Mill Creek, a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia, has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction.

[1] The area, a valley between two mountain ridges with many cliffs, rocky outcrops and an almost impenetrable vegetation, has the sense of being isolated from the civilized world although it is not far from nearby towns.

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

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

The Mill Creek wild area is covered by USGS topographic maps Narrows and Pearisburg.

In the spring, the dense growth of rhododendrons and azaleas give a striking display of wild flowers.

Mill Creek received a silver award in "Best of the Blue Ridge" in 2013 and was also featured in a national commercial for Barbarsol shave cream.

The dam was constructed to create a spillway to use running water to turn a waterwheel and power a mill.

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

[1] Mill Creek was not inventoried in the roadless area review, and therefore not protected from possible road construction and timber sales.