Back Allegheny Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Back Allegheny Mountain |
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View of Back Allegheny Mountain from Cass Railroad's Whittaker Station
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Bald Knob (Pocahontas County, WV) |
| Elevation | 4,843 ft (1,476 m) |
| Geography | |
 Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Pocahontas County, WV |
| Country | United States |
| Range coordinates | 38°29′30″N 79°54′35″W / 38.49167°N 79.90972°W |
| Topo map | USGS
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Back Allegheny Mountain is a long mountain ridge located in eastern West Virginia. Think of a ridge as a long, narrow hilltop or mountain range. It's part of the Shavers Fork Mountain Complex. This complex is a group of mountains within the larger Allegheny Range. The Alleghenies are themselves part of the huge Appalachian mountain system.
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Where is Back Allegheny Mountain?
Back Allegheny Mountain stretches about 18 miles (29 km) (29 km) from north to south. It is about 8 miles (13 km) (13 km) wide from east to west. This means it covers an area of about 76 square miles (200 km2) (197 km²).
The mountain rises steeply from the Greenbrier River valley. This valley is in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The mountain runs almost side-by-side with Cheat Mountain, which is to its west.
Highest Points
The highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain is Bald Knob. It reaches an amazing 4,843 feet (1,476 m) (1,476 m) high! Bald Knob is about 5 miles (8.0 km) (8 km) north of the Snowshoe Ski Resort.
The second highest spot on the mountain is Hosterman Benchmark West. It stands at 4,757 feet (1,450 m) (1,450 m) tall. Hosterman is about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) (5.3 km) north of Bald Knob.
North of U.S. Route 250, near Durbin, the same rock formation that makes Back Allegheny Mountain continues. It goes north for another 35 miles (56 km) (56 km) as Shavers Mountain.
Protecting and Enjoying the Mountain
Most of Back Allegheny Mountain is protected land. It is part of the Monongahela National Forest. This means the natural beauty and wildlife are kept safe for everyone. The very top of Bald Knob is owned by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Forests and Wildlife
Back Allegheny Mountain and other nearby mountains are famous for their forests. They have many red spruce trees. These trees grow well in high places. The mountains are also home to other special plants and animals that like high altitudes. The entire area of Back Allegheny is very important for the environment.
Fun Activities
Bald Knob is the end point for the 11-mile (18 km) long Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. This train ride takes visitors up to an elevation of 4,730 feet (1,440 m) (1,442 m). This spot is about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) (0.4 km) north of the mountain's summit. From an overlook platform, visitors can see the beautiful Greenbrier Valley. On clear days, you can even see all the way into Virginia, which is about 12 miles (19 km) (19 km) away!
Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort is also located here. It sits where Back Allegheny Mountain meets Cheat Mountain. This area is basically where both mountains end in the south. It's a popular spot for skiing and other winter sports.
