Snake Mountain (North Carolina – Tennessee)

Snake Mountain is a mountain located along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, east of the community of Zionville, in the southeastern United States. It is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and includes parts of Watauga County, North Carolina, and Johnson County, Tennessee. It has two peaks, the higher of which reaches an elevation of 5,564 feet (1,696 m). The lower peak, at 5,518 feet (1,682 m), is Johnson County's high point.[3][4]

Snake Mountain
Snake Mountain, viewed from Trade, Tennessee
Highest point
Elevation5,564 ft (1,696 m)[1]
Prominence2,240 ft (680 m)[2]
Coordinates36°19′52″N 81°42′27″W / 36.33111°N 81.70750°W / 36.33111; -81.70750[1]
Geography
Snake Mountain is located in North Carolina
Snake Mountain
Snake Mountain
Location in North Carolina
LocationWatauga County, North Carolina, U.S.
Parent rangeBlue Ridge Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Zionville

The mountain generates several feeder streams to the North Fork New River (via Maine Branch[5]), South Fork New River (via Meat Camp Creek[6]) and Watauga River (via Cove Creek[7]). Several ridges form from Snake Mountain, with the main being Snake Mountain Ridge,[8] mark the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Also there is Sugartree Ridge[9] and Hessian Ridge,[10] which are smaller outcrops west of Snake Mountain. Several gaps also surround the mountain: Elk Horn Gap,[11] Pottertown Gap,[12] Rich Mountain Gap[13] and State Line Gap.[14]

Historically, both the Old Buffalo Trail and Daniel Boone Trail converge at the foot of the mountain, at Zionville.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Snake Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  2. ^ "Snake Mountain - Peakbagger.com". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  3. ^ "East Tennessee County Trip Reports," County Highpointers website. Accessed: 27 September 2015.
  4. ^ Joseph H. Mickey, Jr., "Fishery Management Activities on the New River Drainage in North Carolina," New River Symposium, 1984. Accessed: 27 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Maine Branch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  6. ^ "Meat Camp Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  7. ^ "Cove Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  8. ^ "Snake Mountain Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  9. ^ "Sugartree Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  10. ^ "Hessian Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  11. ^ "Elk Horn Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  12. ^ "Pottertown Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  13. ^ "Rich Mountain Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  14. ^ "State Line Gap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  15. ^ Sakowski, Carolyn (2011). Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads. John F. Blair. ISBN 978-0-89587-559-4.