The Garden Mountain Cluster is a region in the Jefferson National Forest recognized by The Wilderness Society for its diversity of habitats extending along the east, south and west of Burke's Garden. The cluster, part of the Appalachian Mountains in southwest Virginia, connects wildlands in the high country of Garden Mountain and adjacent streams and ridges in one of the most remote areas of Virginia.
Description The Garden Mountain Cluster contains seven wildlands with different degrees of protection: wilderness areas, a study area and two areas recognized by the Wilderness Society as "Mountain Treasures", areas that are worthy of protection from logging and road construction.
The areas in the cluster are: Wilderness Areas Hunting Camp Creek Wilderness Garden Mountain Wilderness Beartown Wilderness Study Areas Lynn Camp Creek Wilderness Study Area Wild areas recognized by the Wilderness Society as "Mountain Treasures" Beartown Wilderness Addition A Beartown Wilderness Addition B
Location and access
The cluster extends around the western, southern and eastern sides of Burke's Garden. VA 16, on the southern side, and VA 42, on the eastern side, intersect with roads leading into the cluster. Access from Burke's Garden is somewhat restricted because of the steep rise of the slopes around the bowl forming the garden.
The Appalachian Trail passes through the full length of the cluster for 26.6 miles. From north to south, the trail crosses Va 615, Suiter Road, to enter the cluster at Hunting Camp Creek Wilderness. The trail climbs Brushy Mountain, then descends to cross Hunting Camp Creek, passes by Jenkins Shelter, climbs Garden Mountain, continues along the ridge of Garden Mountain with views of Burke's Garden, passes by Davis Farm Campsite, and crosses Va 623. The trail then enters Garden Mountain Wilderness continuing along the ridge of Garden Mountain. After leaving Garden Mountain Wilderness, the trail passes by Chestnut Ridge Shelter, goes along the boundary of Beartown Wilderness then turns south, descends through Beartown Wilderness Addition B, crosses USFS road 222, Poor Valley Road, to reach Lick Creek. Now the trail enters Lynn Camp Creek Wilderness Study Area, crosses over Lynn Camp Mountain reaching Lynn Camp Creek, then ascends Brushy Mountain passing Knot Maul Branch Shelter before descending to VA 42 to exit the cluster at the boundary of the wilderness study area.
Roads and trails in the cluster are shown on National Geographic Map 787 (Blacksburg, New River Valley). A great variety of information, including topographic maps, aerial views, satellite data and weather information, is obtained by selecting the link with the wild land's coordinates in the upper right of this page.
Biological significance
The land form, climate, soils and geology of the Appalachian highlands, as well as its evolutionary history, have created one of the most diverse collection of plants and animals in the deciduous forests of the temperate world. The cluster's large tract of land supports species, such as black bear and some bird species, that require extensive tracts of unbroken forest for survival.
The cluster provides habitat and watershed for species that are critically imperiled (G1), imperiled (G2) or vulnerable (G3), as indicated by their NatureServe conservation status. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program gives a list of these species for the counties included in the cluster, Bland, Smyth and Wythe. Among these are:
Animals Mammals:
Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis,"Myotis sodalis - Miller and Allen, 1928" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2 Northern long-eared myotis, Myotis septentrionalis,"Myotis septentrionalis - (Trovessart, 1897)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1, G2 Virginia big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus,"Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus - Handley, 1955" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G3, G4, T2
Amphibians:
Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis,"Cryptobranchus alleganiensis - (Daudin, 1803)" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3, G4 Northern pygmy salamander, Desmognathus organi,"Desmognathus organi - Crespi, Browne, and Rissler, 2010". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3 Weller's salamander, Plethodon welleri,"Plethodon welleri - Walker, 1931". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3
Fish:
Blotchside logperch, Percina burtoni,"Percina burtoni - Fowler, 1945". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2, G3 Bluestone sculpin, Cottus,"Cottus sp. 1". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2 Candy darter, Etheostoma osburni,"Etheostoma osburni - (Hubbs and Trautman, 1932)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G3 Clinch dace, Chrosomus,"Chrosomus sp. 1". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1 Clinch sculpin, Cottus,"Cottus sp. 4". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1, G2 Ohio lamprey, Ichthyomyzon bdellium,"Ichthyomyzon bdellium - (Jordan, 1885)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G3, G4 Popeye shiner, Notropis ariommus,"Notropis ariommus - (Cope, 1867)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G3 Sickle darter, Percina williamsi,"Percina williamsi - Page and Near, 2007". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2 Tennessee dace, Chrosomus tennesseensis,"Chrosomus tennesseensis - (Starnes and Jenkins, 1988)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G3 Turquoise shiner, Erimonax monachus,"Erimonax monachus - (Cope, 1868)" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2 Yellowfin madtom, Noturus flavipinnis,"Noturus flavipinnis - Taylor, 1969" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1
Annelida (segmented worms):
A cave lumbriculid worm, Stylodrilus beattiei,"Stylodrilus beattiei - Cook, 1975". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3
Arachnida (spiders and pseudoscorpions):
A cave pseudoscorpion, Kleptochthonius,"Kleptochthonius sp. 1 - Muchmore". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 A cave pseudoscorpion, Kleptochthonius regulus,"Kleptochthonius regulus - Muchmore, 1970". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1, G2 Spruce-fir moss spider, Microhexura montivaga,"Microhexura montivaga - Crosby and Bishop, 1925" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1
Bivalvia (mussels):
Cumberland bean, Villosa trabalis,Villosa trabalis G1 Fine-rayed pigtoe, Fusconaia cuneolus,"Fusconaia cuneolus - (I. Lea, 1840)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Fluted kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus subtentum,"Ptychobranchus subtentus - (Say, 1825)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2 Green floater, Lasmigona subviridis,"Lasmigona subviridis - (Conrad, 1835)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3 Little-winged pearlymussel, Pegias fabula,"Pegias fabula - (I. Lea, 1838)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Oyster mussel, Epioblasma capsaeformis,"Epioblasma capsaeformis - (I. Lea, 1834)" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Purple bean, Villosa perpurpurea,Villosa perpurpurea G1 Purple liliput, Toxolasma lividum,"Toxolasma lividum - Rafinesque, 1831". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3Q Rough rabbitsfoot, Theliderma cylindrica,"Theliderma cylindrica - (Say, 1817)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3, G4 Shiny pigtoe, Fusconaia cor,"Fusconaia cor - (Conrad, 1834)" . NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Slabside pearlymussel, Pleuronaia dolabelloides,"Pleuronaia dolabelloides - (I. Lea, 1840)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2 Spectaclecase, Margaritifera monodonta,"Margaritifera monodonta - (Say, 1829)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3 Tan riffleshell, Epioblasma florentina aureola,"Epioblasma aureola - Jones and Neves, 2010". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Tennessee clubshell, Pleurobema oviforme,"Pleurobema oviforme - (Conrad, 1834)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3 Tennessee heelsplitter, Lasmigona holstonia,"Lasmigona holstonia - (I. Lea, 1838)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3 Tennessee pigtoe, Pleuronaia barnesiana,[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=PLEURONAIA+BARNESIANA "Pleuronaia barnesiana - (I. Lea, 1838)"]. NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3
Crustacea (amphipods, isopods and decapods):
A groundwater amphipod, Stygobromus,"Stygobromus sp. 8". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3 Incurved cave isopod, Caecidotea incurva,"Caecidotea incurva - (Steeves, 1968)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G4 Tug Valley crayfish, Cambarus hatfieldi,"Cambarus hatfieldi - Loughman, Fagundo, Lau, Welsh, and Thoma, 2013". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. GNR
Gastropoda (snails):
Spiny riversnail, Io fluvialis,"Io fluvialis - (Say, 1825)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2
Turbellaria (flatworms):
A cave planarian, Geocentrophora cavernicola,"Geocentrophora cavernicola - Carpenter, 1970". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1, G2 Chandler's planarian, Sphalloplana chandleri,"Sphalloplana chandleri - Kenk, 1977". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1, G2
Coleoptera (beetles):
Burkes Garden cave beetle, Pseudanophthalmus hortulanus,"Pseudanophthalmus hortulanus - Barr, 1965". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Hoffman's cave beetle, Pseudanophthalmus hoffmani,"Pseudanophthalmus hoffmani - Barr, 1965". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3 Maiden Spring cave beetle, Pseudanophthalmus virginicus,"Pseudanophthalmus virginicus - (Barr, 1960)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Vicariant cave beetle, Pseudanophthalmus vicarius,"Pseudanophthalmus vicarius - Barr, 1965". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3
Diplopoda (millipedes):
A millipede, Cleidogona lachesis,"Cleidogona lachesis - Shear, 1972". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2 A millipede, Pseudotremia momus,"Pseudotremia momus - Shear, 1972". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2 A millipede, Dixioria pela,"Dixioria pela coronata - Hoffman, 1949". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, T2 A millipede, Dixioria fowleri,"Dixioria fowleri - Hoffman, 1956". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2 A millipede, Pseudotremia tuberculata,"Pseudotremia tuberculata - Loomis, 1939". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2, G3 A millipede, Appalachioria separanda hamata,"Appalachioria separanda hamata - (Keeton, 1959)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3, T2 Armes' rough-backed millipede, Pseudotremia armesi,"Pseudotremia armesi - Shear, 1972". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G2 Big Cedar Creek millipede, Appalachioria falcifera,"Appalachioria falcifera - (Keeton, 1959)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G1 Hoffman's cleidogonid millipede, Cleidogona hoffmani,"Cleidogona hoffmani - Shear, 1972". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 23, 2019. G3
Diplura (diplurans):
A cave dipluran (Ward Cove), Litocampa,"Litocampa sp. 2". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G1
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths): Regal fritillary, Speyeria idalia,"Speyeria idalia - (Drury, 1773)". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G3
Mecoptera (scorpionflies):
Jefferson's short-nosed scorpionfly, Brachypanorpa jeffersoni,"Brachypanorpa jeffersoni - Byers, 1976". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 24, 2019. G2
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies):