Far Southwest Virginia boasts some of the state's most rugged and beautiful woodlands, but up until this week it has never had a patch of forest specifically protected by the state.

That's set to change tomorrow when Virginia forestry officials, along with legislators and sundry other dignitaries, plan to gather to declare more than 4,800 acres of mountainous Washington and Russell counties the Channels State Forest.

The land, known locally as Brumley Mountain, was purchased from The Nature Conservancy for nearly $3.8 million. It contains the 400 million-year-old feature known as the Great Channels, a narrow sandstone passageway through which hikers walk.

"To truly appreciate the tremendous conservation success Virginia has achieved with the protection of Brumley Mountain, you need to stand among the ancient, weathered sandstone boulders and take in the long mountain views," said Brad Kreps, director of The Nature Conservancy's Clinch Valley Program.

The addition of 4,836 acres to the state's inventory of protected lands will ensure that future Virginians can enjoy the natural scenery, said Joe Maroon, director of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. "It's particularly significant in this case because of the unique natural character of the Great Channels and the potential passive recreational offerings the property affords."

Channels will be Virginia's 19th state forest and the westernmost. The land is already open for those with state forest hunting permits and trails will be developed to better accommodate hiking and horseback riding, said John Campbell, spokesman for the state Department of Forestry.

The land mostly consists of hardwood forests on occasionally steep slopes.

Campbell said 720 acres of the land, including the Great Channels, have been designated a Virginia Natural Area Preserve, the first such designation in the history of the state forest system. Up to now, such preserves have been owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The designation will help the state protect plant species such as the Carolina saxifrage, as well as "outstanding examples" of Southern Appalachian northern hardwood forests and high-elevation cove forests, Campbell said.
Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.