Chester Gap
Elevation1,339 ft (408 m)
Traversed by U.S. Route 522
LocationVirginia, United States
RangeBlue Ridge Mountains
Coordinates38.853, -78.135

Chester Gap, sometimes referred to as Happy Creek Gap for the creek that runs down its western slope, is a wind gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the border of Rappahannock County, Fauquier County and Warren County in Virginia. The gap is traversed by U.S. Route 522.[1] The Appalachian trail also passes across the gap, with a trailhead at the gap.[2]

Geography

At 1,339 feet (408 m) the gap is approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) below the adjacent ridge line and 500 feet (150 m) above the surrounding countryside. Chester Gap is only 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the much lower Manassas Gap, the two are separated by the 2,388 ft (728 m) High Knob peak. The census-designated place of Chester Gap is located within and immediately south of the gap. Just to the west of the gap is the northern end of Shenandoah National Park. Immediately north of the gap is the town of Front Royal.

References

  1. ^ Grymes, Charles A. "Wind Gaps and Stream Piracy". virginiaplaces.org. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  2. ^ Burnham, Bill; Burnham, Mary (2004). Hiking Virginia : a guide to Virginia's greatest hiking adventures (2nd ed.). Helena, Mont.: Falcon Press. pp. 318–319. ISBN 0762727470.

38°51′43″N 78°07′49″W / 38.86194°N 78.13028°W / 38.86194; -78.13028

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