Humpback Rocks is a massive
greenstone outcropping near the peak of Humpback Mountain in the
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the world, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsy ...
of
Augusta County
Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its count ...
and
Nelson County,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, with a summit elevation of . The rock formation is so named for the visual effect of a "hump" it creates on the western face of the mountain.
Located six miles (10 km) south of the northern entrance to the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenan ...
near
Waynesboro, Virginia
Waynesboro (formerly Flack) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is a principal city of the Staunton-Waynesboro Metropolitan Statistical Area. Waynesboro is located in the Shenandoah Valley and is surrounded by Augusta Co ...
, Humpback Rocks stands out from many other mountain summits in the Blue Ridge due to its exposed rocky summit, in contrast to the heavily vegetated peaks of surrounding mountains. The location features a well-maintained trail and visitor's center.
Geology
As is the case for most of the surrounding mountains, such as
Old Rag Mountain, Humpback Rock is underlain by an enormous granite formation created during the
Grenville Orogeny
The Grenville orogeny was a long-lived Mesoproterozoic mountain-building event associated with the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. Its record is a prominent orogenic belt which spans a significant portion of the North American continent, f ...
on the ocean floor about a billion years ago. About 400 million years later, during the
Catoctin Formation
The Catoctin Formation is a geologic formation that expands through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It dates back to the Precambrian and is closely associated with the Harpers Formation, Weverton Formation, and the Loudoun Formation. The ...
, basaltic magma was deposited, forming a layer of
greenstone over the granite. Over time, sand and rock sedimented on the ocean floor, forming
quartzite
Quartzite is a hard, non- foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone.Essentials of Geology, 3rd Edition, Stephen Marshak, p 182 Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tec ...
and
sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates ...
deposits. Finally, sedimentation of shells and skeletons of
foraminifera
Foraminifera (; Latin for "hole bearers"; informally called "forams") are single-celled organisms, members of a phylum or class of amoeboid protists characterized by streaming granular ectoplasm for catching food and other uses; and commonly ...
resulted in deposition of a layer of
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
. Approximately 700 million years after the Grenville Orogeny, the Iapetus Ocean began to close, resulting in the
Alleghenian Orogeny
The Alleghanian orogeny or Appalachian orogeny is one of the geological mountain-forming events that formed the Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Mountains. The term and spelling Alleghany orogeny was originally proposed by H.P. Woodward in 195 ...
, where slabs of granite and rock were transported westward and eventually thrust up over the limestone bed around it, forming Humpback Rock and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Humpback Gap Overlook
From 1851 until the early 20th century, wagoners hauling cargo used the bygone road Howardsville Turnpike to go between Howardsville and the
Shenandoah Valley. Often the travelers camped at Humpback Gap. Nearby are the of Humpback Rocks Recreation Area. Notable is the rock fence, reputedly built by slaves of a plantation owner, that separates the gap and Greenstone Overlook. Just beyond, at milepost 5.8, are the Humpback Rocks.
The early European settlers of the
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...
forged a living from the native materials so abundant around them.
Hickory,
chestnut and
oak trees
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
provided nuts for food, logs for building and
tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...
for curing hides, while the rocks were put to use as foundations and chimneys for the houses and in stone fences to control wandering livestock. Many self-sufficient farms sprang up in the Humpback Mountain area.
Today, visitors can tour a collection of 19th-century farm buildings. The Mountain Farm trail provides access to the cabin and various outbuildings. The area also houses a visitor center with new exhibits, a picnic area, and trails.
Hiking
Overview
Hiking Humpback Rocks is a relatively short hike following a trail loop. With a roughly 45 minute hike to ascend to the peak, and a 20–25 minute descent, the trail ranks as one of the shorter hikes along the Blue Ridge. The peak affords a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding terrain. To the north you can see into the southern section of
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park (often ) is an American national park that encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The park is long and narrow, with the Shenandoah River and its broad valley to the west, and the ...
, to the east a patchwork of farms, to the southwest thick woods and mountain ridges of the
George Washington National Forest
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is an administrative entity combining two U.S. National Forests into one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States. The forests cover of land in the Appalachian Mountai ...
.
Hikers may continue to follow the trail for , passing along the top of a cliff with views to the south and east before descending to a blue blaze trail. This trail leads into the Humpback Rocks Picnic Area. The distance between Humpback Gap and the Humpback Rocks Picnic Area is .
Charlottesville VA Official Travel Website - Hotels, Events, Restaurants, Vacations - Visit Charlottesville, VA
/ref> A map of the hike and of the Humpback Gap Overlook is available through th
Blue Ridge Parkway website
Continuing past Humpback Rocks itself, the summit of Humpback Mountain is only a few minutes further. The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian ...
passes a short distance to the north, at milepost 6.
Directions
The Humpback Rocks Visitors Center is located at mile marker 5.8, six miles south of the Rockfish Gap Interchange of I-64
Interstate 64 (I-64) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Eastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. Route 40 (US 40), and US 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchang ...
and US 250
U.S. Route 250 (US 250) is a route of the United States Numbered Highway System, and is a spur of U.S. Route 50. It currently runs for from Richmond, Virginia to Sandusky, Ohio. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohi ...
. It is most easily accessed by either one of these two highways. Head south on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenan ...
for to reach the Humpback Rocks Visitors Center, or continue another to arrive at the Humpback Gap parking area on the left.
A map of the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenan ...
including Humpback Rocks can be found at th
Texas Library webpage
Camping
Camping is available nearby in the Sherando Lake Recreation Area in the George Washington National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway a few miles south. Coming from the north on the Appalachian Trail there is an AT shelter called the Paul C. Wolfe shelter.
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian ...
can also be accessed from the Humpback Gap parking area. Southbound hikers can reach it by continuing south on the Humpback Rocks trail. Northbound hikers can reach it taking the one-mile (1.6-km) blue blazed path at the northern end of the parking lot, or the one-mile (1.6-km) white blazed path just off of the Howardsville Turnpike.
External links
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
Blue Ridge Parkway info
Humpback Rocks - HikingUpward
References
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Mountains of Shenandoah National Park
Blue Ridge Mountains
Protected areas of Augusta County, Virginia
Protected areas of Nelson County, Virginia
Tourist attractions in Augusta County, Virginia
Tourist attractions in Nelson County, Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway
Mountains of Augusta County, Virginia
Mountains of Nelson County, Virginia