Park earthquake history

Review documented seismic events by date, magnitude, depth, and distance to park boundaries

Historical Catalogue of Recorded Earthquakes Near the Rich Hole Wilderness in Virginia

Explore a detailed record of historical earthquake activity mapped in relation to the Rich Hole Wilderness. This catalogue provides access to event data, including magnitude and focal depth, for tremors associated by location with this Appalachian wilderness area. All entries are sourced from established geological records to provide a transparent overview of regional seismic history within the central Virginia mountains.

Related tags

wilderness areaAppalachian forestcove hardwood forestold-growth forestnational natural landmark

Explore Rich Hole Wilderness

A small Appalachian wilderness protecting old-growth cove hardwood forest in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

Rich Hole Wilderness

Rich Hole Wilderness is a small federally designated wilderness area in western Virginia, located within the James River Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Established in 1988, the wilderness protects roughly 6,450 acres of rugged Appalachian terrain on Brushy Mountain, including the steep drainages that give the area its name. Its elevation ranges from about 1,500 feet along its lower streams to roughly 3,500 feet at the highest ridge crests, creating a cool, moist forest environment characteristic of the mid-Appalachians. The wilderness is most notable for its ecological character rather than its size. A portion of Rich Hole was recognized in 1974 as a National Natural Landmark for its outstanding example of cove hardwood forest, containing virgin timber with remarkably large specimens of several hardwood species. The area's position in the broader James River watershed, combined with its old-growth forest stands and Appalachian wildlife populations, gives it meaningful ecological significance despite its compact footprint. Rich Hole is primarily a low-intensity recreation landscape, with dispersed hunting, short day hikes, and backcountry travel on a few unmaintained or lightly maintained trails. Its proximity to Interstate 64 and the city of Lexington, Virginia, makes it one of the more accessible small wilderness areas in Virginia, while its steep terrain and lack of loop trails keep visitation light and the forest experience relatively quiet.

Location: United States of America
Park type: Wildlife reserve
Established: 1988
Area: 26.1 km²
Highest point: 1,067 m

Rich Hole Wilderness Protected Area

Review Rich Hole Wilderness events by date and distance

Investigate historical earthquake records near Rich Hole Wilderness

Rich Hole Wilderness’s catalogue relates reported epicentres to its western Virginia Appalachian boundary through calculated distance, not through Brushy Mountain, steep hollows, cove hardwoods, or old-growth forest. Dates, magnitudes, depths, localities, sources, and wilderness distances permit historical comparison without claiming landscape effects, current danger, or prediction.

Magnitude

Location

This page describes catalogued earthquakes associated with the park by epicentre location and distance. It does not establish causation, assess current danger, or predict future earthquakes.

No earthquake records match the current filters

Park atlas

Continue beyond Virginia's old-growth Appalachian cove forest

Continue protected-land discovery after Rich Hole Wilderness’s forest

Rich Hole Wilderness concludes this earthquake view within a small Appalachian landscape of mountain slopes and old-growth cove hardwoods. The atlas next highlights distinct protected destinations, not places presumed to share its federal wilderness status, forest type, geology, seismic pattern, geographic closeness, hazard context, or source detail.

Wildlife reserveVirginia

3.4 km away#1 closest

Northwest

Rough Mountain Wilderness: Mapping Appalachian Ridges and Protected Terrain

Remote wildlife reserve in western Virginia

Spanning over 9,000 acres, Rough Mountain Wilderness provides a rare example of undisturbed Appalachian forest. The area is characterized by consistently steep slopes, sharp ridgeline topography, and a deep sense of isolation within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia.

Area: 38 km²
Established: 1987
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Rough Mountain Wilderness Geography

A wide watercolor illustration showing rolling mountains in pastel shades of pink, purple, and green, with a line of trees and a reflective body of water in the foreground, framed by bare tree branches on the sides.

Protected areaVirginia

29 km away#2 closest

Southeast

James River Face Wilderness: Mapping the Topography of Virginia's Blue Ridge Protected Landscapes

Geographic overview of mountain wildlands and boulder fields

Spanning over 8,900 acres, James River Face Wilderness serves as a vital protected area within the Appalachian mountain chain. The landscape contains steep creek drainages, vertical ridgelines, and significant geological formations such as the Devils Marbleyard, offering a comprehensive study of central Virginia's complex forest ecosystems and rugged mountain terrain.

Area: 36.05 km²
Established: 1975
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

James River Face Wilderness Geography

Watercolor painting showing layers of soft green hills and mountain ridges fading into a light hazy background.

Protected landscapeWest Virginia

33 km away#3 closest

North

Monongahela National Forest: Protected Appalachian Landscapes and Regional Geography

Mapping West Virginia wilderness and mountain terrain

Monongahela National Forest protects nearly one million acres of the central Appalachian Mountains. This massive federally managed landscape is defined by the Allegheny Front, the highest peak in the Allegheny range at Spruce Knob, and iconic geological formations like Seneca Rocks. The region represents a vital intersection of climate, hydrology, and biodiversity in the eastern United States, housing eight distinct wilderness areas and complex high-altitude ecosystems.

Area: 3,727.8 km²
Established: 1920
Visitors: 3M annual
Relief: Mountain

Monongahela National Forest Atlas

Wildlife reserveNelson County

45 km away#4 closest

East

Priest Wilderness: A Deep Dive Into Appalachian Mountain Geography and Protected Forest Boundaries

High elevation ridge terrain in Nelson County, Virginia.

Priest Wilderness stands as a signature protected area in the Blue Ridge Mountains, defined by a dramatic 3,000 foot vertical gain and dense, mature hardwood forests. This documentation maps the rugged ridge and hollow topography that characterizes one of the most significant wilderness sections along the central Appalachian trail corridor.

Area: 23.17 km²
Established: 2000
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Priest Wilderness Map and Geography

A soft watercolor illustration depicting a stream flowing through a forested valley with mountain ridgelines in the background.

Wildlife reserveUnited States of America

About 51 km away#5 closest

Northeast

Ramseys Draft Wilderness: Appalachian Ridge and Valley Protected Landscape and Map Atlas

Examining wilderness boundaries and mountain stream geography in Virginia

Located in western Virginia, Ramseys Draft Wilderness is a federal protected area characterized by its extreme vertical relief and rugged Appalachian topography. Spanning from the main crest of Shenandoah Mountain to the valley floor, this wilderness serves as a vital corridor for high-elevation forest ecosystems, native brook trout, and neotropical migrant birds.

Area: 26.38 km²
Established: 1984
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate

Ramseys Draft Wilderness Protected Landscape

Watercolor painting of rolling hills, trees, and a river in a scenic landscape

National parkVirginia

66 km away#6 closest

Northeast

Shenandoah National Park: National Park Protected Landscape and Geography

Mapped terrain and protected area context in Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park is a designated national park in Virginia, offering a rich exploration of its protected landscape and geographic features. This page provides detailed atlas-oriented information, focusing on the park's mapped boundaries and its role within the regional geography. Discover the natural terrain and spatial identity of this important US protected area, ideal for understanding park landscapes.

Area: 811.176 km²
Established: 1935
IUCN: II
Visitors: 1.7M annual

Shenandoah National Park Protected Landscape

Wildlife reserveVirginia

77 km away#7 closest

Southwest

Mountain Lake Wilderness: Protected Appalachian Geography and Mountain Landscapes

High-elevation wetlands and ridge-line geography in Virginia

Mountain Lake Wilderness protects a compact yet biologically diverse landscape where cool, moist conditions support rare mountain bogs and red spruce forests. This protected area along the Eastern Continental Divide features rocky outcrops like White Rocks and War Spur Overlook, providing panoramic views of the surrounding Ridge and Valley terrain within the Jefferson National Forest.

Area: 44.66 km²
Established: 1984
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Mountain Lake Wilderness Protected Area Atlas

Watercolor illustration depicting a serene mountain landscape with a winding river, rolling hills, and scattered trees against a light background.

Protected landscapeVirginia

About 84 km away#8 closest

Northeast

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests: Appalachian Protected Landscape Mapping

Explore mountain ridges, river valleys, and wilderness corridors in Virginia.

Covering one of the largest public forest blocks in the eastern United States, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests offer a unique look at the central Appalachian mountain terrain. The area includes extensive wilderness tracts, the Appalachian Trail corridor, and significant geological landmarks like the Breaks gorge. Analyze the protected landscape boundaries and topographic features that define this major regional watershed and forest network.

Area: 7,247.65 km²
Established: 1995
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate

Explore George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring the Appalachian Landscape of Rich Hole Wilderness

Analyze the rugged terrain and mapped boundaries of this protected wildlife reserve. MoriAtlas provides a clear geographic view of the old growth forests and drainage systems that define this significant Appalachian wilderness in western Virginia, inviting deeper study of its natural environment.

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