Allegheny Front

From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia

The Allegheny Front is the generally well-defined eastern edge of the Allegheny Plateau of eastern West Virginia, western Maryland, and central Pennsylvania. Many of the highest peaks of the Allegheny Mountains are located along the front, including the highest point in each state.

An almost unbroken wall of mountain rising more than 4,000 feet, the front follows the general trend of the Appalachian Mountains northwest to southeast for more than 160 miles. It arises south of the Potomac River near Cumberland, Maryland, and trends through Mineral, Grant, Tucker, Pendleton, Randolph, Pocohontas, Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers, Raleigh, and Mercer counties in West Virginia, often forming the borders between counties.

West Virginia's highest elevation, Spruce Knob, and scenic Dolly Sods both lie along the crest of the front. Southward, it is also known as Spruce Mountain. The front marks the division of the Allegheny Plateau, to the west, and the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Province, to the east. Much of Allegheny Front is also part of the Appalachian or Eastern Continental Divide. At its southernmost, the front has been more highly eroded by the Meadow, Greenbrier, and New rivers.

Topo Map (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.22306&lon=-79.19917) showing summit area on the Allegheny Front