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South Mountain (Maryland and Pennsylvania)
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South Mountain is the northern extension of the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Maryland and Pennsylvania. From the Potomac River near Knoxville, Maryland in the south, to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania in the north, the long range separates the Hagerstown and Cumberland Valleys from the piedmont regions of the two states. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses the entire length of the mountain's crest.
h Mountain begins at the Potomac River as a low, narrow ridge, barely one mile wide and only 1,200 feet above sea level at its crest.
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Encyclopedia
South Mountain is the northern extension of the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Maryland and Pennsylvania. From the Potomac River near Knoxville, Maryland in the south, to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania in the north, the long range separates the Hagerstown and Cumberland Valleys from the piedmont regions of the two states. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses the entire length of the mountain's crest.
Geography
South Mountain begins at the Potomac River as a low, narrow ridge, barely one mile wide and only 1,200 feet above sea level at its crest. Beyond the Potomac River in Virginia, the ridge continues as Short Hill Mountain for about 12 miles before subsiding near the town of Hillsboro, Virginia. South Mountain in Maryland gradually grows higher and wider towards the north. Near the Pennsylvania border, the mountain merges with the hills of the parallel Catoctin Mountain range to the east and becomes more like a low mountain range than a single crest. North of U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania, the South Mountain highlands reach their greatest width, over 12 miles, and several more summits top 2,000 feet. The mountain then turns more to the east and becomes a series of small rocky hills between Mount Holly Springs and the northeastern end of the mountain at Dillsburg.
Major summits
Maryland
From south to north:
- Lambs Knoll, 1,758 feet (536 meters) above sea level
- Monument Knob, 1,540 ft (470 m)
- Bartman Hill,
- Pine Knob, 1,714 ft (522 m)
- Buzzard Knob,
- Quirauk Mountain, 2,150 ft (655 m) - highest point on South Mountain in Maryland
Pennsylvania
From south to north, then east:
- Mount Dunlop, 1,720 ft (524 m)
- Monterey Peak, 1,663 ft (507 m)
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- Wildcat Rocks, 1,772 ft (540 m)
- Virginia Rock, 1,818 ft (554 m)
- Buzzard Peak/Chimney Rocks, 1,946 ft (593 m)
- Snowy Mountain, 2,090 ft (637 m)
- Green Ridge, 1,980 ft (604 m)
- Mount Newman, 1,784 ft (544 m)
- Piney Mountain, 1,904 ft (580 m)
- Farha's Glorious Chach, 1,784 ft (544m)
- Big Pine Flat Ridge, 2,100 ft (640 m) - highest point on South Mountain in Pennsylvania
- ,
- East Big Flat Ridge, 2,070 ft (631 m)
- Mount Holly, 1,504 ft (458 m)
- Long Mountain, 1,583 ft (483 m)
- Center Point Knob, 1,075 ft (328 m)
- White Rocks, 1,105 ft (337 m)
Gaps
Maryland
From south to north:
- Crampton's Gap, 930 ft (283 m), between Burkittsville and Gapland
- Fox Gap, 1,070 ft (326 m), between Middletown and Boonsboro
- Turner's Gap, 1,071 ft (326 m), between Middleton and Boonsboro, traversed by Alternate U.S. Route 40
- , 1,250 ft (381 m), traversed by Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40
- Harman Gap (), 1,570 ft (479 m), east of Cavetown
Pennsylvania
From south to north:
State reservations
Maryland
From south to north:
Pennsylvania
From south to north:
History
The Battle of South Mountain was fought on the mountain at Crampton's, Fox and Turner's gaps during the Maryland Campaign in 1862. In 1863, military engagements of the Gettysburg Campaign on the mountain range included the Fight at Monterey Gap near the Mason-Dixon line.
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