Top wilderness areas
Wilderness AreaThunder Ridge Wilderness
Wilderness AreaBrush Mountain Wilderness
Wilderness AreaLewis Fork Wilderness
Wilderness AreaBrush Mountain East Wilderness
Wilderness AreaRamsey's Draft Wilderness
Wilderness AreaSaint Mary's Wilderness
Wilderness AreaBarbours Creek Wilderness
Wilderness AreaLittle Dry Run Wilderness
Wilderness AreaPeters Mountain Wilderness
Wilderness AreaJames River Face Wilderness
Wilderness AreaWhite Oak Ridge-Terrapin Mountain
Wilderness AreaThree Ridges Wilderness
All wilderness areas (14)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Ridge Wilderness | Bedford County | — | Glasgow | 3 |
| Brush Mountain Wilderness | Montgomery County | — | Blacksburg | 4 |
| Lewis Fork Wilderness | Grayson County | — | Adwolf | 3 |
| Brush Mountain East Wilderness | Montgomery County | — | Blacksburg | 4 |
| Ramsey's Draft Wilderness | Augusta County | — | Staunton | 3 |
| Saint Mary's Wilderness | Augusta County | — | Stuarts Draft | 3 |
| Barbours Creek Wilderness | Alleghany County | — | Fairlawn | 3 |
| Little Dry Run Wilderness | Wythe County | — | Rural Retreat | 3 |
| Peters Mountain Wilderness | Giles County | — | Pembroke | 3 |
| James River Face Wilderness | Rockbridge County | — | Glasgow | 3 |
| White Oak Ridge-Terrapin Mountain | Bedford County | — | Glasgow | 3 |
| Three Ridges Wilderness | Nelson County | — | Nellysford | 3 |
| Beartown Wilderness | Tazewell County | — | Tazewell | 3 |
| Priest Wilderness | Amherst County | — | Nellysford | 3 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph wilderness areas
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.