COVID does not stop forest offerings

“The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are committed to maximizing public access and services during the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring the safety and well-being of employees, partners and volunteers,” the U.S. Forest Service stated in a recent press release.

It noted that the public can still buy firewood permits that allow gathering up to six cords of down and dead wood, so long as it is gathered for personal use and not sold to others. Permits cost $20 and are good for one year from date of issue. Citizens may purchase firewood permits by calling the Clinch Ranger District office and leaving a message with their phone number for a call back. Another option is to send an email request to mailroom_r8_george_washington_jefferson@usda.gov.

Visitor passes are also still available. The seasonal day use pass, which provides unlimited visits to 11-day use recreation areas for one year, is available for $30. The America the Beautiful interagency passes, which provide access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five federal agencies across the nation, cost between $10 to $80. Both can be purchased through the Clinch Ranger District office. The America the Beautiful passes are also available for purchase online at https://store.usgs.gov/pass/general.html.

To contact the Clinch Ranger District office, call 276/679-8370; email to mailroom_r8_george_washington_jefferson@usda.gov; or write to Clinch Ranger District Office, 1700 Park Ave. SW, Norton, Va., 24273.

For more information about the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj/ and follow them on Twitter: @GWJNF1.