# Keyes Gap

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Mountain pass in West Virginia, United States

Keyes Gap Location of Keyes Gap in Virginia, on the border with West Virginia Elevation 906 ft (276 m)[1] Traversed by SR 9/ WV 9 Location Loudoun County, Virginia / Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States Range Blue Ridge Mountains Appalachian Mountains Coordinates 39°16′N 77°46′W / 39.26°N 77.76°W / 39.26; -77.76[2]

**Keyes Gap** or **Keyes' Gap** is a [wind gap](/source/Wind_gap_(geographical_feature)) in the [Blue Ridge Mountain](/source/Blue_Ridge_Mountain) on the border of [Loudoun County, Virginia](/source/Loudoun_County%2C_Virginia) and [Jefferson County, West Virginia](/source/Jefferson_County%2C_West_Virginia). The gap is traversed by [Virginia State Route 9](/source/Virginia_State_Route_9)/[West Virginia Route 9](/source/West_Virginia_Route_9). The [Appalachian Trail](/source/Appalachian_Trail) also crosses the gap.

## History

Originally known as **Vestal's Gap**, the 906 feet (276 m) gap is one of the lowest crossings of the Blue Ridge in Virginia. During the [colonial period](/source/Colonial_America) the main road between [Alexandria](/source/Alexandria%2C_Virginia) and [Winchester](/source/Winchester%2C_Virginia) ran through the gap. As such, part of General [Edward Braddock](/source/Edward_Braddock)'s army under [George Washington](/source/George_Washington) crossed through the gap on their way to [Fort Duquesne](/source/Fort_Duquesne) during the [French and Indian War](/source/French_and_Indian_War).

By 1820, the main route west became the newly completed [Snickers Gap Turnpike](/source/Snickers_Gap_Turnpike) which crossed the Blue Ridge to the south at [Snickers Gap](/source/Snickers_Gap), and Keyes Gap lost its prominence. Despite this, Keyes Gap was still of strategic importance during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), as it provided an alternate "back route" from Virginia to the key point of [Harpers Ferry](/source/Harpers_Ferry).

## See also

- [Vestal's Gap Road and Lanesville Historic District](/source/Vestal's_Gap_Road_and_Lanesville_Historic_District)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The National Map: Elevation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130716011901/http://ned.usgs.gov/). *usgs.gov*. Archived from [the original](https://ned.usgs.gov/) on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [GNIS](https://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=139:3:377610517500378::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1560594%2CKeys%20Gap)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Keys Gap](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Keys_Gap).

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