Cole Mountain is a 3,600-foot mountain in the George Washington National Forest of western Virginia. It is located in the Appalachian Mountains, about 4 miles northwest of the town of Harrisonburg. The mountain is part of the Shenandoah Mountains, a sub-range of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was named after Captain James Cole, who was killed in the Battle of Point Pleasant during the American Revolutionary War.
It is part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT), and is crossed by the AT’s white-blazed North Mountain Trail. The mountain is also home to the Cole Mountain Fire Tower, a fire lookout tower that was built in 1934 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The scenery is beautiful and there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. There are numerous hiking and biking trails that wind through the forests and mountainside. One of the best reasons to visit Cole Mountain is for the opportunity to see some amazing wildlife. The area is home to black bears, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and many other species of animals. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a bald eagle!
