EPIC 100: The Bucket List
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Natural Chimneys Regional Park
High rising columns of rock resembling chimneys are the inspiration for the naming of Natural Chimneys Regional Park in Mt. Solon. Achieving such great stature and acclaim is no small or fast feat. These geological formations have been in the works since the pre-Cambrian period of the Paleozoic Era. Use your imagination to picture this …
The Shenandoah Valley was an inland sea about 500 million years ago. Plates collided and shifted. Mountains were formed.
The seven chimneys are a visual geologic record that spans from the chimneys’ compacted sediment beginnings to land upheavals from plate tectonic movement, to the erosion that continues today. Their heights vary from 65 to 120 feet, serving as soaring timelines. According to Augusta County Parks & Recreation, there is a visible volcanic layer between two layers of limestone.
Today the chimneys are a backdrop for music festival, family photos, and those who simply enjoy the view. The park is also a campground with 165 sites and two bathhouses. The North River is a recreational opportunity, as are the more than two miles of hiking trails.
Location
94 Natural Chimneys Lane
Mt. Solon, VA 22843
Mt. Solon is in Augusta County, in the southern district of the Shenandoah Valley.
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