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2016 Map of Thornton Gap

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Thornton Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Sperryville sits at the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, serving as a gateway to the high elevations of Shenandoah National Park. The landscape is dominated by the steep ridges and deep hollows that define this section of the Virginia highlands, including Thornton Hollow, Frazier Hollow, and Buck Hollow. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds along the crest of the range, crossing several notable high points and passes such as Beahms Gap, Elkwallow Gap, and the prominent Thornton Gap.

Tracing the drainage patterns of the region, the Thornton River and its tributaries, including the N Fork Thornton River and Butterwood Br, flow eastward from the mountains toward the settlement of Sperryville. To the west, the terrain drops into Page Valley, where the community of Morning Star and Morning Star Lake are located. Significant landmarks such as Marys Rock, the Little Devils Stairs, and Rattlesnake Point offer specific points of interest for those studying the topographic character and historic path of Skyline Dr through this protected landscape.