The Wilderness designation provides permanent protection for the two areas in their natural state. The Priest (nearly 6,000 acres) rises from an elevation of about 1,000 feet at the Tye River to 4,063 feet. Three Ridges (4,608 acres) is one of the wildest and most rugged areas in the Virginia Blue Ridge.
One of the accesses to the area is the Appalachian Trail that runs through this scenic wilderness.
