Bourassa State Forest

Bourassa State Forest is a managed woodland area near Smith Mountain Lake that encompasses several hundred acres of mixed forest. The land balances timber harvesting operations with habitat protection and ecological management to sustain forest health.

The Virginia Department of Forestry established this forest as part of a statewide network of managed woodland areas. This development emerged from efforts to restore and sustain forest resources across the state.

The forest functions as an outdoor research laboratory, enabling scientists to study forest management techniques and ecological systems in natural conditions.

Visitors need to obtain permission from the Virginia Department of Forestry before hiking, riding horses, or pursuing other recreational activities. Hunting, camping, and motor vehicles are not permitted in this forest.

The forest generates its own income through sustainable timber harvesting rather than relying on taxpayer funding. This financial model demonstrates how conservation and resource production can work together.