Cumberland Mountains
The Cumberland Mountains are a section of the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. They stretch across western Virginia, southwestern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and eastern Tennessee, including Pine Mountain and other ridges. The highest point is High Knob, at 4,223 feet. The range is about 131 miles long and 20 miles wide, and the crest marks part of the Kentucky–Virginia border from the Tennessee line to the Russell Fork River.
The mountains have several names, including Cumberland Mountain, Cumberland Range, Ouasioto/Ouasiota Mountains, Laurel Mountain, and Pine Mountain. They were named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. Notable ridges include Pine Mountain, Cross Mountain, Cumberland Mountain, Log Mountain, Little Black Mountain, and Black Mountain.
Pine Mountain is a long ridge running from northern Tennessee into southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia. It was formed by hard Pennsylvanian sandstones and features gaps such as High Cliff, the Narrows, and Pound Gap. Cumberland Mountain is a separate ridge from Caryville, Tennessee to Norton, Virginia, about 97 miles long, with a cliff-like southeastern slope and a gentler northwest slope; famous gaps include Cumberland Gap and Big Stone Gap. The ridges create a drainage divide between the Cumberland River to the north and the Powell River to the south.
Geologically, the Cumberland Mountains are part of the Appalachian Plateau. The area supports mixed forests, and conservation efforts involve Oak Ridge National Laboratory and groups like The Nature Conservancy, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:45 (CET).