Safety and Outdoor Ethics
Be responsible for your own safety and care for the land you love! Plan ahead and recreate responsibly. The best way to enjoy the outdoors is to prepare adequately for what you can expect on your trip and have contingency plans for its more unexpected elements. You will have a more rewarding experience at the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests when you treat its land, wildlife, visitors and staff with respect and care.
These tips will help you enjoy this beautiful natural resource safely and responsibly.
Staying Safe in the Forest
Enjoy the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests safely by coming prepared. Knowledge of the area, weather, terrain, your own limitations, plus a little common sense can help ensure a safe and fun trip.
Minimize your impact on the outdoors
Follow the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and leave the forest the way you found it:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
Recreate responsibly
Follow the 5 Principles of Tread Lightly! and protect the areas where you love to ride:
- Travel responsibly
- Respect the rights of others
- Educate yourself
- Avoid sensitive areas
- Do your part
Campfire Safety
Humans cause nearly nine out of ten wildfires. When you visit the forest, fire prevention is your responsibility. How to Prevent Wildfires:
- Start a campfire in an appropriate fire pit.
- Dispose of used matches and cigarette butts properly.
- Do not use any fireworks on National Forest land.
Do your part to protect Virginia's Bats
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are home to many organisms, some of which are endangered species. This means the species are at risk of extinction. Visitors should not only recreate responsibly in the forest for their own safety, but also to protect these important endangered species.
It is important to property store your food; do not let animals have access to food or they will associate humans with food. While backpacking, use a bear resistant food storage container.
There are three Federally Endangered species of bat in Virginia: the Indiana bat, gray bat, and Virginia big-eared bat. These species are endangered due to human intrusion on their hibernacula, or winter shelters (such as caves).
To protect bats on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, do not approach or enter any cave or mine or abandoned tunnel.
Visitors disturb bat habitats. When disturbed during hibernation, bats waste important energy and fat they need to survive the winter!
For more information on how to protect bats, visit Virginia DWR’s Bat Management and Conservation page.
If you’re interested in learning more about bats in Virginia, the VA Department of Wildlife Resources has a bat guide.
Metal Detecting Policy
Most metal detecting requires a special use permit.