Big Draft Wilderness
The 5,144 acre Big Draft Wilderness is located on the southern tip of the Forest, just south of Blue Bend Recreation Area and about five miles north of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Slopes within the area range from 10 to 60% and are typically long ridges with narrow summits and mountain slopes. The elevations range from 1,800 feet to over 3,100 feet. The primary vegetative type is oak and hickory, with pockets of hemlock and white pine. The understory consists of rhododendron, mixed shrubs, grasses and ferns. This is a popular area for a variety of recreation opportunities. Use within the area is considered moderate to high most of the year and is used primarily by hikers, hunters, paddlers and anglers.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | West Virginia |
| Size | 5,147 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.90° N, 80.29° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
3 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 14 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Bend Loop Trail #614 ↗ | 5 | |
| South Boundary Trail # 615 ↗ | 4.7 | |
| Anthony Creek Trail # 618 | 3.8 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedArrowhead Trails Rx
44 mi from the center point · 195 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 13.3 miHumpback Bridge ↗National Historic Landmark
- 3.3 miHomeplace ↗Frankford, WV
- 4.8 miWylie, James, House ↗White Sulphur Springs, WV
- 5.5 miRenick Farm ↗Renick, WV
- 5.6 miArbuckle, Alexander W., I, House ↗Lewisburg, WV
- 6.9 miStone Manse ↗Caldwell, WV
- 7.6 miMountain Home ↗White Sulphur Springs, WV
- 8.4 miElmhurst ↗Caldwell, WV
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for West Virginia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Draft Wilderness?
5,147 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Draft Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Draft Wilderness in?
West Virginia.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Draft Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Big Draft Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Big Draft Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.895° N, 80.289° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Big Draft Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Arrowhead Trails Rx at 44 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Big Draft Wilderness?
The National Register has 30 listings within 15 miles, including Humpback Bridge and Homeplace.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.