Thunder Ridge Wilderness
The smallest of Virginia's Wildernesses, Thunder Ridge sits high on the northwestern slope of the Blue Ridge, separated from James River Face Wilderness by Petites Gap Road (gravel, FR #35). it is bordered...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Virginia |
| Size | 2,427 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.5482, -79.4839 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 7 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6 miNatural Bridge ↗National Historic Landmark
- 15 miLee Chapel, Washington and Lee University ↗National Historic Landmark
- 6.6 miNew Prospect Church ↗Bedford, VA
- 6.8 miPoague, Margaret E., House ↗Lexington, VA
- 7 miRockbridge Inn ↗Natural Bridge, VA
- 8 miFalling Spring Presbyterian Church Manse ↗Glasgow, VA
- 8.8 miBig Otter Mill ↗Bedford, VA
- 8.9 miWilson Warehouse ↗Buchanan, VA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Thunder Ridge Wilderness?
2,427 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Thunder Ridge Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Thunder Ridge Wilderness in?
Virginia.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Thunder Ridge Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Thunder Ridge Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Hopper Creek Group Camp, 1.1 miles out. 7 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Thunder Ridge Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.548, -79.484. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Thunder Ridge Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 11 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Thunder Ridge Wilderness?
39 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Natural Bridge and Lee Chapel, Washington and Lee University.
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.
- 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.