Nathaniel Mountain
Nathaniel Mountain is a mountain ridge that runs southwest northeast through Hampshire County in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, rising to its greatest elevation of above sea-level. The mountain is bound at its western flank by the Potomac River#South Branch [Potomac River|South Branch Potomac River] and to its eastern flank by South Branch Mountain. The bulk of Nathaniel Mountain is located within the Nathaniel Mountain [Wildlife Management Area] owned by the West [Virginia Division of Natural Resources].
The rugged topography of Nathaniel Mountain and its WMA is dominated by mature oak and hickory forests with Virginia pine. The mountain also supports a habitat for a variety of neo-tropical migratory birds and two wetlands identified by The Nature Conservancy. Nathaniel Mountain's forested wetlands are a unique find at such a high elevation. The wetlands include a number of plant species not common in the region, including sphagnum moss and the cinnamon fern. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, black bears, and grouse may be pursued by hunters on the mountain. Nathaniel Mountain's Mill [Run (South Branch Potomac River)|Mill Run] serves as a habitat for rainbow trout and native brook trout.