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1994 Map of Thornton Gap

Name: 1994 Topographic Map of Thornton Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1997
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1997

About this map

The Blue Ridge spine serves as the physical and administrative divide for this high-elevation landscape, where the borders of Page, Rappahannock, and Madison Counties meet. Centered on the passage at Thornton Gap, the map documents the established infrastructure of Shenandoah National Park in the mid-1990s. The serpentine path of Skyline Drive follows the crest, providing access to numerous overlooks like Jewell Hollow Overlook and Thornton Hollow Overlook.

Wilderness recreation is well-defined by the Appalachian Trail as it winds past landmarks such as Marys Rock and The Pinnacle. While much of the land is protected forest, traces of older settlement patterns remain visible in the lower elevations, particularly near the Morning Star community and the network of deep hollows like Shaver Hollow and Jenkins Hollow. These drainages feed the headwaters of the Thornton River and Hazel River, illustrating the complex watershed that defines the eastern slope of the mountains.