AT at Keys Gap - West Virginia - Appalachian Trail on Waymarking.com

The Appalachian Trail crosses West Virginia State Route 9 very near to the Virginia-West Virginia state line. A parking area is located adjacent to the trail at this location.

A nearby historical marker provides the following information about Keyes Gap: "Formerly Vestal's Gap. Historic gateway through the Blue Ridge into the Shenandoah Valley. It was often used by Washington and by armies of the Blue and the Gray, 1861-65. Here passed part of Braddock's army, 1755, en route to Fort Duquesne."

The following additional information about Keyes Gap is from Wikipedia: "Keyes Gap or Keye's Gap is a wind gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain on the border of Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia. The gap is traversed by Virginia State Route 9/West Virginia State Route 9. The Appalachian Trail also crossed the gap."

"Originally known as Vestal's Gap, the 895ft (273m) gap is one of the lowest crossings of the Blue Ridge in Virginia. During the colonial period the main road between Alexandria and Winchester ran through the gap. As such part of General Edward Braddock's army under George Washington crossed through the gap on their way to Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War. By 1820, the main route west became the newly completed Leesburg and Snickers Gap turnpike which crossed the Blue Ridge at the gap of its namesake and Keyes Gap lost its prominence. Despite this the gap was still of strategic importance during the American Civil War as it provided a back route from Virginia to Harpers Ferry."

Type: Sign

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