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Beyond maintained trails, old logging roads can be used to explore the area. The
Cumberland 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
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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 789 (Clinch Ranger District). A great variety of information, including topographic maps, aerial views, satellite data and weather
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The forest service classifies areas under their management by a recreational opportunity setting that informs visitors of the diverse range of opportunities available in the forest. The area includes land designated "Rare
Community" and "Geological Area-Unsuitable".
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The Forest
Service has conducted a survey of their lands to determine the potential for wilderness designation. Wilderness designation provides a high degree of protection from development. The areas that were found suitable are referred to as
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Pine
Mountain, a prominent ridge in the region, is a "strike ridge", an escarpment more resistant to weathering than adjacent rock. As time passed, huge blocks of sandstone fell from the ridge leaving a rugged terrain.
280:. Later a Roadless Rule was adopted that limited road construction in these areas. The rule provided some degree of protection by reducing the negative environmental impact of road construction and thus promoting the
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A strikingly scenic place, Little Laurel Branch is an unusual find in the
Cumberland Mountains. It contains part of a water gap, the Breaks of Pine Mountain, with multi-level cliffs and vertical wooded slopes.
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The area is part of the Pine and
Cumberland Mountains Subsection of the Southern Cumberland Mountain Section of the Central Appalachian Broadleaf Coniferous Forest-Meadow Province.
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There are no trails into the area. However, the Pine
Mountain Trail passes within one mile giving an overview into the area at Elkhorn City Overlook, Cave and Skagg Overlook.
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The eastern side of the area is part of the
Chimney Cliffs and Russell Fork special biological area, home to a state-listed plant and federally threatened plant.
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284:. Little Laurel Branch was not inventoried in the roadless area review, and therefore not protected from possible road construction and timber sales.
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as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction. The
Wilderness Society has designated the area as a "Mountain Treasure".
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245:. Known as "The Grand Canyon of the South", the park contains a 5 mile long, 25 mile deep gorge, making it a popular visitor destination.
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Several gas wells were developed in the area around 1993. There are now possibly four gas leases in the area, some with access roads.
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information, is obtained by selecting the link with the wildland's gps coordinates in the upper right of this page.
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Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Jefferson National Forest, Management Bulletin R8-MB 115E
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434:. Roanoke, Virginia: Jefferson National Forest, US Department of Agriculture. 2004. pp. C-164–C-170.
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Boundary of the Little Laurel Branch wild area as identified by the Wilderness Society.
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Virginia's Mountain Treasures, report issued by The Wilderness Society, May, 1999
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Massive rocks and cliffs provide habitat for calcium rich and iron rich species.
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Where There Are Mountains, An Environmental History of the Southern Appalachians
207:(USGS). The Little Laurel Branch wild area is covered by USGS topographic map
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The Towers, a large rock formation, is found at the eastern end of the area.
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A Review of the Virginia Mountain Treasures of the Jefferson National Forest
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A population of the rare Virgiia spiraea plant is found in the river area.
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395:. Blacksburg, Virginia: Sierra Club, OCLC: 893635467. pp. 85–88.
446:"Central Appalachian Broadleaf Forest - Coniferous Forest - Meadow"
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Clinch Ranger District (Trails Illustrated Hiking Maps, 793)
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Location of the Little Laurel Branch wild area in Virginia
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Russell Fork, A Boundary for Little Laurel Branch wild area
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A section of Russell Fork is considered eligible for the
495:, 2013, West Virginia University Press, West Virginia,
410:. Knoxville, Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press.
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The area is surrounded on three sides by the 4600-acre
510:, 2000, University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia.
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of Southwestern Virginia, about 18 miles southeast of
472:"Recreation Opportunity Setting as a Management Tool"
187:Skagg Branch Rd. (Rt 2031) passes into the area.
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353:. Washington, D. C.: National Geographic Society.
16:Protected natural area in Virginia, United States
554:George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
140:of western Virginia, has been recognized by the
138:George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
529:George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
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493:A Natural History of the Central Appalachians
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450:Ecological Subregions of the United States
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391:Bamford, Sherman (February 2013).
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349:Trails Illustrated Maps (2001).
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205:United States Geological Survey
452:. United States Forest Service
300:Clinch Ranger District Cluster
282:conservation of roadless areas
154:Clinch Ranger District Cluster
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408:The Jefferson National Forest
151:This wildland is part of the
165:The area is located in the
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278:inventoried roadless areas
72:Dickenson County, Virginia
271:Forest Service management
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491:Stephenson, Steven L.,
119:740 acres (300 ha)
506:Davis, Donald Edward,
243:Breaks Interstate Park
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237:Breaks Interstate Park
229:Breaks Interstate Park
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179:Breaks Interstate Park
406:Sarvis, Will (2011).
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173:and 31 miles west of
100:37.27194°N 82.30833°W
167:Cumberland Mountains
136:, a wildland in the
134:Little Laurel Branch
22:Little Laurel Branch
175:Richlands, Virginia
171:Pikeville, Kentucky
161:Location and access
127:U.S. Forest Service
105:37.27194; -82.30833
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559:Southwest Virginia
534:Wilderness Society
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456:21 December
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79:Coordinates
548:Categories
305:References
249:Topography
91:82°18′30″W
88:37°16′19″N
295:See also
68:Location
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475:(PDF)
512:ISBN
497:ISBN
458:2018
412:ISBN
355:ISBN
116:Area
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
