Mount Rogers Crest Zone is a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia that 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". One of the most visited locations in the Mount Rogers National Recreation area, the Mount Rogers Crest Zone offers scenic views of nearby Rhododendron Gap and other high points, and a diversity of boreal species in lands surrounding Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia. The area is part of the Mount Rogers Cluster. Location and access The area is located in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwestern Virginia about 5 miles southwest of Troutdale, Virginia between the Lewis Fork Wilderness Area and the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness Area. The Appalachian Trail passes through the area for about 6 miles as the trail goes between Lewis Fork Wilderness and Little Wilson Creek Wilderness. Other trails into the area include: Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, Forest Service 337, 62.3 miles Old Orchard Trail, FS 4533A, 1.63 miles Old Orchard Spur Trail, FS 4596, 1.66 miles Wilburn Ridge Trail, FS 4597, 0.67 miles Pine Mountain Road, Rt. 613, gives access to the Scales area on the north but is seasonally closed. The boundary of the wildland as determined by the Wilderness Society is shown in the adjacent map. Additional roads and trails are given on National Geographic Maps 786 (Mount Rogers). and Map 318 (Mount Rogers High Country) A great variety of information, including topographic maps, aerial views, satellite data and weather information, is obtained by selecting the link with the wild land's coordinates in the upper right of this page. Beyond maintained trails, old logging roads can be used to explore the area. The Appalachian Mountains were extensively timbered in the early twentieth century leaving logging roads that are becoming overgrown but still passable. Old logging roads and railroad grades can be located by consulting the historical topographic maps available from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The Mount Rogers Crest Zone wild area is covered by USGS topographic maps Troutdale' and Whitetop Mountain. Natural history On the north side, with cool and wet colluvial drainages, the overstory is dominated by yellow popular, northern red oak, white oak, basswood, cucumber tree, white ash, eastern hemlock and red maple. A significant northern hardwood forest community,