The heart of the Appalachian Mountains is commonly described as southwest Virginia, especially the Heart of Appalachia region along the Virginia–West Virginia border. More specifically, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are often called the “heartland” or “beating heart” of the Appalachian Trail.

Where that points

  • Southwest Virginia is promoted as the Heart of Appalachia region.
  • The area includes the westernmost tip of Virginia and communities near Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
  • The U.S. Forest Service also describes the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest as the center of the Appalachian Trail’s longest single stretch.

Simple way to think about it

If someone asks where the “heart” is in a geographic sense, the best short answer is southwest Virginia. If they mean the “heart” of the Appalachian Trail specifically, then it’s the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia and nearby West Virginia.