Some of Virginia's most rugged and beautiful wild country can be found in the Raccoon Branch proposed wilderness area in the southwest part of the Commonwealth, within the Jefferson National Forest. Located in rural Smyth County in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Racoon Branch is 4,223 acres of beautiful wild land characterized by high ridges and clear running streams. The High Point of Dickey Ridge, which rises to just over 4,000 feet, is the area's greatest point of elevation. Ridges are capped with resistant lower Cambrian quartzite, which is responsible for the great variations in altitude.
Hunters, anglers, hikers and horseback riders prize Raccoon Branch for its eight major trails, making the wild land accessible for these recreational pursuits. Many reward hikers with spectacular views of light and deep green valleys in the spring and summer, and a palette of bright reds, yellows, and oranges in the fall. Mark Miller, vice president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee says of Raccoon Branch, "I've hiked every trail." One of his personal favorites is the two-mile trek up to Dickey Knob. This trail begins at the Raccoon Branch campground, and makes an easy climb to the summit of Dickey Knob. Along the way, the trail passes under towering cove hardwoods, which in turn give way to the stunted high elevation chestnut oak and pitch pine. From the summit, one can see for miles, looking across to Brushy Butt, with a spectacular view of Cressy Creek.
The Virginia Highlands Horse Trail is another of the area's best loved trails, according to Mark. "It winds into the heart of Raccoon Branch," he says. "And it's especially beautiful this time of year, with a proliferation of pink and white rhododendrons in wonderful contrast to the deep greens and browns of the forest." Tall stands of white pine make their home at the lower level of this trail, near the campground at the trailhead. Four and a half miles of the famed Appalachian Trial run through Raccoon Branch, nearly to the summit of High Point and then descend rapidly to the old meadow lush with wildflowers in the summer. In the spring, the northbounders are thick on the trail, and in July the southbounders are many. At other times of the year, and on weekdays, hikers will usually find quiet and solitude - with just the crunch of leaves under their boots or the occasional call of a bird to break the silence.
Raccoon Branch is crisscrossed by many high gradient and chiseled streams, which flow into the meandering South Fork of the Holston River - a major stream drainage system in the Tennessee Basin. The area's protected valleys are home to cove hardwoods, and oaks and pines line its ridges. At the very highest elevations, one can find stands of Fraser fir - a holdover from the last Ice Age and unusual for the region. The rare five-rowed peatmoss and Appalachian fir clubmoss can also be spotted here.
Black bear, turkey, deer and the yellow-bellied sapsucker - uncommon in Virginia - also call Raccoon Branch home.
Raccoon Branch is one of seven new wilderness areas that would be established by passage of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005, introduced in April by Senator John Warner (R-VA) and Congressman Rich Boucher (D-VA). The bill would also create two new National Scenic Areas and expand six existing Wilderness Areas, protecting a total of 55,000 acres.
The measure, which enjoys broad local and state support, is the result of determined collaboration and cooperation. Designation of Raccoon Branch, like each of the other Wilderness or National Scenic Areas proposed in the bill, has been endorsed by either the U.S. Forest Service or the Board of Supervisors of the county in which the area is located. Among the bill's backers are the Virginia Tourism Corporation, The Garden Club of Virginia, the Appalachian Trail Conference, Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited, and the International Mountain Bicycling Association. An example of varied interests working together toward common goals: a significant compromise was struck to stop mountain bike activity on the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail with the guarantee that a new trail for these bikers would be built on the old Rye Valley Railroad grade.
In introducing the measure, Rep. Boucher -- whose congressional district includes the entire proposed wilderness area -- said, "Southwest Virginia possesses the state's best outdoor experience, with the highest mountains, most interesting rivers and superb hunting, camping, fishing, hiking and backpacking opportunities." Senator Warner expressed a desire to conserve the land for those to come. "As a father and grandfather, I feel an obligation to ensure that our children have opportunities to enjoy and explore Virginia's immense natural beauty," he said. "This bill will preserve some of our most pristine lands for future generations and add significantly to the natural attractions of Southwest Virginia."
For more information on Raccoon Branch and the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005, please visit the Virginia Wilderness Committee at http://www.vawilderness.org/ or the Southern Environmental Law Center at http://www.southernenvironment.org/.
