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| Backbone Mountain | |
| Mountain | |
 Marker at Hoye Crest, the high point of Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| States |  Maryland,  West Virginia |
| Counties | Tucker WV, Preston WV, Garrett MD |
| Range | Allegheny Mountains |
| Summit | Hoye Crest in Garrett County, Maryland |
| - elevation | 3,360 ft (1,024.1 m) |
| - coordinates | |
| Highest point | 3.92 mi (6.31 km) west of Thomas, West Virginia |
| - location | Tucker County, West Virginia |
| - elevation | 3,684 ft (1,122.9 m) |
| - coordinates | |
| Length | 39 mi (63 km) [1] |
| Topo maps | USGS Mozark Mountain, Lead Mine, Davis, Table Rock, Gorman, Deer Park, Kitzmiller, Bittinger |
| Nearest city | Parsons, West Virginia |
  Location of Hoye Crest in Maryland
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Backbone Mountain is a ridge of the Allegheny Mountains of the central Appalachian Range. It is situated in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland and forms a portion of the Allegheny Front and the Eastern Continental Divide.
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Description
Backbone Mountain stretches approximately 39 miles (63 km) southwest to northeast, from the Black Fork near Hambleton, West Virginia to the Savage River Reservoir in Garrett County, Maryland.[1]
The mountain provides a boundary between two watersheds. The headwaters of Youghiogheny River, in the watershed of the Mississippi River, lie just northwest of the mountain, whereas the headwaters of the North Branch of the Potomac River lie just south of the mountain, along the West Virginia-Maryland border.
Road crossings
The ridge is crossed by twice U.S. Route 219, once north of Parsons and again near Silver Lake. It is also crossed by U.S. Route 50 east of Red House, Maryland, which is marked by a Maryland State Highway Administration sign.
Special Places
Hoye-Crest
Located just inside of Maryland along Backbone Mountain is Hoye-Crest. At an elevation of 3,360 feet (1,020 m), it is the highest point in the state of Maryland.[2] The location, named for Captain Charles Hoye of the Garrett County Historical Society, has a marker and offers a view of the North Branch Potomac River valley to the east. The location is accessible via a path leading from U.S. Route 219 to the west.
Olson Observation Tower
The southern end of Backbone Mountain was the location of West Virginia's first fire tower.[3] The first tower was built in 1922 by the state and subsequently transferred to Monongahela National Forest. In 1963, the original tower was replaced with the one currently on-site and named after Ernest B. Olson in recognition of 28 years of service in MNF fire control and conservation programs.
While the cab of the tower is not open to the public, the 133 steps leading to it are. The tower provides spectacular views of the areas including Cheat River watershed, Parsons, Blackwater Canyon, Canaan Mountain and the Otter Creek Wilderness.
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b "Backbone Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. U.S. Geological Survey (2008-06-01).
- ^ "Hoye-Crest Historical Marker". Maryland Historical Trust and Maryland State Highway Administration. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Olson Observation Tower". Monongahela National Forest. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
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