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1995 Map of Sharp Knob

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of Sharp Knob
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

Monongahela National Forest dominates this highland landscape at the intersection of Webster, Randolph, and Pocahontas counties. The terrain is defined by the high ridges of Fork Lick Mountain and Mingo Mountain, where numerous strip mines are etched into the slopes above Bergoo Creek and the Elk River. The map captures a transition in water drainage, where the Gauley Mountains separate the headwaters of the Gauley River forks from the northeastward-flowing Leatherwood Creek system.

Industrial activity is concentrated along the northern ridges, while the southern reaches show a more preserved wilderness character within the Marlinton Gauley Ranger District. Notable landmarks like Sharp Knob and Buck Knob rise above the deep valleys of North Fork Gauley River and South Fork Gauley River. The inclusion of the Gauley Mountain Trail provides a detailed look at the historic access routes used for forest management and resource extraction in this West Virginia backcountry.