Shenandoah Mountain Act Locks Up 92,562 Acres from Development, Mandates Nonmotorized Trail Plan

If you’ve ever hiked or camped in Virginia’s George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, this bill is about to make some major changes to nearly 100,000 acres of that land. The Shenandoah Mountain Act establishes the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, covering roughly 92,562 acres, and simultaneously designates five new Wilderness Areas within the same region. The core purpose here is locking down this huge chunk of land for preservation—specifically protecting the scenic quality, water resources, and wildlife habitat, including the habitat of the Cow Knob salamander (Sec. 3).

The Great Land Withdrawal: No Mining, No Logging, No New Energy

For anyone concerned about extractive industries moving into this region, the bill is clear: it institutes a major federal land withdrawal. This means all federal land within the new Scenic Area is off-limits to new mining claims, mineral leasing, and geothermal leasing. Crucially, it also bans wind, solar, or other renewable energy development, and the designation of new utility corridors (Sec. 3). Timber harvesting is also generally prohibited, though the Secretary of Agriculture retains a few exceptions for things like fire control, public safety, or managing insect outbreaks (Sec. 3). Basically, if you were hoping to build a new pipeline or mine for resources here, the door is now shut. This level of protection is a huge win for conservation groups, but it means developers and resource industries lose access to this land permanently.

Where You Can (and Can't) Drive and Hike

This bill is a big deal for recreation, especially if you prefer to travel on two feet or two wheels. The Act mandates that the Secretary must develop a National Forest System trail plan within two years, focusing on constructing, maintaining, and improving nonmotorized recreation trails (Sec. 3). This plan must prioritize sustainable trail management and offer diverse recreation. For hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, this means a focused effort to improve your experience. However, there’s a catch for motorized users: motorized travel is only allowed on existing roads in the portions of the Scenic Area that are not designated Wilderness Areas, consistent with current road rules (Sec. 3). If you rely on an ATV or other motorized transport for recreation, your access is going to be heavily constrained, especially in the new Wilderness areas.

The Buffer Zone Problem

Here’s a detail that might make your eyebrows go up: while the bill provides strong protections inside the 92,000-acre boundary, it explicitly states that it does not create any protective perimeter or buffer zone around the Scenic Area (Sec. 3). It goes on to clarify that activities occurring outside the boundaries—even if they are visible or audible inside—are not prohibited by this Act. Think of it like this: the park itself is protected, but if a property owner right outside the boundary decides to run a noisy, visually jarring operation, the Scenic Area designation doesn't give the federal government any new power to stop it. This is a common sticking point in land protection bills, and it means the long-term integrity of the area could still be affected by adjacent development.

What Stays the Same

For folks who own private land inside or near the area, the bill is careful not to mess with existing arrangements. The establishment of the Scenic Area will not close any existing National Forest System roads or change public access within the area, and private landowners retain their access rights (Sec. 3). Furthermore, the bill does not prohibit the operation, maintenance, or improvement of existing dams or reservoirs, or even the establishment of new water infrastructure if necessary for municipal use. So, while the land is protected from resource extraction, necessary infrastructure and private property rights are preserved.