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2013 Map of Swift Run Gap

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Swift Run Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Shenandoah National Park dominates this portion of the Blue Ridge, where the historic Skyline Dr winds through high mountain passes like Swift Run Gap and Simmons Gap. This 2013 survey illustrates the rugged interface between protected federal lands and the rural valley communities of Rockingham and Greene Counties. The mountain landscape is dotted with numerous hollows and gaps that historically dictated travel and settlement patterns, such as Bacon Hollow and Smith Roach Gap.

Small settlements like Beldor, Saint George, and Dyke anchor the lowlands, connected by the drainage of the Roach River and Swift Run. Genealogical interest is found in the scattered missions and named landmarks like Saint James Mission and the South River Shelter. The map also captures several overlooks, including Sandy Bottom Overlook and Bacon Hollow Overlook, which highlight the importance of the tourism and conservation economy to this modern Appalachian corridor.