, it is intended to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contribute to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools. Over half of the ecosystems in the United States exist within designated wilderness.

Broad Run (conservation area) Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

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Price Mountain (conservation area) Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

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Craig Creek Cluster Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

The Craig Creek Cluster is a region recognized by The Wilderness Society for its unique high elevation mountains, vistas, trout streams and wildlife habitat. The cluster contains wildlands and wilderness areas along Craig Creek, a 65-mile long creek with headwaters at the Brush Mountain Wilderness near Blacksburg.

Hoop hole Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

Hoop Hole, a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction. The Wilderness Society has designated the area as a "Mountain Treasure".

Barbours Creek Wilderness Addition Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

Barbours Creek Wilderness Addition, a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction. The Wilderness Society has designated the area as a "Mountain Treasure".

Potts Arm Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

Potts Arm, a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction. The Wilderness Society has designated the area as a "Mountain Treasure".

Barbours Creek-Shawvers Run Cluster Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

The Barbours Creek-Shawvers Run Cluster is a region in the Jefferson National Forest recognized by The Wilderness Society for its unique high elevation mountains, vistas, trout streams and wildlife habitat. With over 25,000 acres in a remote corner of the national forest, the cluster provides protection for black bear, clean water, backcountry hiking, and scenic beauty.

Johns Creek Mountain Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

Johns Creek Mountain, a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction. The Wilderness Society has designated the area as a "Mountain Treasure".

Sinking Creek Valley Cluster Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

The Sinking Creek Valley Cluster is a region in the Jefferson National Forest recognized by The Wilderness Society for its unique recreational and scenic values as well as the importance of its watershed protection for Johns Creek and Craig Creek. Sinking Creek Valley is one of the most scenic valleys in Virginia.

Angels Rest Cluster Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

The Angels Rest Cluster is a region in the Jefferson National Forest recognized by The Wilderness Society for its diversity of habitats with steep mountains, an isolated valley, a waterfall and wetlands. It is named after a high point on Pearis Mountain with views of the New River and surrounding area. It contains two large wild areas connected by the Appalachian Trail.

References

  1. Wilderness.org: Why Wilderness? | Wilderness.org, accessdate: March 13, 2017
  2. General Information: Wilderness.net - Shawvers Run Wilderness - General Information, accessdate: March 13, 2017
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bamford, Sherman (October 2014). 18 Wonders of Virginia. Richmond, Virginia: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. pp. 15–17. ISBN   978-0-926487-79-6.
  4. 1 2 Covington, Alleghany Highlands George Washington and Jefferson National Forests: Covington, Alleghany Highlands [George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, accessdate: March 13, 2017
  5. 1 2 3 Steven Carroll and Mark Miller (1995). Wilderness Virginia. Lexington, Virginia: Old Forge Productions. pp. 224–228. ISBN   0-9646692-1-8.
  6. Potts Mountain: Potts Mountain, accessdate: March 13, 2017