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2019 Map of Thornton Gap

Name: 2019 Topographic Map of Thornton Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2019
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2019

About this map

Shenandoah National Park dominates the landscape in this 2019 survey of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the crest of the range forms the boundary between Page and Rappahannock counties. Central to this terrain is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which winds along the high ridges past landmarks like Marys Rock and through Thornton Gap. This gap serves as a critical passage for travelers, as it has for generations, providing a corridor between Page Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east.

The map reveals a network of hollows and ridges that define local life, from the settlement of Morning Star near Jewell Hollow to the rugged Little Devils Stairs. Waterways such as the Thornton River and Piney River drain the eastern slopes, while Jeremys Run flows westward. The iconic Skyline Dr provides a modern recreational spine for the region, intersecting historical paths at Beahms Gap and Elkwallow Gap.