Maintop Mountain

Maintop Mountain is a mountain in Nelson County, Virginia. The mountain is a peak on a spur off the main Blue Ridge Mountains, about 2 miles (3 km) east of Elk Pond Mountain, and about 3.5 miles (5.5 km) west of The Priest. The mountain is located in the George Washington National Forest.

Maintop Mountain
Maintop Mountain is located in Virginia
Maintop Mountain
Maintop Mountain
Highest point
Elevation1,235 meters (4,050 ft)[1]
Prominence180 m (600 ft)[2]
Coordinates37°49′49″N 79°07′20″W[3]
Geography
LocationNelson County, Virginia, U.S.
Parent rangeBlue Ridge Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Massies Mill

Maintop Mountain stands within the watershed of the Tye River, which drains into the James River. The northwest side of Maintop Mountain drains into Mill Creek, thence into the South Fork of the Tye River. The northeast side of the mountain drains into the Maidenhead Branch of the South Fork. The southeast side drains into Shoe Creek, thence into the Piney River and the Tye River. The southwest side drains into the Louisa Spring Branch of the North Fork of the Piney River.

The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170-mile (3,500-km) National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, currently runs across the summit of Maintop Mountain. After a trail relocation scheduled to start in May 2009, the AT will follow a less steep route and pass below the summit.[4]

Maintop is a popular local destination because of the view from Spy Rock,[5] a spur located about a quarter mile from the summit. Spy Rock can be reached by a steep mile and a half hike from a state fish hatchery in Montebello, Virginia[6]

Notes
  1. Mountain summit between 4,040- and 4,080-ft contours.
  2. Key col at 37°50′N 79°8′W between 3,440- and 3,480-ft contours.
  3. "Maintop Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  4. "Virginia Hiker," May/June 2009, viewed May 23, 2009 at "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2009-05-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Spy Rock
  6. Appalachian Trail Conference,Appalachian Trail Guide: Central Virginia, First Edition, revised. Harper's Ferry, WV: 2001
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