Brush Mountain Wilderness, a wilderness area in southwest Virginia near Blacksburg, is characterized by its rugged and untamed natural beauty. The landscape features the typical Ridge and Valley physiographic province, with a resistant layer of Devonian sandstone capping the mountain and underlying shales forming steep finger ridges and deep coves. These diverse terrains, including richly forested lower slopes and unique hollows with seasonal waterfalls, offer opportunities for several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and more. It provides…
55
Routes
4.9
(21)
Average rating
322
People visited

5.0
(1)
4
hikers
14.7km
04:41
620m
560m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
8.83km
02:46
500m
90m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
hikers
13.3km
04:03
460m
460m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
3.23km
01:03
170m
60m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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9
riders
90.6km
04:37
840m
840m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

24
riders
50.8km
02:18
500m
500m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

21
riders
102km
04:49
1,280m
1,280m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

15
riders
21.7km
01:02
230m
230m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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25
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
runners
11.0km
01:24
240m
240m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

6
runners
8.09km
00:52
90m
90m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
21.3km
02:13
180m
180m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6
riders
17.2km
01:02
140m
140m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
7
riders
12.3km
00:44
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
25.1km
01:39
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
55.6km
03:34
700m
700m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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7
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

6
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

6
riders
16.6km
01:36
290m
290m
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

6
riders
7.54km
00:40
80m
80m
Hard mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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Brush Mountain Wilderness offers opportunities for various outdoor activities. These include hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and mountain biking. The area is known for its rugged natural beauty and diverse terrain.
The designated Brush Mountain Wilderness area itself does not contain official trails, allowing for off-trail exploration. However, the adjacent Brush Mountain East Wilderness offers structured trails, including a section of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. For more information, see the Hiking in Brush Mountain Wilderness guide.
The broader Brush Mountain area, particularly around Blacksburg, is popular for road cycling. Routes often feature a mix of climbs and flat sections along creeks. Explore options with the Road Cycling Routes in Brush Mountain Wilderness guide.
While the wilderness area itself is primarily for off-trail exploration, the surrounding Brush Mountain region offers various routes suitable for jogging and running. The Running Trails in Brush Mountain Wilderness guide provides more details.
The Brush Mountain Park Trail System, distinct from the wilderness area, provides dedicated trails for mountain biking. These trails offer connectivity through Blacksburg. Consult the MTB Trails in Brush Mountain Wilderness guide for specific routes.
For those seeking less strenuous options, the broader Brush Mountain area includes routes suitable for beginners. The Easy hikes in Brush Mountain Wilderness guide highlights accessible paths.
Brush Mountain Wilderness features a Ridge and Valley physiographic province with Devonian sandstone caps and deep coves. It includes diverse forests, unique hollows with seasonal waterfalls, and is home to wildlife like black bears and rare plant species. Craig Creek forms its northern boundary.
Brush Mountain Wilderness has received an average rating of 4.85 out of 5 stars from more than 800 visitors on komoot. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users exploring the area.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Brush Mountain Wilderness, Road Cycling Routes in Brush Mountain Wilderness, and MTB Trails in Brush Mountain Wilderness. Other guides cover easy hikes, running, and general cycling.
Brush Mountain Wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Eastern Divide Ranger District of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. The phone number for the Eastern Divide Ranger District is +1 540-552-4641. More information can be found on the U.S. Forest Service website.
Brush Mountain Wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. For general day-use activities like hiking, specific permits are typically not required. However, it is advisable to contact the Eastern Divide Ranger District at +1 540-552-4641 for any specific activity or overnight camping permit requirements.
The lower slopes of Brush Mountain Wilderness are richly forested with species such as Tulip Poplar, Sugar Maple, and White Oak. Higher on the parallel ridge slopes, Virginia Pine and Table Mountain Pine are prevalent, alongside Chestnut Oaks and Scarlet Oaks. Old-growth oak-pine forests are also present.

