Great North Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great North Mountain |
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_in_High_View,_Hampshire_County,_West_Virginia.jpg)
View of Great North Mountain from High View, West Virginia
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,293 ft (1,004 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Virginia and West Virginia, U.S. |
| Parent range | Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians |
| Topo map | USGS Wardensville |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Drive, hike |
Great North Mountain is a long mountain ridge in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. It stretches for about 50 miles (80 km). This mountain is part of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, a group of mountains known for their long, parallel ridges.
Great North Mountain is located west of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. It is also east of the Allegheny Mountains and the Cacapon River in West Virginia.
Where is Great North Mountain?
Great North Mountain runs from the southwest to the northeast. It starts near the North Fork Shenandoah River in Rockingham County, Virginia. The mountain ends near U.S. Route 522 in Frederick County, Virginia.
The first 7 miles (11 km) of the mountain in the south are known as Church Mountain. For most of its length, Great North Mountain forms the border between Virginia and West Virginia. This border runs along the mountain in two separate parts.
The mountain reaches its highest point at Mill Mountain. This peak is 3,293 feet (1,004 meters) tall. Mill Mountain is on the border between Hardy County, West Virginia, and Shenandoah County, Virginia. It is also located within the George Washington National Forest.
You can cross the mountain on U.S. Route 48. Also, West Virginia and Virginia routes 55 go between Wardensville, West Virginia, and Strasburg, Virginia.
What's in a Name?
Mountains can sometimes have different names over time. The Geographic Names Information System lists a few names for Great North Mountain. These include:
- Big North Mountain
- Greater North Mountain
- North Mountain
The United States Board on Geographic Names made official decisions about the mountain's name. In 1941, they chose "Big North Mountain." Then, in 1967, they decided on "Great North Mountain." These changes helped people tell this mountain apart from another North Mountain farther north.
Long ago, during colonial times, some people on the frontier called Great North Mountain "The Devil's Backbone." This interesting nickname was even shown on a map published in London in 1755.
Fun Things to Do and See
A large part of Great North Mountain is inside the George Washington National Forest. This forest is a great place for outdoor activities! You can find many trails for hiking and hunting here. One popular trail is the Seven Springs trail. Other trails lead to an amazing viewpoint on Big Schloss, which is another peak in the area.
At the base of the mountain, near the small town of Orkney Springs, Virginia, is Shrine Mont. This is a special place for retreats and conferences. It is owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. Shrine Mont includes the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration and The Virginia House. The Virginia House used to be known as the Orkney Springs Hotel.
