Hawksbill Mountain

Summary

Hawksbill Mountain is a mountain with an elevation of 4,050 feet (1,234 m).[1] Marking the border between Madison County and Page County in Virginia, the summit of Hawksbill Mountain is the highest point in Shenandoah National Park, as well as the highest point in both Madison and Page counties.

Hawksbill Mountain
Hawksbill Mountain from the north
Highest point
Elevation4,050 feet (1,234 m)[1]
Prominence2,148 ft (655 m)[2]
ListingList of mountains in Virginia
Coordinates38°33′19″N 78°23′42″W / 38.55528°N 78.39500°W / 38.55528; -78.39500[1]
Geography
Hawksbill Mountain is located in Virginia
Hawksbill Mountain
Hawksbill Mountain
Madison / Page counties, Virginia, United States
Parent rangeAppalachian Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Big Meadows
Geology
Mountain typemetamorphic basalt, more commonly known as greenstone
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

The north face of Hawksbill Peak is a 2,500-foot (760 m) drop into Timber Hollow, which is the largest elevation change in the park. The summit is one of the few places in Shenandoah National Park where one can find balsam fir, a tree more typical of northern New England and southeast Canada.

The National Park Service has constructed a stone observation platform at the summit. Byrd's Nest No. 2, one of a series of shelters built in the park by Senator Harry Byrd, is nearby. Hawksbill peak is also the site of a peregrine falcon restoration project. The summit of Hawksbill Mountain can be reached by a short hike from a trailhead located at the Upper Hawksbill parking area, just off of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. A number of other hiking trails lead to the summit of Hawksbill, while the Appalachian Trail goes around and about 500 ft (150 m) in elevation below the summit.[3]

Hawksbill Mountain view
360-degree panorama from the top of Hawksbill Mountain

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Hawksbill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "Hawksbill Mountain, Virginia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  3. ^ Shenandoah National Park (Map). 1:75000. Trails Illustrated. National Geographic. 2007.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Hawksbill Mountain at Wikimedia Commons
  • Shenandoah National Park
  • TopoQuest Quad map