| Backbone Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Marker atHoye Crest, the high point ofMaryland | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | 3.92 mi (6.31 km) west ofThomas,West Virginia, Tucker County,West Virginia |
| Elevation | 3,662 ft (1,116 m) |
| Coordinates | 39°08′50″N79°34′12″W / 39.14722°N 79.57000°W /39.14722; -79.57000 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 39 mi (63 km)[1] |
| Geography | |
  Backbone Mountain Location of Backbone Mountain in Maryland and West Virginia | |
| Country | United States |
| States |
|
| Counties | |
| Parent range | Allegheny Mountains |
Backbone Mountain is aridge of theAllegheny Mountains of the centralAppalachian Mountain Range. It is situated in the U.S. states ofWest Virginia andMaryland and forms a portion of theEastern Continental Divide. Within the state of Maryland, Backbone Mountain reaches an elevation of 3,360 feet or 1,024 meters, making it Maryland's highest point.
Backbone Mountain stretches approximately 39 miles (63 km) southwest to northeast, from theBlack Fork nearHambleton inTucker County, West Virginia to theSavage River Reservoir inGarrett County,Maryland.[1]
TheEastern Continental Divide follows part of the mountain in Maryland. The headwaters ofYoughiogheny River, in the watershed of theMississippi River, lie just northwest of the mountain, whereas the headwaters of the North Branch of thePotomac River lie just south of the mountain, along theWest Virginia-Maryland border. In West Virginia, the Eastern Continental Divide diverts to the east, with both sides of the mountain draining into theBlack Fork.
The ridge is crossed twice byU.S. Route 219, once north ofParsons and again nearSilver Lake. It is also crossed byU.S. Route 50 east ofRed House, Maryland, which is marked by aMaryland State Highway Administration sign.
Located just inside of Maryland along Backbone Mountain isHoye-Crest. At an elevation of 3,360 feet (1,020 m), it is the highest point in the state ofMaryland. The location, named for Captain Charles Hoye, founder of theGarrett County Historical Society, has a marker and offers a view of theNorth Branch Potomac River valley to the east. The location is accessible via a path leading fromU.S. Route 219 to the west.
The southern end of Backbone Mountain was the location ofWest Virginia's firstfire tower.[2] The first tower was built in 1922 by the state and subsequently transferred toMonongahela 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. From the tower it is possible to view the surrounding area, includingCheat River watershed,Parsons,Blackwater Canyon,Canaan Mountain and theOtter Creek Wilderness.
Crabtree Woods, on the northwest slopes of Backbone Mountain, is in thePotomac-Garrett State Forest.[3] It constitutes Maryland's largest surviving remnant ofold-growth forest: over 500 acres (2.0 km2)[4] of mixed Appalachian hardwoods (sugar maple,red oak,basswood andcucumber tree).[5]
.svg)
