Roanoke, VA, May 11, 2026 In response to elevated fire danger, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest have instituted fire restrictions within a quarter mile of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as it passes through the Mount Rogers National Recreation area.  Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire is prohibited.  

The restrictions are effective immediately and will be in place until rescinded by the Forest Supervisor. 

Commercially available fuel stoves, such as propane camp stoves, enclosed lanterns and isobutane backpacking stoves are still permitted to be used. Visitors and hikers are reminded not to leave stoves or lanterns unattended and to make sure they are fully extinguished after using. 

The Appalachian Trail crosses more than 12 miles of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area High Country, passing alongside Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia at 5,729 feet. It is a popular trail for hikers, both day hikers and those hiking the entire distance of the Appalachian Trail, called thru-hikers. The area is also home to a rare and threatened southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest, which is home to plants and animals found almost nowhere else in the world.  

For more information on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and to stay informed of fire restrictions and wildfire updates visit the forest website, or Facebook page. 

Figure 1 above. The burn ban (shown in red) is in effect within a quarter mile of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as it passes through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. (Forest Service graphic) 

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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