Remarkable Trees of Virginia

Swamp White Oak
Sassafras

A book by author and lecturer Nancy Ross Hugo, Virginia Tech Department of Forestry extension specialist and professor Jeff Kirwan and photographer Robert Llewellyn beautifully documents the oldest, tallest, most historic and best-loved trees in the Commonwealth.

From the Introduction

Trees aren’t the only things that sometimes get bigger than you thought they would. When Jeff Kirwan and I launched the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project in 2004, we conceived of a book that would celebrate some of Virginia’s finest trees and a website through which people could nominate their favorite trees. Neither of us had any idea we would be sorting through over 1,000 tree nominations and traveling over 20,000 miles to see trees. (Jeff actually walked 300 miles, all the way across the state, to fulfill a lifelong dream and to experience trees and their habitats up close.) Our travels involved almost as many trips to visit trees we decided not to feature as to trees we decided to feature, but no trip seemed unproductive, because for Jeff and me, any day spent among trees is a good day…

BUY THE BOOK

Remarkable Trees of Virginia,” University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville, VA

You Might Also Like:

2027 Best of the Mountains Awards

2026 Best of the Mountains Awards

Submit your nominations for the finest in the Blue Ridge today!
Roanoke, Virginia, USA downtown skyline at dawn

2026 Happiest Mountain Towns

Ten years after this poll’s inaugural launch, we once again turned to our knowledgeable readers for their picks. The results? A brand-new collection of 71 exceptional Blue Ridge communities that excel at bringing big smiles to the faces of both residents and visitors.
Mary Berry

Mary Berry: Founder and Executive Director of The Berry Center in New Castle, Kentucky

Mary Berry is the daughter of Wendell Berry—poet, conservationist, author of more than 50 books, and recipient of the 2010 National Humanities Medal.
The SMith House food

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Meets Georgia Gold 

Now in its fourth generation of ownership, The Smith House in Dahlonega remains closely tied to the state’s gold-mining history.
Grandmaw’s Pepperoni Roll

Mountaineers Are Always Free!

The Mountain State’s signature snack—just the way Grandmaw made it.
©Steven Reinhold

Fueling Adventure

Lee “Natty” Trebotich transforms wild plants and outdoor know-how into unique experiences worth savoring.
Mural at the George Buckley Community Center in Marmet, starting point of the Miners’ March.

Courage in the Hollers

More than a century after the 1921 West Virginia Miners’ March that ended with the Battle of Blair Mountain, the story is being told in new and unforgettable ways.
Sunrise Landscape Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg TN and Oconaluftee Valley Cherokee NC

Summer Fun in the Smokies

Our longtime contributing editor knows Great Smoky Mountains National Park like the back of her hand. Drawing inspiration from countless visits over the years, she shares some of her favorite spots to explore during the warm months, plus insider tips for spotting wildlife, discovering waterfalls, finding the best family-friendly experiences in the park—and more!
Blooming rosebay rhododendrons frame a lovely, fast-moving cascade along the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo by Robert Stephens

Currents & Cascades: A Photo Essay

Our contributing photographers followed the flow of summer.
Kayaks on Toccoa River Below the Falls

7 Fabulous Float-to-Stays

Paddling trips on scenic rivers to great mountain towns make for perfect summer getaways.