Horse Heaven
Horse
Heaven, a dry, lower-elevation area, is forested with oak, hickory,
and pine. There are four trails,
including the Henley Hollow Trail for hiking and biking, and the Virginia
Highlands Horse Trail. The lightly used 1.6-mile Henley Hollow
Trail offers solitude and scenic beauty, following a creek with several
small waterfalls. Francis Mill Creek, degraded by mining in the 1930s
and '40s, has been improved by the Forest Service over the past seven
years, such that trout have
returned. Horse Heaven Trail, along the ridge top, offers scenic views. Rocky
Hollow Trail runs
2 miles down from the ridge.
The Forest Service characterizes three quarters of the area as retaining
natural scenic beauty. Almost two-thirds of the area affords opportunities for
back-country recreation. The area includes 534 acres of possible old growth
The Forest Service identified this Horse Heaven roadless area.
Approximate Size: 4,744 acres
Location: Wythe County, east of
the Little Dry Run Wilderness on US 21, Mount Rogers NRA
Topos: Speedwell, Cripple Creek
