Pat Jennings Visitor Center

The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area offers unique recreation opportunities in a more than 5,000 ft. high area with large rock formations, mountain balds, and spruce-fir forests. Within Mount Rogers, there are four wilderness areas, 500 miles of trails, eleven campgrounds, three rental cabins. Beautiful scenic roads, such as the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, the road to Whitetop Mountain, and Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway offers multiple viewing destinations. Mt. Rogers is home to 60 miles of Appalachian Trail and 18 miles of the Virginia Creeper Trail. Motorcyclists and cyclists can enjoy the beautiful Iron Mountain Trail. Horseback-riders can enjoy the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, one of the marque saddle trails in the region. In addition, visitors to Mount Rogers have the opportunity to go hunting, fishing, canoeing, bird watching, wading, cross country skiing, and viewing wildlife.

The Pat Jennings Visitor Center serves as the headquarters and gateway to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Located only 6 miles from I-81, the visitor center is in a peaceful mountain setting and adjacent to the Appalachian Trail. The center is a great place to learn more about the area and pick up maps, nature guides. 

Volunteers are provided with a campsite with water, electricity, and sewer hook-ups at Raccoon Branch Campground. For more information about Raccoon Branch campground visit recreation.gov. Telephone service is not available in the campground. Wi-Fi is available at the Pat Jennings Visitor Center.  A volunteer trail camp (10 minutes) is available for laundry facilities.  Campsites are available for volunteers from mid-April through November. Just let me know what your interests are and when you would be interested in volunteering (specific dates). To assist with scheduling and site availability, we request that our volunteers stay at least 4 weeks, typically arriving at the first of the month and leaving at the end of the month.

Please call for more information on this opportunity! For additional information, please contact Janida Bonham, Volunteer Coordinator at janida.bonham@usda.gov or at 276-782-4361