U.S. Forest Service - George Washington and Jefferson National Forest

Happy 90th Birthday to our neighbors and partners, Virginia State Parks! They're hosting all kinds of events this weekend, so if you're staying on one of our campgrounds and looking for something to do nearby, check it out!

History and Culture Day in Virginia State Parks Virginia State Parks commemorates History and Culture Day with events and programs at every state park

If you're visiting the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area over the next couple of days, you might see low-flying aircraft applying treatments for spongy moth. You can read more here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/newsroom/releases/aerial-treatments-will-slow-spread-spongy-moth-infestations

Head's up, visitors to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Starting today and going for a couple of days, we'll be doing some airborne treatments for Spongy Moths. The treatment is part of the national program to “Slow the Spread” of the spongy moth, a non-native, invasive species of moth that can significantly damage forests. Read more: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/newsroom/releases/aerial-treatments-will-slow-spread-spongy-moth-infestations

This past weekend was and we had a bunch of volunteers show up to events co-hosted with Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club - PATC and other partners. We're so grateful for all the help we got! Here's a piece we wrote with SAWS about how important this trails work is to public lands: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/newsroom/stories/celebrating-national-trails-day-across-george-washington-jefferson

Image shows a group of volunteers in safety gear doing trail stabilization work at Keokee Lake on the Clinch Ranger District. Image courtesy of SAWS.

It's finally here! National Trails Day! Come on out to your National Forest to celebrate all the fantastic trails we have to offer, and you can even do it for free! That's right, today is a Fee Free Day, meaning all standard amenity recreation sites on Forest Service lands will be at no cost to the public. Hope to see you there!

Don't forget! Tomorrow is ! We've got events on all of our districts co-hosted with Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club - PATC that will help leave Virginia's trails better than we found them.

Tomorrow is also a Fee Free Day! All our regular recreation sites are free to visit on Saturday, June 6, so we hope to see you on our forest!

? This Saturday is and not just that, it’s a fee free day on the forest! We’ll be celebrating by co-hosting several trail and recreation site improvement events with partners on all of our ranger districts and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Sign-up at one of our events on our page, or go here to read more: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/newsroom/releases/george-washington-and-jefferson-national-forest-invites-community

What is clean water from Southern forests worth?

New Forest Service research shows how Southern forests help reduce drinking water treatment costs by protecting water quality.

By combining water quality data with economic models, researchers developed a tool that shows how forests reduce drinking water treatment costs—and where forest conservation may matter most for protecting water quality.

Read more: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/80440

(Forest Service photo by Ben Childers)

A great way to reconnect with the outdoors is to join a bunch of like-minded folks this Saturday at one of our National Trails Day events! We're co-hosting several with Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club - PATC. Check them out and hope to see you this weekend! https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF/events

June is Great Outdoors Month: a perfect time to get outside and reconnect with your wild side.

Family, friends and even pets can join in on the fun. What’s your favorite way to enjoy your public lands? Tell us in the comments.

(Forest Service photo.)

Sherando Lake Beach House is looking better than ever! Just in time for a summer makeover, thanks to our friends at HistoriCorps.