Hickory Flats is an area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia that has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction.

The Appalachian Mountains were extensively timbered in the early twentieth century leaving logging roads that are becoming overgrown but still passable.

[3] Old logging roads and railroad grades can be located by consulting the historical topographic maps available from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

[1] The five-rowed peat moss (Sphagnum quinquefanum) can be recognized by its rather short and stiff branches which appear angular because of the arrangement of its closely set leaves widely angled in 5 ranks.

And northern bog club moss (Lycopodiella inundata) has branches up to 10 cm high with narrow, pointed leaves 4–8 mm long.

The province consists of a thick layer of sedimentary rock that has undergone folding and/or faulting to create a series of ridges and valleys.

[12] The topography is typical of the Central Appalachian Province, with long ridges dissected by steep draws and limited flat areas along streams.

The rule provided some degree of protection by reducing the negative environmental impact of road construction and thus promoting the conservation of roadless areas.

Hickory Flats was not included in the inventoried roadless areas, and therefore subject to possible road construction and timber sales.

The objectives are to provide a secluded and diverse habitat, ensure adequate den sites, and maintain hard and soft mast production.

[13] In June 2015, the Forest Service proposed a revegetation project to create early successional habitat by commercial timber regeneration harvests.

The Sierra Club was concerned that the area contains substantial old growth forests, recognized conservations sites, and is at the headwaters of stream systems that proved habitat for the endangered candy darter and James River spinymussel.