Virginia is for Lovers

  • Welcome

    Welcome

    • About Virginia
    • Welcome Centers
    • VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS
    • Accessible Travel
    • International Visitors
    • Weather
    • Transportation
    • Related Links
    • Weddings In Virginia
    • LGBTQ+ Travel
    • Virginia Green Travel
    • VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS SHOP

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Things To Do

    Things To Do

    • Family Fun
    • Historic Sites
    • Eat & Drink
    • Outdoors
    • THEME PARKS & WATERPARKS
    • Zoos & Aquariums
    • Music
    • BEACHES
    • State Parks
    • National Parks
    • CAVERNS
    • Golf
    • SPAS
    • SHOPPING
    • MUSEUMS
    • Arts & Culture
    • LOVEworks
    • Filmed in Virginia

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Events

    Events

    • ARTS & CRAFTS
    • CIVIL WAR
    • CULINARY
    • FAMILY FUN
    • FESTIVALS
    • HISTORY & HERITAGE
    • MUSIC FESTIVALS
    • PERFORMANCES
    • SPORTING
    • WINE FESTIVALS

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Places To Stay

    Places To Stay

    • BED & BREAKFAST
    • COTTAGES & CABINS
    • INNS
    • RESORTS
    • PET FRIENDLY
    • CAMPING
    • HOTELS & MOTELS
    • LODGES & GUEST RANCHES
    • Vacation Homes & Rentals
    • VIRGINIA GREEN

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Deals

    Deals

    • DEALS & DISCOUNTS
    • FALL PACKAGES
    • FAMILY FUN PACKAGES
    • FOOD AND WINE PACKAGES
    • HISTORY DEALS
    • SPRING PACKAGES
    • MILITARY DISCOUNTS
    • ROMANCE PACKAGES
    • TRAVEL PACKAGES

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Store
  • Maps

    Maps

    • Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia - Blue Ridge Highlands
    • Central Virginia
    • Chesapeake Bay
    • Coastal Virginia - Eastern Shore
    • Coastal Virginia - Hampton Roads
    • Southwest Virginia - Heart of Appalachia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Virginia Mountains

    Follow Us

    Virginia Travel Guide and State Map

    Virginia 2021 Travel Guide
    Order Now
  • Accessible Travel

Outdoors and Sports Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve

© DCR-DNH, Irvine Wilson
  • Address
    Honeysuckle Road
    Windsor Hills, VA 24059
  • Phone
    540-265-5234 (Mountain Region Steward)
  • City
    Windsor Hills
    Locality
    Roanoke County
    pin for print map of virginia
  • Visit Site

In autumn, the forest slopes and ridgetops of Poor Mountain are brightened by the brilliant yellow foliage of piratebush. Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve protects the world's largest population of this globally rare shrub, which is restricted to only a handful of sites in the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The mountain is named for its impoverished soils weathered from metamorphosed sandstone bedrock. The ridgetop, 3,000 feet in elevation, is predominantly a xeric Table Mountain pine and oak woodland. Piratebush is a dominant understory shrub in this community along with huckleberry and blueberry. Piratebush is also found with mountain laurel in the hemlock ravines and mesic pine forests of the lower elevations.

Public access facilities include a 10 car parking area. When the parking lot is full, the natural area preserve is full, and you will need to wait for a spot to open or come back another time. There are over 4 miles of hiking trails. Trails include a relatively easy 1.0-mile loop through the piratebush population and a steep and strenuous 4-mile loop that takes several hours to complete.

Part or all of the preserve may be periodically closed for resource protection or prescribed burning activities. Please call before visiting.

Amenities

  • Family Friendly

Additional Links

  • Additional Website

Region

Virginia Mountains

Last Updated: 07/01/2020

What's Nearby

  • South Valley Anglers
    South Valley Anglers
    7449 fernway drive
    Roanoke, VA 24018
    3.22 MI
  • LOVEwork at Silver Hearth Lodge
    LOVEwork at Silver Hearth Lodge
    10231 Sugar Camp Creek Road
    Bent Mountain, VA 24059
    3.94 MI

    Area Events

    You Might Like

    • Outdoors and Sports
      Fisher Farm Park
      475 Leisure Trail
      Ridgeway, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Fieldale Park
      188 Field Ave
      Fieldale, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Radford - Department of Parks and Recreation
      200 George St
      Radford, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Big Walker Lookout
      8711 Stoney Fork Rd
      Wytheville, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Virginia Dare Cruises & Marina
      3619 Airport Road
      Moneta, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
      17405 Beverley Mill Drive
      Broad Run, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Kids in Parks Track Trail at Rockfish River Trailhead
      Rockfish Valley Highway
      Nellysford, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Alpaca Farm Tours: Smith Mountain Lake Farm
      Morewood Rd
      Hardy, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Mill Mountain Park and Discovery Center
      2000 J B Fishburn Pkwy
      Roanoke, VA
    • Outdoors and Sports
      Children's Discovery Area at Natural Bridge State Park
      6477 South Lee Highway
      Natural Bridge, VA
    See More
    CN20072701P_001.JPG

    Spring in Virginia

    • Lesser-Known Spring Break Spots

      Affordable Family Activities

      Spring Road Trips

      Get Outdoors

      Scenic Wineries for Spring

      Family-Friendly Resorts

      Pick-Your-Own Farms
    Virginia is for Lovers Trucker Hat

    Shop with us for merchandise and gifts

    Shop Virginia

    We Need Your Feedback

    Take our Survey

    Travel Updates

    Success! Get ready to start receiving Virginia.org travel updates.

    Find out why Virginia is for Lovers. You’ll get monthly travel inspiration, insider tips, and itineraries to help you plan your best Virginia vacation yet. Plus exclusive offers, deals, packages and more! Sign up for Virginia is for Lovers Emails now!

    There’s always more to LOVE in Virginia. Please select any topic that interests you!

    About Va
    • Virginia Travel Blog
    • Welcome Centers
    • Cities & Localities
    • Transportation
    • Virginia Is For Lovers
    Contact Us
    • Media/Press Room
    • Send Feedback
    • Privacy Policy
    • DEI Statement
    • Travel Industry
    • Travel Guide Order
    Travel
    • Group Planners
    • Sports Marketers
    • Meetings Professionals
    • Virginia Green Travel
    • Accessible Travel
    Additional Links
    • Virginia Is For Lovers Store
    • Add/Update Your Listings
    • Website Survey
    • Site Map
    • Virginia is for Lovers
    • DiscoverAmerica.com
    • Brazil
    • Canada
    • France
    • Germany
    • England
    • Korea
    • China
    • Japan

    Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia ● © 2021 Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Cary St., Suite 900, Richmond, VA 23219
    For Virginia citizen and business services visit www.Virginia.gov. ● Virginia Economic Development Partnership visit www.VEDP.org.