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Lovers of wildlife, woodlands, and waters will soon have a vast area to explore in Southwest Virginia.
By Cat McCue / Photo above: Ron Messina | Courtesy of the Department of Wildlife Resources
The Nature Conservancy and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources recently announced plans for the largest open-space public-access easement in the state’s history.
The Cumberland Outdoor Access Legacy project includes multiple tracts across four mountain counties—Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Wise—for a total of 65,000 acres. For scale, that’s about eight times the size of the City of Bristol.
Much of the land is owned by Cumberland Forest-Highlands, LLC, a private entity affiliated with the nonprofit conservancy. It’s currently managed by the state agency for public hunting, angling, and other recreation through temporary agreements. Once the easement is finalized, public access to these and other areas will be permanent.
The project will protect habitat for species big and small, from elk and bear to American woodcock and Big Sandy crayfish. The land includes sections of the Russell Fork and Pound rivers, both favored by anglers and boaters. The boost in recreation will also support local economies.
In announcing the project, former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said, “…enhancing conservation and supporting local economies go hand in hand, and I cannot think of a better example than this historic accomplishment.”
The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia director, Bettina Ring, added: “For Southwest Virginia, natural resources and outdoor recreation are deeply connected to building community, advancing economic development, and contributing to the overall quality of life.”
Another goal of the easement is mitigating climate change impacts by storing carbon dioxide in the protected forests and providing a migratory corridor along the Appalachians, which scientists believe is a critical route for species shifting to cooler habitats.
The easement is anticipated to be completed this summer. The Department of Wildlife Resources will develop a management plan noting the places where people can go to hunt, fish, paddle, hike, watch wildlife, and enjoy the great outdoors.
The story above first appeared in our May/June 2026 issue.
