The summit has two sharp peaks that look like horns, which gave it its name. Virginia rises from the low estuaries of Chesapeake Bay west to several provinces of the Appalachian Mountains: the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Valley-and-Ridge and Appalachian Plateaus. One… Don’t expect any views, it is too forested, but enjoy the streams, the ancient trees, the wildflowers, and the serenity. There is no real tree line, as is common in the South, although such bare mountain peaks are generally not that common. It does not offer any exciting rock scrambling or beautiful scenery, but once you reach its two lower summits, you will get breathtaking views of the Piedmont, Shenandoah Valley, and many steep ridges of the Appalachians. The trail to the summit runs over two interesting rock formations that provide fantastic views. The mountains also provide the 5,700 feet of elevation range along this breathtaking route. Source: Library of Congress, A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia (by Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, 1755), GLOBE: A Gallery of High Resolution Images, Wachapreague 7.5x7.t topographic quadrangle, Global Land One-km Base Elevation Project (GLOBE) database, http://climbing.about.com/od/mountainclimbing/a/RenoHill.htm, http://www.usgs.gov/faq/categories/9799/2973, http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/peaks-otter, http://www.cohp.org/records/mean_elevation/mean_elevations.html, http://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1499185, A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia, Rocks and Ridges - The Geology of Virginia, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests -. Winter is best, since there are no bugs and there is less undergrowth. Kayaking ideas: Lake Geneva Zip Line, Monterey, Ocala, Las Vegas, Santa Cruz kayak, Santa Cruz zip line, San Diego, Top things to see near me, beaches, cruises, underrated tourist attractions downtown, travel blog, family weekend breaks: CO, Seattle Flagstaff, Napa, Portland, MN, Winston-Salem, Scottsdale, Dallas, SC. Source: US Geological Survey (USGS), Whitetop 7.5x7.5 topographic quadrangle (2013). The vista in all directions is so wonderful that many hikers do not bother continuing to the true summit, which is covered with trees. High Knob is known as the location of the Omega Cave System, with the deepest cave this side of the Mississippi at 1,263 feet. Most are close to lakes, rivers and fishing streams. With an elevation of 3,971 feet, Buffalo Mountain is protected by the Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve. The summit consists of spectacular white rocks. all are along I 81 or not too far off. And be sure to block off some down time on your itinerary; often, the most memorable part of a stay in the mountains involves just sitting still and taking in the beauty of Virginia’s rolling landscape. Today, the US Geological Survey uses one classification, "summit," for the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), and defines it as:2, Paul Larson at Southern Utah University has suggested another classification tool:3, For many years, Thomas Jefferson and other Virginians thought the highest spot in the colony/state of Virginia was the Peaks of Otter, in part because Flat Top and Sharp Top stood out as distinct peaks compared to the adjacent ridges. The roots of distilling in America go deep in the Appalachias, so of course you will still find some of the best distilleries in the country in Virginia’s mountains. At 4,054 feet, Salt Pond Mountain is a large mountain that straddles the high country in the Mountain Lake Wilderness Area close to the border between Virginia and West Virginia. Walker Mountain is famous for its private lookout tower located on VA 52, a part of the Big Walker National Scenic Byway. To be more specific to a region, the Appalachian Mountains are divided further into smaller mountain chains. You’ll often hear Virginians refer to the mountains as the Appalachian Mountains, and while this is correct, the Appalachian chain actually runs down most of the eastern North American coast. What makes the Virginia's mountains so special is that they are richly forested, so the hikes are shady and pleasant, the trails are surrounded by wildflowers, and occasional rocky outcrops provide lovely views of the surrounding areas. It was easier to float tobacco, wheat, hides, lumber, and other agricultural products down the Piedmont rivers to ports on the Chesapeake Bay, than to cross the Blue Ridge and carry goods to market through the mountain passes.