Blue Ridge Mountain

Mountain in West Virginia, United States

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Blue Ridge Mountain

Blue Ridge Mountain as seen from across the Potomac on Weverton Cliffs

Highest point
Elevation| 2,388 ft (728 m)[1]
Geography
Location| Virginia, West Virginia
Parent range| Blue Ridge Mountains
Climbing
Easiest route| Hike

Blue Ridge Mountain, also known as Blue Mountain, is the colloquial name of the westernmost ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northern Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. The Appalachian Trail traverses the entire length of the mountain along its western slope and crest.

## Geography

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The mountain extends from the Potomac River in the north to Linden Gap in the south. Along this section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountain comprises the sole ridge of the chain in the immediate vicinity and contains few spur ridges or peaks. The notable exceptions are the Bull Run and Catoctin mountains, which lie approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the east across the Loudoun Valley, and Short Hill Mountain, located 4 miles (6 km) to the east, which runs parallel to the Blue Ridge for 12 miles (19 km) near its northern terminus. To the west of the mountain is the lower Shenandoah Valley.

Blue Ridge Mountain is noticeably lower in elevation than other sections of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The southern section of the mountain contains the highest peaks, and the ridge gradually loses elevation as it gets closer to the Potomac. Elevations in the gaps are typically around 1,000 feet (300 m), while peaks range from 1,200 to 2,300 feet (370 to 700 m). Across the Potomac the ridge continues as Elk Ridge in Maryland.

The mountain's ridgecrest forms the border between several counties, with Loudoun County and Fauquier County, both in Virginia, to the east, and Jefferson County, West Virginia, Clarke County, Virginia, and Warren County, Virginia to the west.

## Geology

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Blue Ridge Mountain consists mostly of anticlinal Catoctin Greenstone and is not underlain by Old Rag Granite, as is the Blue Ridge south of Manassas Gap. This is why the mountain is more ridgelike and less rugged than sections to the south. The greenstone was deposited during the Catoctin Formation and uplifted during the Alleghenian Orogeny.

## Recreation

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Blue Ridge Mountain contains several national, state, regional and private parks that offer recreational opportunities on the mountain including:

* Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
* Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship
* Rolling Ridge Foundation
* Sky Meadows State Park
* G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area

## Notable peaks

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North to south:

* Loudoun Heights
* Purcell Knob
* Raven Rocks
* Mount Weather
* Paris Mountain

## Notable gaps

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North to south:

* Keyes Gap
* Wilson Gap
* Snickers Gap
* Ashby Gap
* Manassas Gap

## References

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1. ^ Peakbagger

39°4′54″N 77°51′44″W﻿ / ﻿39.08167°N 77.86222°W﻿ / 39.08167; -77.86222

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Mountains of West Virginia

Allegheny Mountains|

* Allegheny Mountain
* Back Allegheny Mountain
* Bald Knob
* Barton Knob
* Cheat Mountain
* Droop Mountain
* Elleber Ridge
* Gaudineer Knob
* Knobly Mountain
* Laurel Mountain
* Mount Porte Crayon
* North Fork Mountain
* North Mountain
* Peters Mountain
* River Knobs
* Reddish Knob
* Shavers Fork Mountain Complex
* Shavers Mountain
* Shenandoah Mountain
* Sleepy Creek Mountain
* Snowshoe Mountain
* Spring Gap Mountain
* Spruce Knob
* Spruce Mountain
* Thorny Flat
* White Top

Blue Ridge Mountains|

* Blue Ridge Mountain
* Raven Rocks

Ridge-and-Valley
Appalachians|

* Baker Mountain
* Bear Garden Mountain
* Big Schloss
* Cacapon Mountain
* Castle Mountain (Hampshire County)
* Castle Mountain (Pendleton County)
* Cooper Mountain
* Great North Mountain
* High Knob
* Horsepen Mountain
* Keeney Knob
* Little Cacapon Mountain
* Mill Creek Mountain
* Nathaniel Mountain
* New Creek Mountain
* North River Mountain
* Patterson Creek Mountain
* Saddle Mountain
* Schaffenaker Mountain
* Short Mountain
* South Branch Mountain
* Third Hill Mountain

Others|

* Bickett Knob
* Bickle Knob
* Black Mountain
* Black Rock
* Buffalo Bull Knob
* Burner Mountain
* Caesar Mountain
* Calders Peak
* Camp Hill
* Close Mountain
* Cottle Knob
* Day Mountain
* Dorsey Knob
* Evick Knob
* Greenwood Mountain
* Gregg Knob
* Gunstock Knob
* Gwinn Mountain
* Honsocker Knob
* Hump Mountain
* Ice Mountain
* Limestone Mountain
* Michael Mountain
* Paddy Knob
* Pifer Mountain
* Pinnickinnick Mountain
* See All
* Sewell Mountain
* Socrates Mountain
* Tallery Mountain
* Twin Sugars
* Ugly Mountain
* Viney Mountain
* Weaver Knob

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