James River Face Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Jefferson National Forest, Virginia.

James River Face Wilderness is a protected mountain landscape where a river cuts through valleys bordered by forested slopes and rocky peaks. The terrain consists of mixed woodland, exposed ridges, and scattered outcrops that reveal themselves as you move along the trails.

The area received official protected status in 1975, becoming Virginia's first designated wilderness following a federal conservation law. This designation helped preserve the landscape from intensive human use and development.

The name comes from the face the wilderness presents to the James River, which forms its northeast boundary. The lower slopes hold the former Glenwood Estate of Francis T. Anderson, who ran the Glenwood Iron Furnace; charcoal for it consumed thousands of acres of timber, and the land was later logged again for second and third growth. Visitors today walk the 9.9-mile Appalachian Trail section through the Matt's Creek drainage, where old-growth trees survive.

Access to the area is through multiple marked trails that start from different points and vary in difficulty. It is helpful to obtain a map before you go and check trail conditions before your visit.

The Devils Marbleyard is a rock outcrop of quartzite boulders the size of a school bus, and the Allegheny woodrat has been observed there among the rocks. The woodrat population is declining, with loss of food sources, loss of habitat and parasites introduced by raccoons among the hypotheses considered.