1994 Map of Chester Gap

About this map

Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail wind along the spine of the Blue Ridge in this mid-1990s depiction of the Virginia highlands. The map captures the interface between the protected wilderness of Shenandoah National Park and the small agricultural and residential enclaves that border it. To the east, the National Zoological Park Conservation & Research Center occupies a significant portion of the landscape near Arco. Historically significant pathways are highlighted by numerous gaps in the ridgeline, including Lands Run Gap and Chester Gap. The terrain is marked by family legacies and early settlement markers such as Williams Cem and old milling sites like Boyds Mill. Water systems like Gooney Run and the headwaters of the Jordan River define the local drainage patterns, flowing away from the high peaks of Mount Marshall and Compton Peak.