Snake Mountain (North Carolina – Tennessee) Explained

Snake Mountain
Elevation Ft:5564
Prominence Ft:2240
Prominence Ref:[1]
Map:USA North Carolina
Map Size:200
Label Position:right
Location:Watauga County, North Carolina, U.S.
Range:Blue Ridge Mountains
Coordinates:36.3311°N -81.7075°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
Topo:USGS Zionville

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 5564feet. The lower peak, at 5518feet, is Johnson County's high point.[3] [4]

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]

Notes and References

  1. 7803 . Snake Mountain - Peakbagger.com . 2011-09-10.
  2. 1022682 . Snake Mountain . 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. 989249. Maine Branch. 2011-09-10.
  6. 989698. Meat Camp Creek. 2011-09-10.
  7. 1010504. Cove Creek. 2011-09-10.
  8. 1311738. Snake Mountain Ridge. 2011-09-10.
  9. 995664. Sugartree Ridge. 2011-09-10.
  10. 1287515. Hessian Ridge. 2011-09-10.
  11. 984700. Elk Horn Gap. 2011-09-10.
  12. 992754. Pottertown Gap. 2011-09-10.
  13. 1000711. Rich Mountain Gap. 2011-09-10.
  14. 995432. State Line Gap. 2011-09-10.
  15. Book: Sakowski, Carolyn . Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads . John F. Blair . 2011 . 978-0-89587-559-4.