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2013 Map of Thornton Gap

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

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Skyline Dr winds along the crest of the Blue Ridge, serving as the central axis for this 2013 survey of Shenandoah National Park. The landscape is defined by its dramatic mountain passes, most notably Thornton Gap, where Route 211 crosses the ridge near the Panorama site. The map records the network of high-altitude shelters and overlooks that facilitate travel through this protected wilderness, including Elkwallow Shelter, Pass Mountain Shelter, and the Byrds Nest Number 4 structure.

Deep hollows and family-named ridges flank the central spine, revealing a terrain carved by the Thornton River and the Hazel River. Features like Jewell Hollow, Frazier Hollow, and Tutwiler Hollow underscore the historic human connection to these steep ravines before the park's establishment. For those tracking the geography of the Blue Ridge, the survey marks prominent peaks such as Marys Rock, The Pinnacle, and Oventop Mountain, alongside specialized recreational sites like the Piedmont Picnic Area.