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Mountain Passes in Virginia

20 mountain passes in Virginia with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Loudoun County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Pound Gap (Bortle 2).

Top mountain passes

Cumberland GapMountain Pass
Cumberland GapLee County
Fishers GapMountain Pass
Fishers GapMadison County · 934 m
Rockfish GapMountain Pass
Rockfish GapAugusta County
Swift Run GapMountain Pass
Swift Run GapRockingham County
Jarman GapMountain Pass
Jarman GapAlbemarle County
Goshen PassMountain Pass
Goshen PassRockbridge County
Clarke's GapMountain Pass
Clarke's GapLoudoun County
McCormick GapMountain Pass
McCormick GapAlbemarle County
Pound GapMountain Pass
Pound GapWise County
New Market GapMountain Pass
New Market GapShenandoah County
Mountain Pass
Manassas GapWarren County
Mountain Pass
Ashby GapClarke County

Mountain Passes by county

All mountain passes (20)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Cumberland GapCumberland GapLee County—Harrogate5
Fishers GapShenandoahMadison County934 mStanley3
Rockfish GapShenandoahAugusta County—Waynesboro5
Swift Run GapShenandoahRockingham County—Elkton3
Jarman GapShenandoahAlbemarle County—Dooms4
Goshen PassRockbridge County—East Lexington3
Clarke's GapLoudoun County—Leesburg6
McCormick GapShenandoahAlbemarle County—Waynesboro4
Pound GapWise County—Jenkins2
New Market GapShenandoahShenandoah County—New Market3
Manassas GapWarren County—Apple Mountain Lake4
Ashby GapClarke County—Shenandoah Farms4
Maggoty GapRoanoke County—Narrows5
Snickers GapLoudoun County—Purcellville4
Thoroughfare GapFauquier County—New Baltimore5
Hillsboro GapLoudoun County—Purcellville5
Keyes GapLoudoun County—Shannondale5
Buford's GapBedford County—Blue Ridge5
Chester GapWarren County—Apple Mountain Lake4
Chadwell GapLee County947 mHarrogate3

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph mountain passes

Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.

  • Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
  • Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
  • Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
  • Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
  • Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.

Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.